Marketing & Twitter… Like a Horse & Carriage

Moved by admin (06/19/09)

Like a horse and carriage? That's right, because marketing and Twitter go together. If you're not following my Frank Sinatra reference, whatever, not a big deal, just realize the world would like you to emerge from the rock you've been under your whole life at some point in the near future. As for Twitter as a marketing tool, well I am well aware there is currently a plethora of people who both agree and disagree with me, so let's talk about why you agree with me…

If you are in business, you need to embrace it. "It's a fad", "it can't help my business", "I don't get it so I won't use it" are all things I've heard from fellow 'marketing gurus' and company executives alike. No, Twitter is not the final frontier of marketing but no matter what you do for revenue, you can take advantage of it. Before you can take advantage of Twitter and social media in general you need to understand it. You may think you do, but the reason most people who dismiss Twitter and its kin as useful marketing tools don't get it and are quick to dismiss it.

Social media exists so people can connect in new yet bizarre ways with one another. For example, Twitter allows you to keep tabs on all of your friends and family's useless thoughts throughout the day, and yet because we all need to be in the know we make sure we don't miss our best friend from high school's tweet about how hung-over they are at work. How in the name of Holy Hell can a tool that seems so trivial possibly have any benefits whatsoever for any serious marketer? Well Senor Blasphemy, I am glad you asked.

Unlike the standards set by the likes of Oprah, CNN, and the marvel known as Ashton Kutcher, tweeting to your followers has little true marketing power. Sure Comcast has managed to expand their abysmal customer service to Twitter (I kid you not; worst two companies in terms of customer service are – drumroll - Comcast and Capital One, shocker I know) by letting people tweet back and forth with a customer service representative, but that's not true power. Buzz, that's the power. Twitter gives you access to the ongoing thoughts of 6 million people and with that comes insight to what people think of you and your competitors. Sure, people tweet about what they're eating, watching, thinking, and yes, much of it is mind-numbing, but there is also a large quantity of 'company buzz'. Not impressed? How about identifying people complaining about your competitors and you reply to them with why your better? Not impressed? You damn well should be. I've seen it in action, and I've seen it work. What can Twitter do for you? Well I haven't a clue what you do, but I can tell you if you can't think of something you're not thinking hard enough… or you're simply not creative enough.

Social media is a broad and growing topic, particularly in marketing, so expect more posts regarding the Facebooks and MySpaces of the world for many more posts to come.

Like a horse and carriage? That's right, because marketing and Twitter go together. If you're not following my Frank Sinatra reference, whatever, not a big deal, just realize the world would like you to emerge from the rock you've been under your whole life at some point in the near future. As for Twitter as a marketing tool, well I am well aware there is currently a plethora of people who both agree and disagree with me, so let's talk about why you agree with me…

If you are in business, you need to embrace it. "It's a fad", "it can't help my business", "I don't get it so I won't use it" are all things I've heard from fellow 'marketing gurus' and company executives alike. No, Twitter is not the final frontier of marketing but no matter what you do for revenue, you can take advantage of it. Before you can take advantage of Twitter and social media in general you need to understand it. You may think you do, but the reason most people who dismiss Twitter and its kin as useful marketing tools don't get it and are quick to dismiss it.

Social media exists so people can connect in new yet bizarre ways with one another. For example, Twitter allows you to keep tabs on all of your friends and family's useless thoughts throughout the day, and yet because we all need to be in the know we make sure we don't miss our best friend from high school's tweet about how hung-over they are at work. How in the name of Holy Hell can a tool that seems so trivial possibly have any benefits whatsoever for any serious marketer? Well Senor Blasphemy, I am glad you asked.

Unlike the standards set by the likes of Oprah, CNN, and the marvel known as Ashton Kutcher, tweeting to your followers has little true marketing power. Sure Comcast has managed to expand their abysmal customer service to Twitter (I kid you not; worst two companies in terms of customer service are – drumroll - Comcast and Capital One, shocker I know) by letting people tweet back and forth with a customer service representative, but that's not true power. Buzz, that's the power. Twitter gives you access to the ongoing thoughts of 6 million people and with that comes insight to what people think of you and your competitors. Sure, people tweet about what they're eating, watching, thinking, and yes, much of it is mind-numbing, but there is also a large quantity of 'company buzz'. Not impressed? How about identifying people complaining about your competitors and you reply to them with why your better? Not impressed? You damn well should be. I've seen it in action, and I've seen it work. What can Twitter do for you? Well I haven't a clue what you do, but I can tell you if you can't think of something you're not thinking hard enough… or you're simply not creative enough.

Social media is a broad and growing topic, particularly in marketing, so expect more posts regarding the Facebooks and MySpaces of the world for many more posts to come.