How to Generate Business Using Twitter

For the record, I didn't even know there was a section for answer questions on LinkedIn like Yahoo Answers has until yesterday. Given that http://LinkedIn.com touts itself as being the social network for businesses I personally consider this a valuable discovery for myself as well as anyone else that knows how to string two words together into a sentence.

However, I digress. Let's get back to the topic at hand.

How do you generate business out of http://Twitter.com?

#1: Don't Do It

That's right. The best way to generate business from Twitter is not to attempt to generate business from Twitter. Does that sound confusing? It's not really. Basically, the more ways you can find to engage your audiences in relational building processes on Twitter or any social network for that matter, the stronger your business enterprises will grow.

Here are several ways of making this happen...

* Make your profile interesting from the start. A person's Twitter profile says a great deal about the person behind that profile. Make sure your saying what you want to be saying.

* Be informational on Twitter. It doesn't even need to be about your business. I personally use http://StuffToTweet.com on a regular basis to inform my readers about interesting things I think they will like knowing about.

* Get involved. ReTweet (RT) posts you like, participate in events like #FollowFriday, say Thank You (TY) when someone does something nice for you. Whatever you do think of the recipient before yourself and you will get more value out of Twitter.

#2: Have Fun

People have to read enough boring drawn out things in their day as it is. Don't make your post just another one of the many drudges to weed through. Be engaging. Be creative. Be genuine.

Tweeple that really get this in my circle of influence on Twitter include:

http://Twitter.com/SPDworks
http://Twitter.com/nursemom90
http://Twitter.com/Juicyfruit4u

One way to figure out how to succeed on Twitter is to emulate people like these in your own approach to reaching people on Twitter.

#3: Massive Marketing

This whole article has been about how you should not market on Twitter. However, once you have a sizeable audience you can start to put out direct marketing messages. Just be sure that you don't lose site of the relational side while including the more direct approach into the mix. I would never recommend starting out here from the beginning as people will label you as a spammer while blocking your account and causing you to potentially be locked out of Twitter.

CONCLUSION:

Yes it is possible to build busing using Twitter. Just remember that the relationship dimension comes first and you will be well on your way to discovering the true power of Twitter.