Does Twitter Have a Downside for Business Owners?

When it comes to running a business, there are both positive and negative aspects. Over time, through trial and error mostly, you learn to give any negative aspects a positive spin. Twitter is the newest social site with business possibilities. But, is it too much for business owners to handle?

Twitter has many positive traits. First of all, as a business application, there is so much you can do for your existing customers. Twitter can be used to reach them quicker than ever before.

Setting up your customer service to run through your Twitter account allows you to respond to client complaints easier. You can use desktop Twitter applications that notify you when a new tweet is posted so that you can view it. Each client or customer can engage you in a one-on-one conversation if they need to.

This quick response also works for your staff as well. Working on a project? Get the group together on Twitter no matter where in the world they are. Being out of the office is not reason not to be able to brainstorm ideas on a project.

As soon as you introduce new products and offerings, your customers can hear about it on Twitter by subscribing to your feed. There will be no more emails that may or may not get opened by your customers. Twittering is a simple way to avoid spam by only getting tweets from feeds you subscribe to. It is easy for them and you.

Downside?

Now, let’s take a look at the other side of the spectrum. Twitter is addictive on many levels. When you should be working, you could be twittering. So you’ll say that you are just connecting with others to be a good follower but that all stops when no work gets done.

What about the interruptions? Every time you get notified about a new tweet on another feed or someone responds to your tweets you will know about it. It’s as if someone keeps calling you each time they have something to say. It gets annoying in a big way.

Each tweet provides a distraction or a break in concentration. When the money coming into your business depends on you, these distractions could be costing you money.

Remember those tweets? If they are not interesting, you won’t have any followers. Using Twitter for business research or finding new leads can be tricky. Use keywords that will catch people’s eye or they will pass you by.

These are just a few things to think about. Along with the pluses don’t forget to consider the minuses. Twitter is useful for product promotions, giveaways, notices and customer service. Don’t lose your way as you strive to grow your business by getting mired down in endless tweets. Focus on why you are using Twitter.

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Filed under: Twitter News

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