Twitter = Marketing Tool? 5 Examples That Answer The Question

Before I go ahead I would like to make a confession : I am pretty addicted to Twitter. When I first started using Twitter it was more of a “let’s see what it can do” approach but as I dived more into it, I started seeing the ultimate value that it can provide, both as a marketing and networking platform. I have been using Twitter to network with other like minded people to gain recognition as well as to promote anything I write or contents that I submit to other social media sites. The result has been nothing but phenomenal. Today, I just wanted to share a few instances as how Twitter can benefit as a business marketing tool. I will try and talk of 5 industries that have been using twitter to tap into the social media and promote themselves or their product/services.

1. Job recruitment service : Twitter can be a huge, huge marketing channel for job recruitment services. The fact that you can reach millions of people within a matter of seconds is very appealing and serves the purpose well for a job recruitment service. Imagine you have a web designing company and you are hiring web designers. Twitter would be the ultimate platform for you to announce a job opening given that most twitter users are web savvy and I can guarantee, depending on your own popularity on twitter finding an ideal candidate would be a matter of minutes or a few hours at the most.Example : CareerBuilder
   

   
   Note : CareerBuilder’s profile on Twitter isn’t “Careerbuilder.” Possible reason can be found at the end of this post. However, I was able to come across two profiles created by CareerBuilder which shows they are targeting specific market in specific cities. Example : NewYorkCityTechJobs and ChicagoTechJobs

2. News Channels : As of now twitter is pretty much considered to be faster when it comes to breaking news than the major news sites itself. It is considered to be the central hub for citizen journalists and why wouldn’t it. This platform allows users to share news as it happens. You are walking down the street and you see something and you might be the first one to break it to the public via twitter, even before the news channels can get it. This is one of the reason why major news channels have opted to create their own space and connect with the masses via Twitter.Example : CNN
   
3. Blogs : Although mostly blogs aren’t considered as businesses, some people have been able to use blogs as a form of business either directly or indirectly. Bloggers generate revenue through their sites either directly or indirectly. Most bloggers use Twitter as a marketing tool to promote their latest article as well as to promote their services. All in all, twitter allows individuals to create a brand and helps them gain recognition within the community. Once such blogger happens to be a very good friend of mine, Michael Martine. He uses twitter to interact with other community members and also to help promote his brand and blog. A win win situation for everyone as Michael’s content and consultation is a valuable gift to other twitter users and in turn Michael is able to use this both to network and create a brand.Example : Remarkablogger
4. Hospitals : Yes, hospitals. Although I might be quite wrong to use hospitals as a “business form” here we all know that they operate with profit in mind. Hospitals and health care service providers have been using Twitter as well to make announcement and reach a larger crowd. If a social media service is being used by hospitals to promote and announce anything that might be of interest to the public, it has to be a great marketing channel, right? I will answer it myself…YES!Example : Mayo Health Clinic
   
5. Web Services : Web services just as any other online or offline businesses can tap into a larger market with the help of Twitter. Whether its to announce something new or to promote a product or service, being on twitter helps you get noticed by some who might otherwise wouldn’t have a clue that your service exists. Twitter is one of the best social media platform out there and it happens to compliment other social media/web services as well.Example : Reddit

There it is, 5 forms of businesses that have been maximizing Twitter’s potential to hit their targeted market on the web. However, do realize that just like the domain snatching game, there might be false profile created by some users on Twitter as well. Before you follow any business make sure to find out a little more so as to confirm that they are legit and not false impression of some businesses. I found some while I was trying to create this post.

At the very beginning of this article I had written that CareerBuilder doesn’t have a profile with its own name. There is a profile but I am not sure if its CareerBuilder’s. I think a company that has Twitter profiles based on cities probably wouldn’t let it go this unnoticed within twitter community, but again that is my personal opinion.

Although the profile name says “radioshack,” this can’t be a radioshack’s profile which can be clearly seen from the highlighted text.

A few more to look at,

The images above show the profile names representing the two big retailers : WalMart and BestBuy. I would think that if these really were the company profile they would try and maximize this form of marketing….but again you never know but it sure as heck seems fishy.

This is one of the reason I urge you to start a twitter profile based on your business/blog/site and or name just to make sure noone else grabs it. Its a great way to market yourself and promote your services and products to a specific target market.

If you would like to follow me on Twitter please follow this link. Your turn to talk.

note :  CareerBuilder, RadioShack, WalMart and BestBuy profiles featured here are based on my understanding and may not be true.