The do's and don'ts of business Twitter

I recently spoke with a client of mine (then later my husband) about Twitter. "What's the point?" they both asked. "Isn't it...a kid thing?"

The answer is yes and no. In kid hands, it's a kid thing. In business hands, it's an uncommonly useful marketing tool. Interested in exploiting Twitter to get the word out about your business? Check out these Do's and Don'ts before you Tweet:

Don't Tweet mundane or uncomfortably intimate activities. Unless you're a chef, no one cares what you ate for lunch, and while your family will be glad to know your colonoscopy wasn't as painful as you feared, the rest of the world can probably be spared this information.

Do think of Twitter as a mini-press release service. Post about product launches, new openings, discounts and deals, and company and employee news.

Don't include "in" jokes that only close friends and family will recognize. It just makes everybody else feel "out."

Do add your unique perspective to current events. Think of it as a mini-blog. But...

Don't go on diatribes. No matter how informed or intelligent your views on politics and religion are, any place where prospective clients can be found is not an appropriate outlet for your frustration.

Do establish yourself as an expert in your industry by chiming in on industry news or conversation and linking to your blog. But...

Don't forget to acknowledge other experts. Link to other people's blogs and articles that offer new or interesting perspectives on old problems.

Do be personal. But use a reasonable ratio. For example, 5 business/marketing posts to 2 personal posts strikes a nice balance. And revealing info like "Standing ovation at my daughter's dance recital!" makes clients and prospects feel they know something real about you--which just might give you an edge over your competition.

And isn't that what this Twitter thing is all about?

21.07.2009. 14:00