The Twitter (r)evolution
Written by Jeremy Baumhower | | jbaumhower@toledofreepress.comToledo I would like you to meet Twitter and Twitter say hello to Toledo. Although you may have heard of each other before, I think a formal introduction is needed. Twitter is the evolution of Facebook and MySpace and is considered the next great thing. It is a website/concept that allows anyone in the world to send a message that contains 140 characters or less aka ‘tweet” to anyone wanting to hear it. Sorry to my East Side friends… there is a letter “W” in the word ,so no need to send the children out of the room.
The importance of Twitter and Toledo is how it is untapped, it can be molded any way you want it. Twitter is online and most phones have an app for it. If you love news first like Amy Winehouse’s passing or the Oslo shooting, Twitter has it first. If you are passionate about music, sports, comedy or commentary… Twitter has them all. Twitter has something for everyone in NorthWest Ohio from the Justin Bieber fan to the Extreme Couponer, even Pope Benedict tweets.
What could Twitter mean for Toledo? If I owned a business here, I would sign up today. Twitter if used properly, will take your business to any level you desire. It’s free marketing!!! You can reach millions of people worldwide with basically a text message. You can attach your website to the tweet and send people a coupon if desired. You must first get “followers”. Followers are people who receive your tweets. Businesses spends tens of thousands of dollars to get their message in front of people, Twitter does it every second.
Toledo is known best for its strong blue collar history, we are not known for leading the charge in technology. With Twitter we change that perception. To make an immediate impact on Twitter start hash-tagging (#) every tweet with the word Toledo — so it looks like #Toledo. The hashtag is used to add a subject keyword to your tweet. So if you love the #DetroitTigers all you would have to do is click on #DetroitTigers and you would see all tweets containing the #hashtag. The Hashtag is key to all business!!! This is the way to reach new people, especially the ones you are trying to target. If you have a limited number of followers and do not hashtag your tweet, you will only be tweeting to your followers..add a hashtag reach some more.
Twitter Tips for Businesses
Do Not Tweet too much: A Couple of times of days is plenty.
Make it entertaining, current or relate-able: Sending out boring Tweets will prove a waste of time.
Example of a boring Tweet: Come in this week and get $5.00 off a haircut.
Better Tweet for same Message: Who needs a Justin Bieber makeover? (insert shortened website link here) #toledo
Create great Twitter Only promotions/sales/coupons:
Ask every customer to “follow” you on Twitter, for every new ‘follower’ send them a DM (Direct Message) Coupon. DM is Twitter’s version of email. You can ONLY DM those who #Follow you.
There are many great local people and businesses to follow from the Toledo Mud Hens to the Free Press. I follow a Mexican Restaurant @LaFiestaMaumee which has five followers but sends great Tweet specials everyday. They could easily improve their reach by following any of the above mentioned tips. I am going to test my Twitter theory with @RouenCollision who is looking for new ways to reach current and new customers. I will keep you updated.
As of now Toledo has only dabbled in Twitter. Toledo’s usage of twitter can be watched and utilized by visiting trendsmap.com. You can also see and compare how much clout you have on Twitter and Facebook by visiting on Klout.com.
To get started go to Twitter.com and sign up. If you send me a Tweet @jeremytheproduc (my Twitter handle) I will send you a link to secret web page filled with great people and businesses to follow here in Northwest Ohio and worldwide.
For that special Page…
Thanks for the Twitter Shout Out!!
Here are people and businesses for you to ‘follow’ in NW Ohio
Local Personalities
@jeremytheproduc (me)
@jeffnthemorning his partner @r8dioTIM
Jeremy Baumhower is a media expert who writes and produces for morning radio shows across the country. Follow him on Twitter @jeremytheproduc.
Tags: Jeremy Baumhower, Media Watch, Twitter
Ugh. I hate these ill-advised attempts to “educate” Toledo business owners, especially when the writer clearly has no practical experience. This piece is chock full of bad or incomplete advice. If you feel compelled to do a piece of this nature in the future, please get yourself a guest writer who has even a vague clue what he/she is talking about. There are plenty of respected local strategists who’d be happy to share some basic tips in this space and help you avoid doing your readership a disservice.
This comment was posted on August 5th, 2011 at 5:43 pm