Rachel Levy: Social Media & Marketing

When I mention Twitter, I usually end up sitting there listening to all the reasons people DON’T want to use Twitter. And, often times the person hasn’t really used Twitter much, or has just heard these reasons from other people! I figured I’d write them all down, so the Twitter-skeptics don’t have to think of the reasons anymore:

• Why do I want to hear when someone is going for coffee or what they’re having for lunch?
• I don’t want to share that kind of stuff about my life
• It’s too young
• I don’t have time
• I use Facebook instead
• None of my friends use it
• I tried it last year and I didn’t get it
• It’s a waste of time
• I don’t like text-messaging
• It’s just for marketing people
• It’s just for geeks (from @mdurwin)
• I just don’t get it (from @mdurwin and @KarenVazquez)
• I don’t have anything important to say (from @acraKA, @rossmevans and @PamResearchDiva)

Those are all reasonable things to think about Twitter.  And, they can definitely be true if you use Twitter in certain ways.  But, it doesn’t have to be like that!  I thought I’d share some of my tweets from yesterday, and the general category of the benefit of Twitter:

• Opinion/Advice…. Designers– is it common to charge extra to deliver the eps files to your client? OR Consultants… Do you charge for local travel time on hourly projects?
• Help…. Any ideas on where to download a HIGH RES rendition of the “hand pointer” (what appears when you’re about to click on a link on computer)?
• Provide information… Why Google’s real-time search with Facebook and Twitter is so important http://bit.ly/6WkSig
• Learn something… great idea! RT @mlourie: How to embed video into your LinkedIn profile using Google Docs http://bit.ly/5n4NuS
• Promote something for charity… Looking to help someone in need for the holidays? Sponsor a child thru Operation ELF! (AMAZING org I’m involved w/) http://bit.ly/7gyWcm OR RT @johnhaydon Bone marrow match needed for a 4 yr old mixed race girl: http://bit.ly/6UXhP0
• Connection…. Happy birthday to @justinlevy and @adampieniazek! Hope the next year is a great one for you!
• For fun… Damn, headset fell in coffee mug :-(
• Provide Industry information… Four email marketing predictions for 2010 http://bit.ly/6uBNmw

And, that was just in one day!  It’s really amazing what you can do on Twitter, if you take the time to understand how to use it.  Here are even more reasons to use Twitter:

• Spread a message
• Connect with people with similar interests/Networking
• Find customers/evangelists
• Customer Service
• News
• Branding (personal or for business)
• Build community
• Market Research (aka “listening”)
• New business/sales
• Build customer loyalty
• SEO
• Recruit employees

The way I explain Twitter is in terms of Facebook, as most people understand that: “Facebook is about connecting with friends. Twitter is about connecting with people with similar interests.”  I can’t even tell you how much it’s done for me in terms of networking, getting clients, and learning about things that interest me (social media being one of them).  I think it’s about time to give it a REAL try!

(Photo credit: I don’t get it, I hate Twitter)

What other reasons have you heard for people not wanting to use Twitter?  What other benefits have you seen?