Demolition News offers a brief guide to Twitter, the latest online phenomenon.
You will read a lot about Twitter online but the best description I have seen as yet is, quite simply: “…a 140 character text message sent to a selected, willingly-subscribed, global audience instantly that can respond with equal ease”.
In essence, Twitter is a “micro-blog; a website where one or more named individuals can post brief, text message length (140 character) messages. These messages can be seen ONLY be individuals that have chosen to subscribe (follow, in Twitter-speak) that specific post feed. This system, which has been embraced by the likes of Demolition News, Caterpillar, Dig A Crusher and by a huge range of technology and automotive companies, effectively facilitates on online private forum with all direct communications passing through the host of the Twitter feed (be it the marketing manager, the customer service manager, parts manager etc). Not only that but the Twitter feed can be updated on-the-move via mobile phone.
So what does this mean in practice? Aside from the likes of Stephen Fry and Barack Obama (the most “followed” individual on the system), the most effective Twitterers are those that provide meaningful links to further important, meaningful or even entertaining content, not all of which is hosted on a company’s main website. Indeed, many Twitterers use the system to direct their followers to other sites including YouTube and others.
Over a period, the best Twitterers have built a loyal following (almost a fan-club) who follow them and their links and who use the direct message capability to communicate with them directly. Unlike other forms of online communication, however, Twitter does not require nor expect a response to each and every direct message (although those that manage to do this are seen as exceptionally helpful and generous).
Many expert Twitterers also use the system to run “polls” or to call for feedback on specific items. Many of these polls are incentivised in some way (the first 10 respondents will receive a free baseball cap, for example) but the fact is that customers perceive that they are playing an active role in the way in which YOUR company runs its business.
So how could/should you use this fast-growing and increasingly popular system?
Well, if you are a manufacturer or supplier of a product or service, it is worth picturing Twitter as a 140 character flyer to all your most loyal customers. You can tell them about new products/services, keep them informed of special offers and new developments, and get feedback from them on a wide variety of subjects.
If, however, you are a demolition contractor, the chances are that you will be using Twitter to receive rather than send information (although there’s nothing to stop you doing both). But imagine the time-saving benefit of having the latest news from your favourite suppliers delivered directly to your desktop (or, if you are Blackberry or iPhone user, to your mobile phone).
If all of this has convinced you, please visit www.twitter.com and sign up. It’s free and takes about 30 seconds even for the lowest one-finger typist. Once you are signed up, please visit www.twitter.com/demolitionnews and hit the follow button to allow us to deliver the latest news to you, as it happens.
