We are leaving in the word of new media and increased technological developments have resulted in the widespread use of social, media networks. Twitter is one of the social media platforms that have been utilized to revolutionize how people transact businesses. Twitter is widely used in the sharing of information (Bohen 8). It is also used in the following ways: Marketing business, running business promotions, creating rapport with customers and in interaction with business leaders, business research, brand monitoring and other important people in the business industry. Twitter is used as a business, social and economic tool due to the instance with which information reaches all other sections of the society (Arcieri 1).
Twitter is a free platform for blogging, and it enabled people to chat and communicate with each other. Business has taken advantage of the new platform to increase their business fortunes and to gain considerable influence in the industry. Twitter started as a social network but today it has been incorporated as a tool used by business and marketers and companies. They have used it to target their customers and to build their relationship with other players in the industry. Twitter is broadcasting and communication platform that has provided businesses and companies with a chance to enhance their networks and to connect with the rest of the business world (Simon 12). With twitter, communication and feedback are instant hence providing the people with a platform of quick customer service. Twitter is also a critical news site; with twitter news flows throughout the world faster and instantly. This enables businesses to monitor global happenings and activities and leverage on it to increase their global visibility. Twitter has grown to be that important link between companies and customers. The business world is greatly indebted with the power of twitter and how it has transformed their business fortunes. It has shaped and influenced how people interact in a meaningful manner (Weber 76).
Businesses traditionally used other forms of promotion and marketing which were very expensive, but twitter has developed as a modern, cost effective and powerful marketing and advertising tool. Twitter is the home of shared ideas and creativity. Twitter is becoming a home, and community was people and business enriches them both personally and professionally. With twitter, people have managed to grow and make contributions beyond themselves (Weinberg 19).
With approximately 200 million active accounts, with 300,000 people daily, twitter community is indeed a powerful one that should be paid much attention. Twitter has achieved a lot politically and economically (Prodromou 1). Governments have been brought down through uprising campaigns initiated and powered by twitters, business have digitally gone global because of brand visibility that is enhanced through twitter. With the enhancements in new media platforms and the rapid development of e-commerce, purchases can be made online irrespective of geographical boundaries. Twitter can, therefore, be used to promote businesses and market products to attract international customers and to build a large business network (Shaw 19). Twitter exposes customers to an international group of customers. People don’t have to interrupt their business activities in order to monitor advertisements as they are run on televisions and radio but they can read them within the comfort of their homes. Twitter indeed has provided limitless opportunities to businessmen and companies. Unlike early advertisements where individuals are targeted, businesses no longer have to target customers who are uninterested or those people who don’t pay attention. With twitter, businesses can target willing and interested customers; business can design its advertisements that can only reach targeted or niche customers. This indeed is an unprecedented opportunity for businesses (Gilmore 6). Twitter has managed to save business costs because twitter is a free platform, and don’t have to pay in order to place their adverts.
Twitter has provided opportunity for small businesses to grow. This is because it is refreshingly very simple, free and pays dividends. Start-up business has turned to twitter as the primary advertising platform building their strong client loyalty, building brand image and as a hub of affiliate marketing. This, therefore, makes it fit for small businesses that have limited business resources. As compared with building a strong business website, twitter is a no-brainer but the biggest opportunity of targeting traffic. Twitter is a critical part of our lives and in every company contacts and adverts, there are twitter hashtags (Comm 78). Twitter us hitting on mainstream customers and the link between present and prospective customers. As a breaking news hub, businesses use twitter to receive news about new businesses in their industry, promotional events and new products launched in the industry. This stimulates creativity innovation and brand building. Twitter can be used in checking on competition in the market; it makes businesses understand what their competitors are doing, their progress and perceptions. This promotes health competition and growth in the industry (Geho, Smith and Lewis 74).
In conclusion, Businesses have leveraged on twitter in very many ways; these include reinforcing their brands, to promoting their businesses, themselves and products, expanding brand loyalty to schedule events and to organize their meetings and to establish new business prospects.
Works Cited
Arcieri, Katie.” How to use Twitter to grow your business”. American City Business Journals, 2013. Web. 27th February 27, 2014. <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/marketing/2013/09/how-to-use-twitter-to-grow-your-business.html?page=all>
Bohen, Colleen. “Twitter helps businesses get more from tweets” Dance Retailer News 1st June, 2013: 8-9. Print.
Comm, Joel, and Joel Comm. Twitter Power 2.0: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2010. Internet resource.
Geho, Patrick, Smith, Sarah and Lewis, Stephen. “Is twitter a viable commercial use platform for small businesses? An empirical study targeting two audiences in the small business community” The entrepreneurial executive, 15 (2010). 73-86. Print.
Gilmore, Abby. Twitter for Business: A How-to Guide. Phoenix, AZ: VM Press, 2011. Print.
Prodromou, Ted. Ultimate Guide to Twitter for Business: Generate Quality Leads Using Only 140 Characters, Instantly Connect with 300 Million Customers in 10 Minutes, Discover 10 Twitter Tools That Can Be Applied Now. Irvine, Calif: Entrepreneur Media, Inc, 2013. Print.
Shaw, Mark. Twitter Your Business: A Beginner's Guide to Using Twitter to Successfully Promote You and Your Business. S.l: s.n., 2011. Print.
Simon, Phil. The Next Wave of Technologies: Opportunities from Chaos. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Print
Weber, Steve. Twitter Marketing: Promote Yourself and Your Business on Earth's Hottest Social Network. Falls Church, Va.: Weber Books, 2009. Print.
Weinberg, Tamar. The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly, 2009. Print.