Social media has gained a significant foothold in business-to-business marketing. The use of Twitter as a business marketing tool has grown significantly. Twitter is a web-based social messaging tool that allows users to post a message to update their followers.
Like other social networking tools, Twitter began as a way for people to keep-up with each other. Forrester Research reported that over 7 million people are using Twitter. As a social networking tool, Twitter ranks just behind Facebook and MySpace. But what is significant from a marketer’s perspective, Twitter has quickly gained acceptance as a marketing tool. While this doesn’t seem like cutting edge, it is an easy and effective way for marketers to reach their target audiences and engage their customers. Known as “tweets,” Twitter postings typically are short messages, and conversations, about topics, products, and companies. People can sign-up to be “followers” of people and companies.
For marketers, Twitter can serve as an effective tool to deliver messages to your target audience as well as a vehicle to engage in a dialogue. As you start to use web 2.0 tools such as Twitter, remember that this is a tool to help build and enhance a relationship. It is not just another way to put out a press release.
Marketers also must follow conversations and trends on Twitter. Odds are someone on Twitter is saying something about your company, your competitors, your services, or products. Marketers must follow the dialogue and also help monitor their company’s on-line reputation.
In business-to-business marketing, there is a misnomer that business buy from businesses. However, it is people in those businesses making decisions, thus people at business buy from people at other businesses. Tools such as Twitter can be effective methods to engage prospective customers and current clients. Twitter, in my opinion, can have even more value in the business-to-business world than in the business-to-consumer world. This is because it allows users to "Tweet" very specific, and some times very technical, messages about their products or services.
Like other social networking tools, Twitter began as a way for people to keep-up with each other. Forrester Research reported that over 7 million people are using Twitter. As a social networking tool, Twitter ranks just behind Facebook and MySpace. But what is significant from a marketer’s perspective, Twitter has quickly gained acceptance as a marketing tool. While this doesn’t seem like cutting edge, it is an easy and effective way for marketers to reach their target audiences and engage their customers. Known as “tweets,” Twitter postings typically are short messages, and conversations, about topics, products, and companies. People can sign-up to be “followers” of people and companies.
For marketers, Twitter can serve as an effective tool to deliver messages to your target audience as well as a vehicle to engage in a dialogue. As you start to use web 2.0 tools such as Twitter, remember that this is a tool to help build and enhance a relationship. It is not just another way to put out a press release.
Marketers also must follow conversations and trends on Twitter. Odds are someone on Twitter is saying something about your company, your competitors, your services, or products. Marketers must follow the dialogue and also help monitor their company’s on-line reputation.
In business-to-business marketing, there is a misnomer that business buy from businesses. However, it is people in those businesses making decisions, thus people at business buy from people at other businesses. Tools such as Twitter can be effective methods to engage prospective customers and current clients. Twitter, in my opinion, can have even more value in the business-to-business world than in the business-to-consumer world. This is because it allows users to "Tweet" very specific, and some times very technical, messages about their products or services.
How are AEC firms using Twitter to deliver messages to their audiences?
- Updates about products and services
- Current projects or application
- Project status updates
- Providing information from events and trade shows
- Announcements
- Technical information
There are numerous opportunities to leverage Twitter to communicate information to your customers and prospects
