Trending today on Twitter: #ICantResectYouIf,  Happy Fall and #IWannaSlap.

Tomorrow: #yournextmarketingcampaign

Twitter was launched in July 2006 and has since been inundating the internet with 140 character updates from a multitude of notable figures, from Britney Spears to the Dalai Lama.

According to Pew Internet, 13% of online adults use Twitter as of May 2011. Just six months earlier, that number was only 8%. The largest percentages of Twitter users are young adults from ages 18 to 29. These users create over 200 million tweets everyday.

Twitter provides a great platform for any sized business to expand their online reputation. Consumers can mingle directly with the company and express their satisfaction, irritation, or excitement about your company.

Get Started:

1.Give your followers a behind the scenes look. Share photos, updates, and exciting news about new projects and coming attractions. Use the most exciting tidbits to entice them into visiting your website or offline establishment.

2.Interact with the customer. Twitter makes it easy to directly address questions and concerns posed by users. They might even raise issues you didn’t know existed. In turn you can provide a personalized response and remedy any dissatisfaction.  Behind every Twitter are real individuals and a potential customer.  Reaching out on Twitter is just another form of great customer service.

3.Provide an incentive. Who doesn’t like free/cheap/discounted stuff? If said stuff exists, your followers want to be the first to know about it. Businesses can Tweet their followers exclusive sales or coupons. Users can retweet any sweet deals they see to their own followers, spreading the message about your business.

4.Share links. Tweet your followers articles that are entertaining, informative, and relevant to the business you conduct. In this way you become a resource as well as a service provider.

5.Remember, quality not quantity. The old adage holds true when it comes to your followers and whom you choose to follow. Choose businesses and individuals who are relevant to the services you provide, fit your target demographic or are located nearby. Following similar businesses gives you a first hand look at the competition and strategies you may want to emulate or avoid.  Individuals that are geographically close and fit you demographic are the most likely to transition from followers to customers.

Well established companies like Paramount Pictures, Dell, Starbucks and Volkswagen have all mounted successful business campaigns. They’re strategies range from simple interaction to national multimedia productions, but even they had to start out with the basics.

Photo Credit: Twin Design / Shutterstock.com