Tweet, Follow or Get Out of the Way
With over a 50 percent increase in growth since the beginning of 2011, Twitter is reinforcing its importance in social media marketing. According to Dick Costolo, Twitter's CEO, Twitter boasts 100 million active users daily, meaning they log into the platform at least once a month and 50 million users log in every day.
Small business owners should take these numbers very seriously. According to the 2011 inbound marketing report done by HubSpot, an online marketing software company, 42 percent of companies said they have acquired a customer through Twitter.
Your customers all use Twitter in a different way. According to Costolo, a lot of people log into Twitter but don't necessarily tweet. Many users simply follow, but most non-tweeters eventually move from consumption to production.
According to Chadwick Martin Bailey Research Technologies, 79 percent of Twitter followers are more likely to recommend the brands they follow.
For small business owners, whether the users move from consumption to production is irrelevant. The fact that 100 million users are on twitter following brands and celebrities they like is more than reason enough to become an active brand on Twitter.
Making your brand available to 100 million active users is a good use of resources.
With so many social media tools to choose from, it's important to recognize that you shouldn't try and do it all. Before you begin, define your goals on Twitter and whatever other social media platform you use for your business, this way you know what success looks like before you get started.
"A Small Business Guide to Success" is a good article to read for tips on how to begin using social media marketing for your small business.
For more information on how to use Twitter as part of your social media marketing mix, sign up to receive a free webinar on demand, that walks you through social media marketing for your small business.
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