Well many businesses want to get involved in Twitter but no business should join Twitter just for the sake of it and just because everybody is getting involved. But companies need to understand that Twitter is an additional way in which they can communicate with their customers, Twitter is different though it represents away a way in which a company can communicate with their customers but Twitter is different as it is a communication channel, not a broadcast channel, so as opposed to traditional one-way marketing traffic - email, phone calls, posters, media, etc, Twitter is a two-way communication channel, allowing you to engage with customers and communicate.
Getting started a company must first think and consider why they are on Twitter - there is no point in setting up on Twitter and then doing nothing - what do you hope to gain from being on Twitter, Why are you on there and how are you going to monitor the results from your Twitter activity.
Firstly, take it seriously as it is another way to communicate with your customers - add a photo, add your website, add relevant keywords, add a bio onto your details page - all really basic, but its surprising how many people don't do this right?
Secondly, you need to get 'followers', without followers there is no point in doing anything if nobody is listening. Easy steps to get followers is to 'find people' and follow them (maybe from the same industry or job role related), you can also 'invite people' so go through your contacts and mailing list and invite them to follow you on Twitter. Thirdly, use one of the many applications to help you - www.tweepsearch.com allows you to use keywords to find people that are also on Twitter.com and are relevant to you.
What to Tweet? There is a very broad mixture of people on Twitter and thats important as that is what makes Twitter....the profile of the site was heavily lifted through its use by Celebrities 'Twittering' about quite basic information - but they are promoting themselves as they have new films coming out, books, profiles, etc, etc - but they never sell on Twitter. Thats important, Twitter is not about selling, its about communicating, adding value and engaging.
Several things make good 'Tweets' - firstly 'social chit chat' - people want to engage with real people, what you are upto on a day to day basis, what you are thinking in general. Secondly, share information, resources, links, etc, that should be of interest to your 'followers', and thirdly, Tweet responses to questions, show your knowledge, etc.
Its good use of time when you understand it. Send a message out to your followers and your message is instantly sent and infront of your followers straight away - if they comment about it then its infront of a hell of a lot more, straight away.
Its the quickest way to find real people talking about real thing, now.
But remember to never sell. Think of Twitter like a party, if you find somebody wanting to buy something that you sell, don't jump in and sell it to them, engage with them, communicate with them, develop a relationship with them, just like at a party if they like you the conversation will flow and it will get round to what you do...they will then end up finding out more on your website if they want to know more, ie, buy from you.
'Word of Mouth' marketing delves deeper with Twitter - you sell vans but the chap you are telling about this at a party doesn't want to buy a van, but at another party somewhere down the line somebody may ask him where he can buy a van, well he knows and he can link the two of you together through Twitter...of Facebook, or MySpace, or Linkedin, or....
