How to use ‘TwitBook-In’ [kwiqq]

Posted on | March 11, 2009 | No Comments

I’m intrigued how many people ask me the question “How do you use Twitter ?” , “Any examples of LinkedIn being useful to your business ?” As a company which eats its own dog food i.e. market our service and product using social media we use social tools frequently. For the purpose of this blog I’m deliberetly keeping the list to the bare minimum.

How to use Social Media ?

Before going into detail on each tool my over all analysis on using these tools:

1. Make accounts on most social networks / tools, although use the ones which work for you.
2. Correct usage of tools: Each social tool has a purpose and would be most beneficial is used correctly. For instance I use Twitter status to update my professional contacts, whilst my friends are updated on my status through Facebook.
3. Social Tools = More response: Social media aware users are generally more respondent when contacted through these tools as oppose to emails.
4. Assigning tools for a purpose: Its generally good to assign use for each tool. For me Twitter = Finding people, LinkedIn = Find user’s background, Facebook = Communicate with friends.
5. More usage is better: The more you use these social tools the more benefits you discover. I guess its like most things in life

Here are some of the ways we use these tools and in the process has made us a a profit i.e. financial, social or knowledge gain:

Twitter: Twitter is a fantastic way to find new and existing members of your community. I associate my self with marketers, innovators, entrepreneurs etc, hence that is my virtual community. Through Twitter I have met several people and had useful conversations. Many people have discovered our blog thorugh Twitter and have become regular followers.

Twitter is not ideal for long rants quiet the opposite. Its brilliant for sharing snippets of information or as someone discribed, headline news. Twitter is not great at tracking for sales or ROI on a tweet unlike Blogs. For instance with a blog you can track which post converted into a client with Twitter thats next to impossible.

Facebook: Facebook is my way to keep in touch with friends both personal and professional. Although as you would expect its more for personal branding. Generally though I use it to keep on top of social circles and all the gossip. If a professional contact adds me to Facebook generally they would be marked as a professional contact (using friends list) and hence have a limited profile.

Several times in the past I have been invited to events or potential clients (especially in the entertainment sector) connected with me on Facebook. Not adding professional contacts on Facebook could be a potential loss of business.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn for me is a network of online CVs. Its a great way to research a person in your professional circle. Couple of times I have used the Question and Answers section on LinkedIn and found it useful but its certainly not a straight forward way of getting new business. Saying that new layout of LinkedIn (more like Facebook) could potentially make this an interesting tool going forward.

Blog:I obviously blog regularly on Kwiqq and RajAnand.biz. Its a tried and tested way of getting clients and I guess everybody knows that now. Although perhaps less commonly known fact is that commenting on others blogs can generate far more traffic and sales leads. Try it !

Email: A bit old school although as useful as it was when I first used it. I have two emails, one for my personal use and other for all professional liaison. Generally speaking all my social networking notifications come into my inbox, hence this is where I start my social media conversations.

I’m not a big fan of email newsletters, although I can see why its useful and an important sales tool for businesses. Increasingly Twitter DM is replacing my email, although I can guarantee, it wouldn’t completely make emails redundant !

Other Niche networks: Some experts said ’2008 is the year of niche social networking’. Well guess that certainly is the case for me. I regularly use these sites: Courvoisier Future 500, A Small World and YouNoodle.

The first two sites are invite only business owner / entrepreneur / creative people network and the last social website is for anyone running/working in a start-up environment. I not only contribute to the discussion (or as many would say ‘noise’) but also start new topics which might be of interest for others.

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