The document discusses Twitter as a micro-blogging platform, highlighting its dual nature as both a potential time-waster and a valuable tool for businesses and research. It emphasizes the growth in Twitter's user base, its role in brand communication, and the risks of addiction. Examples, including celebrity usage and case studies like 'Comcast Cares', illustrate effective strategies for leveraging Twitter for positive engagement.

1. Introduction to Twitter Waste of time? Useful business tool?

2. What is Twitter? Why Should I Care?

3. What is Twitter? Why Should I Care? How Do I Do It?

4. What is Twitter? Why Should I Care? How Do I Do It? How Is It Used?

5. What is Twitter? Simply – filling in this box saying what you’re doing

6. So let’s see what our colleagues are up to … What is Twitter? Simply – filling in this box saying what you’re doing

7. A tale of how not to use Twitter

8. Twitter can be much more…

9. A ‘Micro-blog’ A Research Tool Useful For Brands Twitter can be much more…

10. All of these celebrities have twitter accounts because they want to be heard

11. Of course, Twitter can be addictive..

12. Of course, Twitter can be addictive.. A source claimed Aniston decided Mayer was not committed enough to her and called time on their romance having found hourly updates on his Twitter page. The source said: "John suddenly stopped calling her or returning her emails and when she would finally catch up with him, he'd say: 'I've been so busy with work. I'm sorry I haven't had time to call you back." Source: Telegraph.co.uk

13. Leading To This… The celebrities have led to this happening - ta lk about Twitter has doubled over the last two months with nearly 1.2% of all blog posts mentioning the micro-blogging site. According to Nielsen Online, Unique visitors to Twitter increased 1382% year-over-year, reaching 7m in February 2009.

14. And it can be a useful research tool… You can subscribe to the FT for business news, and BR for industry information

15. You can subscribe to the FT for business news, and BR for industry information Or BBC Sport for the football scores Or even see what the IPA and Stoke City are up to And it can be a useful research tool…

16. It’s brilliant for finding out quick news…

17. It can be used by businesses and brands for different ends As a pure brand voice

18. To marshal other comms activity It can be used by businesses and brands for different ends As a pure brand voice

19. As a pure brand voice To interact with your audience It can be used by businesses and brands for different ends As a pure brand voice To marshal other comms activity

20. ‘ Comcast Cares’ is a good case study It was created in response to ‘Comcast Sucks’, which was a Twitter feed which broadcast how much the brand had failed It’s led to the negative publicity being erased and becoming positive

21. The Mad Men characters on Twitter demonstrates other things brands could do online These characters were NOT controlled by the brand

22. These characters were NOT controlled by the brand AMC tried to sue, but soon dropped it – they realised Twitter was an effective marketing tool; the characters have hundreds of thousands of followers It started last autumn, where there were at least 75 Mad Men characters - from Don to the office photocopier The Mad Men characters on Twitter demonstrates other things brands could do online

23. Isn’t it a bit egotistical?

24. It’s comfort food. Let me explain:

25. You check it to see the news and what your friends are doing You post to let people know what you are up to After a while, both become reassuring and it’s easy to overindulge – so be careful It’s comfort food. Let me explain: