Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to communicate in posts of 140 characters or less. These “tweets” are posted on the users profile and distributed to other Twitter users who choose to receive them as a “follower.” Twitter applications, or apps, have been developed to increase functionality and make the service more user-friendly, both personally and professionally.
Twitter was founded in 2006, and it quickly gained popularity. By 2009, it was the fastest growing online member community, surpassing the growth of other household names like Facebook. Between February 2008 and February 2009, visits to the Twitter site increased 1,382 percent from 475,000 unique visitors to 7 million, according Nielsen Online.
The Nielsen report also noted that the largest age group participating on Twitter is 35 to 49, which is about 42 percent of the site’s total audience. In addition, this age group is most likely to tweet from work, which has likely contributed to Twitter’s rise as a business communications tool.
Like many other social media services, Twitter can drive traffic to a Web site or blog, offering businesses an additional avenue to connect and communicate with potential and current clients. Businesses can also observe the tweeting behavior of its target audience, which can provide insight into how products, services and brands may be perceived.
In order to effectively leverage the benefits of Twitter, free apps are available that can enhance users’ tracking and monitoring efforts. Here are five useful Twitter apps for businesses:
twInfluence Allows Users to Measure Influence of Twitter Users and Their Followers
Businesses can use Twitter to monitor trends and influencers in their respective industries. twInfluence gauges the influential power of any individual Twitter user. All that’s needed is a user name.
Monitter Allows Users to Monitor a Set of Keywords Throughout the Twitter World
What are users saying about a particular company, industry or trend? Type one to three words into Monitter, and within seconds, users can view relevant tweets streaming live.
twtQpon Creates Twitter coupons
Users can create and distribute Twitter coupons to the Twitterverse with a customized image and link. In addition to driving people to a Web site or landing page, coupons help businesses track their reach on Twitter.
Twaitter is a Twitter Client and Scheduling Program
Twaitter allows users to send personalized messages to followers at a pre-scheduled time, such as promotions or coupon codes. So, Tweeters won’t miss a beat because they’re stuck in a meeting or traveling.
TweetDeck Creates a Columned User Interface for Twitter Users
It’s not uncommon for Twitter users to acquire thousands of followers over time. At that level, it can become very cumbersome to keep up with conversations and individual tweets. TweetDeck is a desktop application that enables users to sort they people they follow into multiple categories and see them all at once. In addition, it’s integrated with Facebook, so users can update both social media platforms at once.
These Twitter applications and more can be found on the Twitter Fan Wiki.
Before engaging in social media, including Twitter, businesses are first advised to conduct market research, develop a strategy and monitor existing online activities. Learn more at How to Start a Social Media Campaign.
References:
McGiboney, Michelle. Twitter's Tweet Smell of Success. Nielsen Wire, 2009. Retrieved Online.
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