The Business Value of Social Software David Stephens Technical Sales Evangelist WorkFlow Studios Phoenix, AZ [email_address] Follow us on Twitter: workflowstudios

Agenda Definitions Social Media Getting Started/Best Practices Warnings and Recommendations

Definitions

Social Media

Getting Started/Best Practices

Warnings and Recommendations

What is Social Software? Wikipedia: Social software encompasses a range of software systems that allow users to interact and share data The terms Web 2.0 and (for large-business applications) Enterprise 2.0 are also used to describe this style of software. Blogs Forums Instant Messaging MMOGs Online Storage Prediction Markets Social Bookmarking Social Cataloging Search Engines Social Guides Social Libraries Text Chat Virtual Worlds Wikis

Wikipedia: Social software encompasses a range of software systems that allow users to interact and share data

The terms Web 2.0 and (for large-business applications) Enterprise 2.0 are also used to describe this style of software.

What is Social Networking? Wikipedia: focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Generally made up with a combination of: blogs, forums, mashups, microblogs, podcasts, prediction markets, RSS, social bookmarks, social networks, widgets, and wikis A focus on people and communities A social networking service (SNS) is a service that has been designed to build and maintain a social network.

Wikipedia: focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others.

Generally made up with a combination of: blogs, forums, mashups, microblogs, podcasts, prediction markets, RSS, social bookmarks, social networks, widgets, and wikis

A focus on people and communities

A social networking service (SNS) is a service that has been designed to build and maintain a social network.

What is Web 2.0? “ Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform. Chief among those rules is this: Build applications that harness network effects to get better the more people use them. “. Tim O’Reilly definitions of Web 2.0: http://www.oreillynet.com/lpt/a/6228 , http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/12/web_20_compact.html

“ Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform. Chief among those rules is this: Build applications that harness network effects to get better the more people use them. “.

Tim O’Reilly definitions of Web 2.0: http://www.oreillynet.com/lpt/a/6228 , http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/12/web_20_compact.html

What is Enterprise 2.0 Enterprise social software is a term describing social software used in "enterprise" (business) contexts Tends to encourage use prior to providing structure Andrew McAfee (Harvard Business School) says that the following must be included for E2.0: Search: allow users to search for other users or content Links: group similar users or content together Authoring: include blogs and wikis Tags: allow users to tag content Extensions: recommendations of users or content based on profile Signals: allow people to subscribe to users or content with RSS feeds Also known as Enterprise Networking

Enterprise social software is a term describing social software used in "enterprise" (business) contexts

Tends to encourage use prior to providing structure

Andrew McAfee (Harvard Business School) says that the following must be included for E2.0:

Search: allow users to search for other users or content

Links: group similar users or content together

Authoring: include blogs and wikis

Tags: allow users to tag content

Extensions: recommendations of users or content based on profile

Signals: allow people to subscribe to users or content with RSS feeds

Also known as Enterprise Networking

What are some of the popular sites? Profiles: Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, Google Professional Experience: LinkedIn Blogs: Blogger, Slashdot Microblogging/Status: Twitter, Plurk Wiki: Wikipedia, Wiktionary Bookmarks: Del.icio.us, Digg, Furl Photos: Flickr, Webshots Travel: TripIt, Dopplr Others: Classmates, Youtube, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, Meetup, Skype, Second Life

Profiles: Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, Google

Professional Experience: LinkedIn

Blogs: Blogger, Slashdot

Microblogging/Status: Twitter, Plurk

Wiki: Wikipedia, Wiktionary

Bookmarks: Del.icio.us, Digg, Furl

Photos: Flickr, Webshots

Travel: TripIt, Dopplr

Others: Classmates, Youtube, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, Meetup, Skype, Second Life

Who uses social software? Very popular among younger workers. SNS now reach 54% of the U.S. online audience, up from 43% not even a year ago. This reach is equivalent to 44% of the overall U.S. Population. This is up from 44% eight months earlier. 52% of 35-44 yr old; 35% of 45-54 yr old The demographics of SNS users has come a lot closer to mirror the overall U.S. online population in the past year 56% of those who log into a SNS site do so at least once a day. Women use SNS slightly more frequently than men. Many uses as an extension of Knowledge Management Appx 6M Twitter users, 200M FB users Twitter grew 131% in March 2009

Very popular among younger workers.

SNS now reach 54% of the U.S. online audience, up from 43% not even a year ago.

This reach is equivalent to 44% of the overall U.S. Population.

This is up from 44% eight months earlier.

52% of 35-44 yr old; 35% of 45-54 yr old

The demographics of SNS users has come a lot closer to mirror the overall U.S. online population in the past year

56% of those who log into a SNS site do so at least once a day.

Women use SNS slightly more frequently than men.

Many uses as an extension of Knowledge Management

Appx 6M Twitter users, 200M FB users

Twitter grew 131% in March 2009

Top Social Networking Sites in February 2009

Benefits of Social Networking Connect people to information and to one another Increase Web Traffic through customer interaction Foster input from customers and partners Create peer-to-peer information and idea sharing Creates a company culture of sharing and learning Opens up new marketing opportunities Creates a sense of belonging for employees, customers and partners which increases loyalty People want to put a face with a name Give new hires a way to integrate faster Many more...

Connect people to information and to one another

Increase Web Traffic through customer interaction

Foster input from customers and partners

Create peer-to-peer information and idea sharing

Creates a company culture of sharing and learning

Opens up new marketing opportunities

Creates a sense of belonging for employees, customers and partners which increases loyalty

People want to put a face with a name

Give new hires a way to integrate faster

Many more...

Which sites should I use? Most analysts would agree that LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are essentials Other sites would depend on your needs Considerations should be made for personal vs. business What is relevant to you, your interests and your job What are your objectives?

Most analysts would agree that LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are essentials

Other sites would depend on your needs

Considerations should be made for personal vs. business

What is relevant to you, your interests and your job

What are your objectives?

What is Social Media? Social – so·cial sō-shəl : of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group Media – me·dia mē-dē-ə: the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely Social + Media = human interaction + wide influence, allows people to connect in the online world to form relationships for personal and business

Welcome to Dell Hell…Can You Hold, Please? June 2005: PR blogger Jeff Jarvis orders a new Dell laptop and four-year service plan, and immediately began having trouble with the machines and the service. His first blog post: “Dell lies. Dell sucks.” His fury was picked up across the blogosphere, and Dell’s response was deafening…deafeningly silent. By August 30, 2005, Dell’s PR team finally responded: “ Dell has a “look, don’t touch” when it comes to blogging. “ We do talk to people in public through the standard major media and through our forums.” At the time, Dell had no bloggers and no active blogger outreach program. Don’t feed the blogger…unless you want to get bitten.

June 2005: PR blogger Jeff Jarvis orders a new Dell laptop and four-year service plan, and immediately began having trouble with the machines and the service.

His first blog post: “Dell lies. Dell sucks.”

His fury was picked up across the blogosphere, and Dell’s response was deafening…deafeningly silent.

By August 30, 2005, Dell’s PR team finally responded:

“ Dell has a “look, don’t touch” when it comes to blogging.

“ We do talk to people in public through the standard major media and through our forums.”

At the time, Dell had no bloggers and no active blogger outreach program.

Social Media = Marketing As Conversation Readers comment on your blogs They rate your products They change your wikis They create blogs of their own They create “hate” sites if they really don’t like you They produce mash-ups of your content and functions Web 1.0 users were consumers Web 2.0 users are participants Trying to “control” the conversation will be counterproductive and potentially harmful “ Imagine a marketing campaign based around asking people to be your friend.” - Nick Dawson (nickdawson.net) Social Pulse

Readers comment on your blogs

They rate your products

They change your wikis

They create blogs of their own

They create “hate” sites if they really don’t like you

They produce mash-ups of your content and functions

Social media are the forums, blogs, social networks, chat and any other media where users communicate with one another Participation and Community Characterize the Social Media Social Commerce Participation Community Social Networks Blogs Virtual Worlds Online Communities Video and Photo Sharing Collaboration Micro Blogging Tumblelogs Social Bookmarking Sharing You Tube SlideShare Wikipedia Digg Del.icio.us Search tag clouds Facebook LinkedIn Second Life Multiverse Amazon Affiliates ThisNext Twitter Jaiku Tumblr Ozimodo

Social media are the forums, blogs, social networks, chat and any other media where users communicate with one another

You Tube

SlideShare

Wikipedia

Digg

Del.icio.us

Search tag clouds

Facebook

LinkedIn

Second Life

Multiverse

Amazon Affiliates

ThisNext

Twitter

Jaiku

Tumblr

Ozimodo

Sum is greater than each of the parts

How to use Social Media Effectively Conversation Listen Participate Engage

Conversation

Listen

Participate

Engage

Where to start Listen! Start Small Participate Be Active and Authentic

Dell Hell – 3 Years On: Michael Dell 2.0, Thanks for holding Dell now has a squad of 42 full time employees whose job is to spend their days responding via Twitter, Facebook, Dell blogs, and other Web 2.0 sites The first user-generated laptop recently appeared based on input solicited via IdeaStorm, including more color options, better battery life, fingerprint readers, and more Business Impact: Dell’s gross margins have increased 19.1% (from 16.6% last year) Dell’s online community efforts have offered 10K fixes that have been viewed 2.5M times (saving millions on phone support) People are saying much nicer things about Dell and the Dell brand online Michael Dell will be your friend on Facebook. On adding blogs and message boards via the Dell site: “If we don’t do that at Dell.Com, it’s going to be on CNET or somewhere. I’d rather have that conversation in my living room than somebody elses.”

Dell now has a squad of 42 full time employees whose job is to spend their days responding via Twitter, Facebook, Dell blogs, and other Web 2.0 sites

The first user-generated laptop recently appeared based on input solicited via IdeaStorm, including more color options, better battery life, fingerprint readers, and more

Business Impact:

Dell’s gross margins have increased 19.1% (from 16.6% last year)

Dell’s online community efforts have offered 10K fixes that have been viewed 2.5M times (saving millions on phone support)

People are saying much nicer things about Dell and the Dell brand online

Michael Dell will be your friend on Facebook.

Nearly 2 millions users on

What is Twitter is a company, offering a microblogging service Twitter allows you to connect with your clients directly on their cell phone or computer in a non-obtrusive way Twitter lets you post short text updates (140 characters maximum) from a computer or handheld device that repeatedly answer the question, "What are you doing?" Your updates are listed chronologically on a personal page that can read like a Red Bull-fueled day-planner. Others can sign up to follow your "Tweets," as they're called, and you can follow theirs You can set up a keyword, such as a company's name, and see how it is being used in the Twittersphere.

Twitter is a company, offering a microblogging service

Twitter allows you to connect with your clients directly on their cell phone or computer in a non-obtrusive way

Twitter lets you post short text updates (140 characters maximum) from a computer or handheld device that repeatedly answer the question, "What are you doing?"

Your updates are listed chronologically on a personal page that can read like a Red Bull-fueled day-planner.

Others can sign up to follow your "Tweets," as they're called, and you can follow theirs

You can set up a keyword, such as a company's name, and see how it is being used in the Twittersphere.

Twitter Tip: Register your Twitter name without the use of spaces or underscores Lock up your full name if it’s available and not too long My UNIQUE branded username uniquely available on ALL social networks is: @delphrb People want to network with people Twitter usernames will become valuable real estate just like Web sites were back in the 90‘s. So “ lock em up! “ When you join first Twitter, put a picture up immediately—before following anyone How to get started on

Twitter Tip: Register your Twitter name without the use of spaces or underscores

Lock up your full name if it’s available and not too long

My UNIQUE branded username uniquely available on ALL social networks is: @delphrb

People want to network with people

Twitter usernames will become valuable real estate just like Web sites were back in the 90‘s.

So “ lock em up! “

When you join first Twitter, put a picture up immediately—before following anyone

Build your You select people to follow, and people choose to follow you . community It ’ s about connecting with 10 people who reach 100 who reach 1,000

Think … Think …People can Twitter how great or bad an event is and the world will find out in seconds… Think …major announcement at an exclusive event Think…with twitter: it is out in seconds Think… No need to wait for a website to be updated or a paper to be created.. just evolution Think of Twitter as something between microblogging and sending public instant messages Think: iPhone launch: when the 2nd generation came out it was on Twitter in seconds - then people blogged about it, then eventually TV and news web sites told people - who already knew… (Source: Karl Roche) It’s about connecting with 10 people who reach 100 who reach 1,000

Think …People can Twitter how great or bad an event is and the world will find out in seconds…

Think …major announcement at an exclusive event

Think…with twitter: it is out in seconds

Think… No need to wait for a website to be updated

or a paper to be created.. just evolution

Think of Twitter as something between microblogging and sending public instant messages

Think: iPhone launch: when the 2nd generation came out it was on Twitter in seconds - then people blogged about it, then eventually TV and news web sites told people - who already knew…

(Source: Karl Roche)

It’s about connecting with 10 people who reach 100 who reach 1,000

as a powerful marketing weapon Twitter in your marketing strategy : building relationships with prospective clients promoting events providing insight and commentary on an event in real time promoting special offers facilitating collaborative experience building conversation and relationship sending press releases opening dialogue between promoter and promotion participants website traffic generation Imagine being able to immediately reach customers and prospects with breaking news at zero cost…

Twitter in your marketing strategy :

building relationships with prospective clients

promoting events

providing insight and commentary on an event in real time

promoting special offers

facilitating collaborative experience

building conversation and relationship

sending press releases

opening dialogue between promoter and promotion participants

website traffic generation

Here’s a random sample of companies using Twitter as part of their social media marketing efforts: Amazon Dell Woot MTV Music Video Awards Mac Rumors ESPN Carnival Cruise lines Intel Software CNN Delta Airlines Eleven Marketing And here’s a few news sites using Twitter to their advantage: CNN New York Times BBC Do use Twitter to sell your products, ideas, offers, insights, etc Do advertise your Twitter account on your website, biz card and marketing literature Do create a conversation. Add your users to your Twitter account Don’t spam Use Twitter as one more tool in your social media toolbox. Do’s and Don’t

Here’s a random sample of companies using Twitter as part of their social media marketing efforts:

Amazon

Dell

Woot

MTV Music Video Awards

Mac Rumors

ESPN

Carnival Cruise lines

Intel Software

CNN

Delta Airlines

Eleven Marketing

And here’s a few news sites using Twitter to their advantage:

CNN

New York Times

BBC

Do use Twitter to sell your products, ideas, offers, insights, etc

Do advertise your Twitter account on your website, biz card and marketing literature

Do create a conversation. Add your users to your Twitter account

Don’t spam

Use Twitter as one more tool in your social media toolbox.

Using for Marketing in 5 steps Listen and learn Publish valuable news and information Distribute promotions Create or extend your brand personality Engage in conversations and customer service

Listen and learn

Publish valuable news and information

Distribute promotions

Create or extend your brand personality

Engage in conversations and customer service

To improve your experience Capitalize on applications that make your use of Twitter much more efficient. Applications like Twittertise , Twittad , Tweet Later and Tweet Pro afford you certain advantages which Twitter on its own doesn’t provide. You can schedule your tweets to be sent on a certain date, advertise on Twitter and brand your communication with these applications. Twhirl It offers various configuration options to adapt to your personal needs. Twhirl also connects to multiple micro-blogging sites including Twitter, identi.ca, Friendfeed and seesmic accounts. Update your Facebook etc… TwitterFox It’s a Firefox extension that notifies you of your friends' tweets of Twitter. This extension adds a tiny icon on the status bar that notifies you when your friends update their tweets. TweetDeck It enables users to split their main feed (All Tweets) into topic or group specific columns allowing a broader overview of tweets. will automatically update allowing you to keep track of a twitter threads http://twitter.grader.com - measures the power of a profile http://twollow.com/ - put in key words like ibm or communications and it will automatically add you to people with those words in there profile http://www.mrtweet.net – Mr Tweet is your personal twitter assistant - add me as a friend, and I'll suggest to you which influencers and followers you should check out

Best Practices for using Use 3 rd party tools to consolidate/filter (Digsby, TweetDeck, Hootsuite, etc.) Don't be afraid to unfollow Be careful about following people who will dominate your stream Be clear who you are and who you represent Consider separate accounts for business and personal Tweet something that's worth replying to Think “What is important to me?”

Use 3 rd party tools to consolidate/filter (Digsby, TweetDeck, Hootsuite, etc.)

Don't be afraid to unfollow

Be careful about following people who will dominate your stream

Be clear who you are and who you represent

Consider separate accounts for business and personal

Tweet something that's worth replying to

Think “What is important to me?”

How to get started with Sign up at www.Facebook.com Complete your profile as much as possible Add some Friends Look at your Friends pages to get ideas for your pages Edit your settings to adjust security Consider adding the application to your Blackberry Visit http://www.facebook.com/help/new_user_guide.php and http://www.ehow.com/articles_4500-facebook.html to read more suggestions

Sign up at www.Facebook.com

Complete your profile as much as possible

Add some Friends

Look at your Friends pages to get ideas for your pages

Edit your settings to adjust security

Consider adding the application to your Blackberry

Visit http://www.facebook.com/help/new_user_guide.php and http://www.ehow.com/articles_4500-facebook.html to read more suggestions

Best Practices for using Sophos recommended privacy settings for Facebook : http://www.sophos.com/security/best-practice/facebook.html DIOSA Best Practices: http://www.diosacommunications.com/facebookbestpractices.htm Suggested Best Practices for Advertising on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ads/best_practices.php

Sophos recommended privacy settings for Facebook : http://www.sophos.com/security/best-practice/facebook.html

DIOSA Best Practices: http://www.diosacommunications.com/facebookbestpractices.htm

Suggested Best Practices for Advertising on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ads/best_practices.php

How to get started with Create a compelling profile Define yourself What you have done What you want to do Build your network Provide a context/reason to connect Get the most from your connections Ask and answer questions Recommend and introduce colleagues Manage your social network

Create a compelling profile

Define yourself

What you have done

What you want to do

Build your network

Provide a context/reason to connect

Get the most from your connections

Ask and answer questions

Recommend and introduce colleagues

Manage your social network

Best Practices for using Use a professional looking photo for your professional network “ Do something” a couple of times a week Read updates daily Check to make sure you are being viewed Build a large, diverse network Diverse networks provide non-redundant data and increase benefits and productivity Provide “honest” recommendations Make sure your company is listed and that employees are connected to that listing. Make sure that your SMEs have profiles and recommendations View company/personal profiles and recommendations when choosing vendors

Use a professional looking photo for your professional network

“ Do something” a couple of times a week

Read updates daily

Check to make sure you are being viewed

Build a large, diverse network

Diverse networks provide non-redundant data and increase benefits and productivity

Provide “honest” recommendations

Make sure your company is listed and that employees are connected to that listing.

Make sure that your SMEs have profiles and recommendations

View company/personal profiles and recommendations when choosing vendors

WARNINGS Hearing through the noise Addiction Be Cautious Be Diligent Report suspicious behavior Communicate and Monitor if you have kids Research security settings

Hearing through the noise

Addiction

Be Cautious

Be Diligent

Report suspicious behavior

Communicate and Monitor if you have kids

Research security settings

Recommendations Social Networks will help you: Deepen your knowledge Broaden your network Strengthen your reputation Having diverse friends helps Being a bridge between a lot of people is not helpful. The number of people reachable in 3 steps is positively correlated with higher performance. Perhaps frequent communication to the same person may imply redundant information exchange.

Social Networks will help you:

Deepen your knowledge

Broaden your network

Strengthen your reputation

Having diverse friends helps

Being a bridge between a lot of people is not helpful.

The number of people reachable in 3 steps is positively correlated with higher performance.

Perhaps frequent communication to the same person may imply redundant information exchange.

Be a friend Don’t just “friend” someone – act on it! Where can you give/support? How can you encourage someone? Who can you recommend? In what ways can you use your network to help someone else? Use the tools to help others The goal should not be to have more friends, the goal should be to be a friend.

Don’t just “friend” someone – act on it!

Where can you give/support?

How can you encourage someone?

Who can you recommend?

In what ways can you use your network to help someone else?

Use the tools to help others

The goal should not be to have more friends, the goal should be to be a friend.

Summary Don't discourage social networking Embrace it as a business tool Encourage others to be involved

Don't discourage social networking

Embrace it as a business tool

Encourage others to be involved

Questions? Contact Me Email: [email_address] or [email_address] Skype/ AIM: dvdstphns Google Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/dvdwstphns LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dvdstphns Flickr Sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64922863@N00/sets/ Twitter Profile: http://twitter.com/dvdstphns

Contact Me

Email: [email_address] or [email_address]

Skype/ AIM: dvdstphns

Google Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/dvdwstphns

LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dvdstphns

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Backup Slides

Using Twitter for Marketing in 5 steps Listen and learn Publish valuable news and information Distribute promotions Create or extend your brand personality Engage in conversations and customer service

Listen and learn

Publish valuable news and information

Distribute promotions

Create or extend your brand personality

Engage in conversations and customer service

1. Listen and learn As with other social media, the most important first step is to listen to the conversations. See what people are saying about you on Twitter. The daily thoughts of so many people can be an incredibly rich source of information on the perceptions of your brand, products and services. The easiest way to start listening is to visit search.twitter.com and enter your brand and related keywords. To view the volume of conversation about your brand, products, or offerings, on Twitter, also try Twist . There are also several social media analytics services that track Twitter as part of their package, such as Techrigy SM2 and Collective Intellect .

As with other social media, the most important first step is to listen to the conversations. See what people are saying about you on Twitter. The daily thoughts of so many people can be an incredibly rich source of information on the perceptions of your brand, products and services.

The easiest way to start listening is to visit search.twitter.com and enter your brand and related keywords.

To view the volume of conversation about your brand, products, or offerings, on Twitter, also try Twist . There are also several social media analytics services that track Twitter as part of their package, such as Techrigy SM2 and Collective Intellect .

2. Publish valuable news and information Only after you've listened a while and understand the style and etiquette of Twitter communications should you consider creating an account and posting content. An easy starting point is to publish regular news and updates that is already distributed via other channels: Product announcements Press release headlines Events Press coverage Blog posts Examples of companies publishing news updates include Oracle , Salesforce and Apple , which unfortunately appears to ignore Twitter except during Steve Jobs' presentations. Don’t limit yourself to pushing existing content. After all, only truly passionate customers will follow your tweets if all you provide is news they can already get elsewhere. Your Twitter presence won't grab attention if all it does is link to other content, like Salesforce does. Think about new and different bits of content that your prospects and customers will find valuable. Example: JetBlue often uses Twitter to post weather alerts or travel tips that make travelling easier

Only after you've listened a while and understand the style and etiquette of Twitter communications should you consider creating an account and posting content.

An easy starting point is to publish regular news and updates that is already distributed via other channels:

Product announcements

Press release headlines

Events

Press coverage

Blog posts

Examples of companies publishing news updates include Oracle , Salesforce and Apple , which unfortunately appears to ignore Twitter except during Steve Jobs' presentations.

Don’t limit yourself to pushing existing content. After all, only truly passionate customers will follow your tweets if all you provide is news they can already get elsewhere.

Your Twitter presence won't grab attention if all it does is link to other content, like Salesforce does.

Think about new and different bits of content that your prospects and customers will find valuable.

Example: JetBlue often uses Twitter to post weather alerts or travel tips that make travelling easier

3. Distribute promotions Twitter is an effective channel for sending out promotional messages. Timely sales and coupons are easy to distribute on Twitter, and the fast nature of the Twitterverse means that people can respond to the promotions quickly. DellOutlet regularly posts offers with codes for special discounts @IBMClearance has just been launched by the ibm.com team But let's face it, blasting people with your news and special offers simply won't cut it for the great majority of Twitter users. Most people don't want to follow you on Twitter for the factual information and offers you might publish. They're interested in you because they want to engage with the brand in some way. They want to hear the voice and personality of the brand.

Twitter is an effective channel for sending out promotional messages. Timely sales and coupons are easy to distribute on Twitter, and the fast nature of the Twitterverse means that people can respond to the promotions quickly.

DellOutlet regularly posts offers with codes for special discounts

@IBMClearance has just been launched by the ibm.com team

But let's face it, blasting people with your news and special offers simply won't cut it for the great majority of Twitter users.

Most people don't want to follow you on Twitter for the factual information and offers you might publish. They're interested in you because they want to engage with the brand in some way. They want to hear the voice and personality of the brand.

4. Create or extend your brand personality Social media spaces such as Twitter are where personalities meet If you come across as a monolithic, faceless, you will be ignored If you take the time to hone a voice and personality, people are much more likely to engage with you. Be real, authentic, interesting. Figure out your voice first Twitter is far more valuable for distributing brand personality than it is for merely delivering content Companies that are engaging users on Twitter aren't succeeding just because of the information they supply; it's the voice and style of delivery that makes the difference H&R Block : Few people get warm fuzzies when thinking about H&R Block. But on Twitter, H&R Block has a voice that is approachable and helpful. People are exposed to an H&R Block that expands their perceptions of the brand through their tweets Similarly, Crocs uses Twitter to express its unique brand personality and get people excited about shoes The CEO of Zappos uses Twitter regularly to talk about products, parties he attends and anything else on his mind. His voice becomes the voice of Zappos for Twitter readers

Social media spaces such as Twitter are where personalities meet

If you come across as a monolithic, faceless, you will be ignored

If you take the time to hone a voice and personality, people are much more likely to engage with you. Be real, authentic, interesting. Figure out your voice first

Twitter is far more valuable for distributing brand personality than it is for merely delivering content

Companies that are engaging users on Twitter aren't succeeding just because of the information they supply; it's the voice and style of delivery that makes the difference

H&R Block : Few people get warm fuzzies when thinking about H&R Block. But on Twitter, H&R Block has a voice that is approachable and helpful. People are exposed to an H&R Block that expands their perceptions of the brand through their tweets

Similarly, Crocs uses Twitter to express its unique brand personality and get people excited about shoes

The CEO of Zappos uses Twitter regularly to talk about products, parties he attends and anything else on his mind. His voice becomes the voice of Zappos for Twitter readers

5. Engage in conversations and customer service Twitter is about conversations, not monologues. Twitter is about talking with people, not merely at them. While publishing content and creating personality are starting points and should be components of your Twitter strategy, it shouldn't stop there. Make friends on Twitter. If people follow you, follow them too. Create a community not a soapbox Reply to others . This critical component of your Twitter activity makes all the difference, because it shows you want to engage with customers and listen to them. When people make a comment or ask a question, respond quickly and authentically. Respond like a real person, Here's a typical conversation JetBlue engages in on Twitter: Customer: @jetblue where can I find your checked bag policy? Does a car seat count as an extra bag? JetBlue: children's car seats don't count as a second checked bag (and can also be gate checked if you find that easier) Customer: Thanks much. I'm ready to be a happy jetter tomorrow This simple dialogue answers a customer's question, and because Twitter is a public forum, it also informs other customers and displays JetBlue's responsiveness and service

Twitter is about conversations, not monologues.

Twitter is about talking with people, not merely at them. While publishing content and creating personality are starting points and should be components of your Twitter strategy, it shouldn't stop there.

Make friends on Twitter. If people follow you, follow them too. Create a community not a soapbox

Reply to others . This critical component of your Twitter activity makes all the difference, because it shows you want to engage with customers and listen to them.

When people make a comment or ask a question, respond quickly and authentically. Respond like a real person, Here's a typical conversation JetBlue engages in on Twitter:

Customer: @jetblue where can I find your checked bag policy? Does a car seat count as an extra bag?

JetBlue: children's car seats don't count as a second checked bag (and can also be gate checked if you find that easier)

Customer: Thanks much. I'm ready to be a happy jetter tomorrow

This simple dialogue answers a customer's question, and because Twitter is a public forum, it also informs other customers and displays JetBlue's responsiveness and service

Be proactive in starting conversations . Listen for mentions of your brand, read them, and take the lead in starting a conversation. Example of how Comcast reached out to a customer who said something about them: Customer: my comcast internet has been down since yesterday. so not cool, comcast. esp w ur already low customer satisfaction #s Comcast: Can I help? Customer: i tweeted about my 24hrs of dead comcast internet and @comcastcares answered my cry for help in secs. No. 2999 why i am in awe over Twitter! plus i have a new found respect for comcast. thank you, @comcastcares Helping one customer at a time where everyone can see it can make a real difference in brand sentiment. And those good experiences are being shared beyond Twitter, where blog entries and word of mouth generate broader benefits. Because success on Twitter requires these types of back-and-forth interactions, it requires dedication and resources. You can't create a Twitter account, post a press release once a month, and expect an instant audience of thousands … It takes some time and investment to build a network… 5. Engage in conversations and customer service

Be proactive in starting conversations .

Listen for mentions of your brand, read them, and take the lead in starting a conversation.

Example of how Comcast reached out to a customer who said something about them:

Customer: my comcast internet has been down since yesterday. so not cool, comcast. esp w ur already low customer satisfaction #s

Comcast: Can I help?

Customer: i tweeted about my 24hrs of dead comcast internet and @comcastcares answered my cry for help in secs. No. 2999 why i am in awe over Twitter! plus i have a new found respect for comcast. thank you, @comcastcares

Helping one customer at a time where everyone can see it can make a real difference in brand sentiment. And those good experiences are being shared beyond Twitter, where blog entries and word of mouth generate broader benefits.

Because success on Twitter requires these types of back-and-forth interactions, it requires dedication and resources.

You can't create a Twitter account, post a press release once a month, and expect an instant audience of thousands … It takes some time and investment to build a network…

Different ways to use Twitter To update customers of the company deals and coupon codes: 1. Dell has created a number of Twitter profiles, each meant for different types of deals (e.g. DellOutlet posts recent refurbished Dell computer offers). 2. Starbucks posts new offers and also participates in threaded discussions of these offers with their Twitter-followers. To offer an alternative customer support option: 3. JetBlue offers Twitter-based customer service (notice, they even provide the customer support employee’s name currently on duty). 4. ComCast offers a friendly Twitter customer support; what I personally like about their profile is the real person photo instead of the company logo. To get closer to customers: 5. Via their Twitter profile Southwest Airlines run non-official, entertaining discussions with their customers. 6. HRBlock runs ask-and-answer sessions with their customers. 7. Best Buy has built Gina Community to communicate with their customers and friends. To react to customers’ feedback 8. Popeyes answers their clients’ feedback in an entertaining tone and also updates their Twitter listeners of the current deals and discounts To offer an alternative subscription option : 9. ATTNews updates their Twitter-followers of the news published at the site. 10. Forrester Research posts updates of their site recent discussions. To post company news : 11. BreakingPoint posts updates of the company and industry news and also discusses it with their Twitter-listeners. 12. Samsung has created a Twitter account dedicated to mobile phones and posts both the company (US department) and product news there To promote the corporate blog : 13. Kodak Chief Blogger both posts the company blog updates and discusses them with the company customers.

To update customers of the company deals and coupon codes:

1. Dell has created a number of Twitter profiles, each meant for different types of deals (e.g. DellOutlet posts recent refurbished Dell computer offers).

2. Starbucks posts new offers and also participates in threaded discussions of these offers with their Twitter-followers.

To offer an alternative customer support option:

3. JetBlue offers Twitter-based customer service (notice, they even provide the customer support employee’s name currently on duty).

4. ComCast offers a friendly Twitter customer support; what I personally like about their profile is the real person photo instead of the company logo.

To get closer to customers:

5. Via their Twitter profile Southwest Airlines run non-official, entertaining discussions with their customers.

6. HRBlock runs ask-and-answer sessions with their customers.

7. Best Buy has built Gina Community to communicate with their customers and friends.

To react to customers’ feedback

8. Popeyes answers their clients’ feedback in an entertaining tone and also updates their Twitter listeners of the current deals and discounts

To offer an alternative subscription option :

9. ATTNews updates their Twitter-followers of the news published at the site.

10. Forrester Research posts updates of their site recent discussions.

To post company news :

11. BreakingPoint posts updates of the company and industry news and also discusses it with their Twitter-listeners.

12. Samsung has created a Twitter account dedicated to mobile phones and posts both the company (US department) and product news there

To promote the corporate blog :

13. Kodak Chief Blogger both posts the company blog updates and discusses them with the company customers.