Twitter is a social media platform that allows users to share brief updates and follow others. It provides a less personal space than Facebook for staying connected to communities, industries, friends and current events. While Twitter is not making money currently, potential revenue options include advertising, premium accounts, and selling data to companies. Businesses use Twitter to raise awareness, engage customers, answer questions and promote their brand, but should focus on conversations rather than just sales.

2. So what is Twitter?

3. Twitter lets you post brief items about your opinions or your life, shared with the world.

5. But more importantly…

6. Twitter is a social network Follow people’s updates They follow yours Find new (and old) connections

8. It’s a nice halfway point Less personal than Facebook More chatty than LinkedIn

9. Twitter is not unique, but it is dominant.

10. Similar sites Jaiku (owned by Google) Plurk Identi.ca FriendFeed

11. Twitter is crushing them.

12. How is Twitter making money?

13. It’s not.

14. How Twitter might cash in: Sell advertising Offer “pro” accounts with perks Charge companies to use it Just sell it and run to Mexico

15. Why do people use Twitter?

16. It keeps you connected with: Your community Your industry Your friends Your world

17. How do people use Twitter?

18. Share updates on their lives

19. Start conversations

20. Find answers and advice

21. Promote themselves

22. How do businesses use Twitter?

23. Twitter helps businesses: Raise awareness Offer proactive customer service Answer questions Promote events, products, services

24. Who’s on Twitter? Starbucks Southwest Airlines Dell Zappos Little Debbie

25. Businesses should: Be conversational Jump in the discussion Pay attention Pace themselves

26. Businesses should: Reward their followers Offer giveaways Host local “Tweetups”

27. Businesses should NOT: Be sales-oriented robots Be repetitive and dull Follow too many people at once

28. Deciphering a few Twitter terms

29. @ reply: A comment aimed at one user, but visible to the public.

30. @ reply:

31. DM: A direct message sent in private to another user.

32. Retweeting: Sharing someone else’s post. Often abbreviated “RT.”

33. Retweeting:

34. Twitterati: The elite Twitter users with massive audiences.

35. Who has the most followers on Twitter?

37. A few Twitter tools Twitter Search – Vital way to track comments TweetLater – Schedule posts for future times/dates Twilerts – Like Google Alerts for Twitter

38. A few more Twitter tools TwitterFon – Twitter on the iPhone TwitPic – Share photos on Twitter Twiddeo – Share video clips Twhirl, TweetDeck – Desktop tools that make Twitter easier to use

39. Closing thoughts

40. Thanks for your time. [email_address] Twitter.com/griner TheSocialPath.com