Why are you really using Twitter?

[SearchBlogger]

In my experience a lot of people are using Twitter without a clear strategy or outcome in mind.

So, why are you really using Twitter?

• Because someone told you to?
• Because your competition are tweeting?
• To get lots of followers?
• To get more website traffic?
• To increase online sales?

Find out more by reading my blog post on why are you really using Twitter - could your time be better spent elsewhere?

 

[anthonylane13]

That's a bit of a narrow list...

I'm on twitter so that I can keep abreast of developments in my industry and maintain a loose network of peers.

Also, because it's fun and social.

 

[sdesign1]

One way we have been using Twitter:


Several of our clients have expressed a concern that they do not have time to update their website as much as they would like, if at all. They also spend a lot of time out of the office and on the road without access to their computer, which makes it even more difficult for them to provide current information for their users.



As their websites have been designed with their Tweets being pulled through from Twitter, we have suggested that they use their iPhones and download the Twitter app to post their Tweets, which keep their website content updated on the move.

Using Twitter to update your website is a good way to get current information posted, but also can have other benefits. If you use a iFrame or Twitter widget to display the Tweets you are just updating content for human users, which is fine, however, if you embed the Tweets into the HTML code behind the page, each new Tweet becomes an update to the content on your webpage, which helps keep Google happy and improve your page ranking.

 

[deniser]

For fun and to discuss local issues with other people whom I don't know in real life.

 

[SearchBlogger]

Thanks for all your comments so far. Sdesign1, I'm never sure about having a Twitter feed on a website because of the things some people tweet. I totally understand the point about it being great for having updated content. However, some of the things I read on Twitter from business accounts, you would not want to appear on a client's homepage!

 

[eventdomain]

So, why are you really using Twitter?

Dunno, I got drunk one night and it seemed like a great idea. But so was the millennium dome

Its okay for keeping people informed about your biz and what your upto etc, but tbh, my blog gets me far better value. I think to do Twitter effectively, you need to be a celebrity or brand name biz...

I used to perhaps buy into the

If you post enough tweets, the followers will come

but I just think such talk is a pile of crap now, and the more I hear about how 'easy' the social bookmark stuff is, it just makes me want to throw up.

But hey, its their time their wasting - you know what I mean. Incredible how many will jump on something thats free, and given the right circumstances, connect this with something 'potential' like hoards of free traffic, then people will fall for it hook, link and sinker.

Dont get me wrong, I think free is a good thing to give, got to be in it to be found and all that - but free can only give minimal worth, and thats a fact. Some biz owners are different in their desire to help out, but majority wont be.

 

[Minuteman Press]

It's interesting, fun and sociable.

 

[aidan1980]

i'll be honest, i have no idea why im using twitter, i only share my links on there to new blog posts. Dont really 'get' twitter and wouldnt use it otherwise, i reckon most of the people following me are only doing so to try and get me to follow them as well.
i was at first hoping to generate traffic and get people spreading the word but after a good little start, it went flat very quickly and i was very bored of the whole thing

 

[shpangle]

In my opinion I think we will look back at Twitter in a few years and laugh at ourselves..it will be one of those 'why did we do that?' moments.

Both facebook and Twitter play on mankinds urge to collect things, in their case it is followers...a bit like stamp collecting really.

Yes you make a little bit of business from using them but the same could be said for leaving your business cards in telephone boxes...

Mick

 

[eventdomain]

Both facebook and Twitter play on mankinds urge to collect things

Yep its exactly what it is. Great for Twitter, imagine their traffic levels - wow.

Wonder what Twitter is worth..... a million pounds? Smart buggers they are hehe..

 

[realitybytes]

I use it because its a "free" media source, if I can connect to potential customers, then it's all worth while. Plus it helps me keep up to date with what's going on in my industry.

 

[anthonylane13]

I actually think Twitter has a decent shelf life, but I partially agree with the naysayers. I think at least half of twitter users will look back and wonder why they used it.

The rest will carry on doing what they already do on twitter. Share industry developments, offer customer support, maintain work related networks and so on.

There's an awful lot of drivel on twitter, the trick is to choose who you follow very carefully. And think twice before tweeting.

 

[bbrij87]

I don't use twitter as I don't feel I need it and can drive traffic to my website.

 

[scottytruman]

It's a good way to optimize your site, since nowadays other SEO strategies are being misinterpreted as spam.

 

[Minuteman Press]

I don't use twitter as I don't feel I need it and can drive traffic to my website.

Not sure I understand this. Do you mean that the Twitter audience is not appropriate for your website ie B2B?

 

[SEO Lady]

, I think free is a good thing to give, got to be in it to be found and all that - but free can only give minimal worth, and thats a fact. Some biz owners are different in their desire to help out, but majority wont be.

I agree about being free is a good thing - I've proven sales for all types of clients via Twitter. I use Tweetdeck to run multiple accounts daily / weekly. I run 6 accounts for clients and it's easy.

I use Twitter to connect to local people, to see what trends are happening, to get answers instantly quicker than searching on Google and also, obviously, to sell. I talk on Twitter about relevent news to suit the client, do a #FollowFriday to gain more followers, even tweet about my lunch. There's a good mix of professional tweets as well as being a real person, I think this is the key.

 

[eukhost]

Since, twitter is a great way to increase online presence as well as boost website traffic. Secondly, because of its worldwide platform you could target worldwide customers for free and improves your trust level.

 

[eventdomain]

Twitter is just a blog, lets face it.

Actually, my own blog is indexed far quicker and sends me enquiries that Twitter cannot.

 

[gowebbaby]

I use twitter for many reasons, Some of them are listed below.

1. Customer or Client Support.
2. Finding new clients.
3. Using Twitter search feature with advanced search.
4. Using # tag to get twitter traffic to my website.
5. Enhancing Keywords ranking in Google and other search engine.

 

[SillyJokes]

No idea, had hoped it would become clear in the fullness of time.

I think it's expected by some customers, ditto a facebook page.

A bit like an 'about us page' which actually tells people something other than "We strive to give the best service blah blah blah". It adds to the confidence that there might be a real business behind the webpage.

I just post a bit of this and that, nothing too monumental.

Don't read other tweets much.

Am disturbed by some of the trending terms.

 

[nathanial]

i have an account, but i don't use it that often.

 

[eventdomain]

hmmm, sounds like its expected that anyone with a web biz MUST have a Twitter account. Isnt it disturbing that trust should depend on whether you have a Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin account etc.

Whatever happened to good ole-fashioned service, a trial offer, or a freebie or two? Now to be accepted or 'do business', you gotta make 500 tweets per hour, what has happened to the world

I do have a twitter account, am in testing phase at the moment, but tbh hardly use the darn thing, I mean what is it that my super duper blog cannot do. Yeah, I do get the Twitter concept, but the fascination of typing hoards of text just so I can feel 'part of' some group dynamic just leaves me sad. Even sadder when people actually think it leads to more business, enquiries or dare I say it - profit - what, just bcos someone may feel like thinking there's a real person behind the posts or website - oh please - people do NOT buy based on some blog post - they purchase on ability or what a website can do for them.

 

[SearchBlogger]

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this thread. It's interesting to see so many different reasons people are using Twitter and of course to read comments from people who don't think it's that useful.

 

[SillyJokes]

hmmm, sounds like its expected that anyone with a web biz MUST have a Twitter account. Isnt it disturbing that trust should depend on whether you have a Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin account etc.

Whatever happened to good ole-fashioned service, a trial offer, or a freebie or two? Now to be accepted or 'do business', you gotta make 500 tweets per hour, what has happened to the world

I do have a twitter account, am in testing phase at the moment, but tbh hardly use the darn thing, I mean what is it that my super duper blog cannot do. Yeah, I do get the Twitter concept, but the fascination of typing hoards of text just so I can feel 'part of' some group dynamic just leaves me sad. Even sadder when people actually think it leads to more business, enquiries or dare I say it - profit - what, just bcos someone may feel like thinking there's a real person behind the posts or website - oh please - people do NOT buy based on some blog post - they purchase on ability or what a website can do for them.

agreed but experienced online buyers become cynical. they have had bad service from some no name back bedroom drop shipper, so they look for signs of life and trustworthyness. you don't have to spend much time on it and you may even enjoy interacting with customers.

 

[pamlstano]

I am damn sure that Only SEO users can see a fruitful benefits of this social networking sites(Twitter). I have seen that most of the users told that Twitter is good for fun and make communication with other people.