Why you should follow someone on Twitter
There's been lots written about why, as a business you should be using Twitter or as an individual
, you should be using Twitter, to communicate with a growing circle of like-minded 'Tweeps' / attract new business etc.
The world is shrinking faster than we realise.
But there's not a lot to suggest why you should follow someone or a particular business or brand.
Here's my take on why you should make the small effort to follow your favourite brands or individuals.
1) The opportunity to converse directly with them.
It's not always possible to pick up the phone, and writing an email - you're never sure it'll reach the right person. With Twitter - you're replying or saying something directly to that person. It may be your deference for their point of view, an opposing argument, a compliment or a testimonial. It might be a technical query or a follow up to an order that you'd like a quick reply to.
2) The opportunity to hear of the latest news first.
When I say first, I mean you and all the other followers of theirs. Twitter is so instant that it makes it the perfect platform to make new product or service announcements, latest news on tours or ticket sales, technical timeouts and restoration of service, even engagements, births and new job vacancies have all been tweeted first.
3) The opportunity to bag a bargain.
I've noticed it more and more where companies and brands (large and small) have announced discounts and special voucher codes - some specifically for their followers on Twitter. By following your favourite brands - who knows? Maybe one day they'll run a special loyalty discount for you?
4) The opportunity to see the real them.
Even business tweeters can't resist letting their personal tastes and lifestyles encroach on their everyday tweets. That's what makes it so unique a medium. By looking back through their tweet history, you can get a sense of 'who they are' and subsequently what they'll be like to do business with. If they sound like your kind of person, if they come over as trustworthy and helpful, you're more likely to buy from them aren't you?
Note to companies: Keep your twitter feed clean or issue acceptable content guidelines if it's a joint account. I do see examples of bad language which just get a swift 'un-follow' for their trouble.
5) The opportunity to learn something.
Perhaps you're in a similar business or follow a similar hobby. With everyone else joining in, it's like an open forum where anybody could pick up on a comment or question and answer it. You just never know who'll be helping you next.
6) The opportunity of a shared experience.
If you saw other tweets singing the praises of a particular brand or product, you'll be more likely to add your own glowing reference. So with Twitter, if someone asks "are they any good?", you'll be able to give an honest reply based on your own experience - good or bad. Twitter knows no sweethearts. Of course, if yours was an isolated experience from the norm, then others have the opportunity to jump in with their own comments.
7) The opportunity to retweet.
Twitter is viral - your message can spread beyond boundaries if it catches enough of your (and subsequently theirs) followers. Savvy businesses should be aware of this and part of the payback for twitter discounts and 'rewards' is that you'll do them the favour of re-tweeting their message to your own followers. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. It's what makes the world go round.
8) The opportunity to be helpful.
How many times do you see someone asking for help? Whether that's tracking down a particular product or service, a spare part, a ticket, a technical or dig question, even a gift idea - you'll find them all crop up from time to time. So how nice to be able to actually send someone a link to a site or tweeter that you think might be able to help them. Beware of nice warm glowing feelings!
I've just rattle this list off the top of my head - I'm sure there are many more reasons why you should or would want to follow a particular brand or company.
What's your experience? Have you found Twitter helped you as a customer or a company? Are you missing an opportunity?
Twitter in action - a neighbour of mine had his very expensive porsche car stolen off his drive. The insurance company were 'dragging their heels' over a replacement. One day he tweeted how fed up he was waiting for (company name). Later that day, he received a tweet from the company asking how they could assist him further? 24 hours later, he had a faxed list of available replacements in the UK and was told to pick one. Within 3 days, the paperwork was complete and he was once again the proud owner of a porsche.
I wonder if he'd still be waiting if it weren't for Twitter? As a company or brand - are you watching for your name to be mentioned and do you have a strategy in place if it is?
Jonathan C Crouch
Why you should follow someone on Twitter
By: Jonathan Crouch
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