To Tweet or Not to Tweet - That is the Question

Despite the fact I’m intrigued by social media, most of my friends don’t use Twitter. For now, I suppose, they don’t feel compelled to share their thoughts with the world via the popular social networking site. That’s okay because there are lots of good reasons for individuals not to Twitter.

On the other hand, many businesses are now using Twitter or at least starting to test the waters. However, twittering is hard work. While the upfront costs of creating a Twitter account are minimal, the ongoing care and feeding of it takes a concerted effort from someone dedicated to the cause. When customers send a company a tweet, they expect a timely response. To build a community of followers, content must be fresh and interesting. And, in order for a company to monitor its online reputation, someone needs sort through online clutter to scrutinize relevant tweets.

Like any social media tool, Twitter should be part of a broader marketing strategy, but the potential upside of using it to communicate with customers, prospects, journalists and other key influencers is promising. Tom Pick makes a compelling case for why businesses should use Twitter in his recent blog.

Also, if you’re just learning about Twitter check out this useful post by Elyssa Pallai “5 Simple Listening Twitter Tips Every Marketer Should Know.” Twitter can be a valuable tool if you carefully consider the work and resources it’ll require before you start.




Kathy Harrell Babin is a senior marketing and communications strategist for Antiphony. In addition to helping companies market their products and tell their stories, she enjoys vegetarian cooking, yoga, running, and spending time with her husband, kids and labrador retriever.