Twitter For Investors and Entrepreneurs

After the startling success of MySpace and Facebook, the world has quickly caught on to another online phenomenon- Twitter. Suddenly, it seems as if this hitherto unknown portal is everywhere, in the news, in the papers, on the blogs, and in everyday conversations. Almost every celebrity has an account on Twitter, and they don't miss out on sending a few Tweets each day.

Understanding Twitter can be a bit of a challenge for the newcomer, as it features some really novel components and interfaces, which might come across as a bit of a problem initially. But more than using it, the real understanding lies in figuring out how it works, and how you can use this platform to your advantage.

What is Twitter?

Twitter can be roughly categorized as social networking, except that the communication on it tends to very concise as compared to other networking sites. In reality, think of twitter as a micro version of a blog. As soon as you register for a Twitter account, you are presented with a home page and asked to complete your profile. The profile is itself quite minimal, and focuses only on the essentials. Once this is done, you can upload your picture and get ready to roll.

So what do you do with this newfound identity? On Twitter, the communication is limited to 140 character messages commonly known as Tweets. These messages can be used to reflect your current mood, convey any important information briefly and concisely, deliver updates, conduct business, and indulge in some speedy banter with friends and family.

Why Twitter?

So, what type of goals can be fulfilled by Twitter? It is always a good idea to have a clear picture in the mind, so that you can utilize your time on this social networking platform to the fullest. Here is a short list of activities you can do while on Twitter:

• Catch up with friends.
• Unwind and read updates from activity-groups that you like (e.g. Real Estate).
• Stay updated with the latest news and events about business, industry and real estate.
• Participate in celebrity gossip and follow your favorite celebrities to know what they are talking about.
• Market your products and services
• Gain credibility among your peers
• Get suggestions on just about anything.

What to do once on Twitter?

Assuming that you now have a Twitter account, let's talk about what you are supposed to do, and what exactly is going to happen. Twitter is so simple in its approach, and yet, it may take you some time to fully understand its power. The way Twitter works is simple: you 'follow' the people you are interested in, and people 'follow' you in return if they are interested in you. The Tweets generated by either you or the others show up as instant updates, which other folks can read and comment on.

• Following someone is really very simple. Once you visit their profile, just press the 'Start Following' button, and you'll automatically be included in their update receivers' list.
• Every time a person you are following tweets something, you get to see it straight away. In this way, you stay updated with what the other person is doing at any given time.
• You can reply to tweets and generate lengthy and interesting discussions. You can also 're-tweet' the tweets to your account, which is the same as displaying something you really like on your 'tweet list'.
• You can follow up on many relevant topics, gain a lot of understanding about a particular subject, or simply have a good time communicating with your online Twitter buddies.

Discussion vs. Spam

Please note that even though Twitter is a virtual space, one still needs to observe the norms of decency. Talking in vulgar language, or making derogatory comments can get your account and IP address blocked on Twitter, and you'll end up losing a lot of potential quality time not to mention hurting your reputation. At the same time, make sure that your discussions are meaningful and productive, and that you are not spamming other people's tweets. Spamming is something that is taken up rather seriously in the Twitter domain, and there are severe penalties for it.

Business marketing

Twitter is not just for fun, you can also promote your small businesses using it, if you know how to do it right. The broadcast channels of twitter are fast becoming popular, and present limitless opportunity for tapping in potential customers. Here are some sample tools that can help your investments, business marketing and research on twitter:

TwitterCounter.com -- great data about all things twitter.

Friendorfollow.com -- Who's not following you back on Twitter? Who are you not following back? Who are your mutual friends? Find out!

Twibs.com -- Twibs was created initially by a group of people who had one purpose: Give twitter users a place to find businesses on twitter.

Exectweets.com - Find and follow top business executives on twitter. You can even add yourself to the directory.

Keep Tweeting

The real power of Twitter lies in communicating concisely and effectively. Doing so is an art of sorts, and it takes some time and practice to master 'Tweeting'. If you keep at it, you will soon have a very strong Twitter presence. Recent studies have shown that the more you tweet, the more likely you are to attract followers. Of course, your tweets must be relevant and informative. If you want to learn more about the use of twitter for business, download a complimentary copy of author's simple-to-read report about twitter for beginners.