Reading Reflection: Ch. 4 Twitter

The Social Media Workbook's chapter this week was all about Twitter. Personally, I use my Twitter to check on news and see what my friends are talking about. I don't tweet that much. Twitter can either be a huge marketing tool or a huge waste of time based on what the authors talk about in this chapter. Personally it is a waste of time, but after reading this chapter I see how it could be effective for a business or organization.

The basics:

• Twitter is a microblogging platform. There are 140 characters allowed per post. 
• Tweets are often just headliners for a post. 
• You can favorite a tweet, respond to tweet, mention other users using their handle and use hashtags.
• Twitter is customizable in your bio, profile picture, pinned tweet and header images. 

Twitter is the most open form of social media. This can be great, but anyone can set up an account. Anyone can listen in. Anyone can talk to anyone. This makes Twitter the most nosiest platform on social media. 

The authors have some key advice when trying to engage your audiences as an organization. You should stay on top of what the current trends are. Consider having insider or loyalty programs. Will you be posting coupons or bargains? Have on-going discussions with people who follow you. Activate news alerts so that you can keep track of who is talking about you! Know your content and what your audience wants. Utilizing the 80/20 rule and posting 80 percent of fun things and 20 percent of promotional things is key to keeping people engaged. Use the real-world as your promotional strategy to get people talking about you on social media. Twitter isn't for every business or company so think about whether your audience can benefit from this platform. 

Regardless of what platform you are using, social media is about interactivity. Evaluate what your audience wants and needs to hear from you and how that aligns with your business plan or mission statement. Twitter isn't for every business or company so think about whether your audience can benefit from this platform. How can you use Twitter to the best of your ability to connect with your audience and keep them engaged for the future?