I was discussing Twitter with my husband the other day and he was saying that he really didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, ‘it’s all just celebrity tittle-tattle isn’t it?’ he asked.
Well no, it isn’t.
The social media phenomenon Twitter is reaching into all corners of life. And it’s really exciting.
• People use it to keep in touch with friends and follow celebrities.
• Journalists use it to see what‘s ‘trending’ and know what stories people want to read about. There are even columns in the UK press with ‘The Best Tweets of the Day’.
• Businesses use it to keep customers informed and sell them stuff.
• Revolutionaries are using it to topple governments.
• Entrepreneurs are using it for inspiration.
And the list can go on!
Inspiring Art
Illustrator – Nick Hilditch – uses Twitter posts to inspire his drawings which he then sells on the Internet as prints.
Along with his partner, Chris Bell, they search for funny or quirky tweets which Nick then turns into an illustration – taking about an hour to complete. This is just a bit of fun but do have a look at their work – it’s very good.
Finding Customers
Dell – the computer giant – is often quoted as the company that exploits Twitter the best. They tweet time-limited offers increasing foot-fall in their shops.
Another one I came across was a local beauty salon that would tweet offers on cancelled appointments. This meant she could get a message out to her customers as soon as a booking was cancelled and get it filled – even if the cancellation was only an hour before the appointment.
Causing a Storm
And now, because of Twitter and other Social Media the British Parliament is in disarray over privacy laws.
But be warned – Twitter can also be abused by spreading lies about people and companies, having a damaging effect on reputations.
So, there you go. Twitter isn’t just about celebrity tittle-tattle. See if you can think of a way of using it creatively for business or to find an idea to start a business. And don’t forget to follow Business Training’s tweets.
