Social Networking 101 Part 3: Twitter

Welcome back to our third segment on Social Networking 101. To recap, last week we talked about where to find your Facebook audience. Let's be honest, it's not much of a networking tool if you don't have anyone following your business page. So, I provided helpful suggestions on where to look for potential audience members. I also listed useful places to look for other business pages and groups to 'Like" or join. It's just as important to utilize these tools to keep a pulse on key organizations, businesses and individuals in the industry. These could lead to new business or key networking opportunities for you!

This week we'll discuss the basic inner workings of Twitter. Let's get started!

I’m new to Twitter. How does this work?

Twitter is another social networking tool that's commonly referred to as "micro blogging". Unlike other applications Twitter has a maximum limit of 140 characters. This can make posting a little tricky, but there are tools and tricks available that can help.

Twitter is another real-time application that you can use to stay connected with your customers, organizations, and key leaders. Businesses commonly use Twitter to provide updates to their customers on the latest products, deals, industry updates, etc. But, don't forget to utilize this tool to search for potential business opportunities for yourself.

Tip #1 -
Go to the advanced search page (http://search.twitter.com/advanced). You can search for a particular topic in your geographical region such as #signs, #construction, #signage, #bid (construction), #cre (commercial real estate). With the advanced search option you can narrow your search down by date. Keep a pulse on possible business opportunities by periodically searching for activity in your local area.

Tip #2 -
There are lots of websites dedicated to help and educate beginners. Get versed on how to “tweet” by visiting twitip.com (www.twitip.com). This is a great site to help you learn the basics as well as the advanced features of Twitter. I’d highly suggest you take a moment and visit this site if you’re new to the world of Twitter.

Tip #3 -
Learn the Lingo (@username, RT, #)

Learn how to communicate to you audience by visiting Twitter’s 101 Page, (http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/learning).

I have a Twitter account, now what?

Customize - It’s important to make use of the customization tools available to create a Twitter page that’s representative of your company. First, upload a profile picture to your page. It’s easy to change/update your profile picture, simply go to the settings link located at the top of the page and then click on “Profile”.

Tip #4 -
You’ll need to resize your image to 73 x 73 px. Otherwise, your image will be cropped on your Twitter Home Page.

Next, start customizing your Twitter Page to reflect your band. Go to the settings link and click on the navigation tab labeled “Design”. You have the option to change the background image or change the design colors. Designing a custom background can be a bit tricky, but there are numerous sites out there that provide this service for free. (Check out the link below). Otherwise, you can create a personalized Twitter Page by simply customizing the design colors to mimic your brand.

Tip #5 -
Here’s a helpful link on how to create Twitter backgrounds from Mashable. It also contains useful websites that can help you design a customized background image for your Twitter Page http://mashable.com/2009/05/23/twitter-backgrounds/.

Next week:
We'll continue to discuss the basics of Twitter before we dive into the business applications of this social networking tool.

Did you know Twitter can be leveraged as business tool to connect to potential customers outside of the world of Twitter? Until next week...

Remember:
Building an online presence can be a time-consuming and often complicated process. When it’s done right though, the rewards can be great. Signsearch offers a line of Marketing Solution Products to help you boost your online presence without any of the hassle or time commitment. Visit our products page to learn more.