284 million people. That’s how many users actively use Twitter on a monthly basis. What does this mean for your business? Just think about how many potential customers are on Twitter. You can reach out to many people who would otherwise not know of your business’ existence.

You can broaden your brand image, grow a loyal following and increase traffic to your website. All of which can be done through simple updates to your social media profiles. Your nephew uses Twitter, how hard can it really be?

How hard can it really be?

There isn’t a definitive answer to this question. In all honesty, it’s a combination of saying the right things, at the right time, engaging with the right people and having good luck. It isn’t easy, but it can be done.

It doesn’t matter what kind of business you are or what market you’re in. You could be perceived as the dullest business out there and still have an interesting and engaging Twitter profile. The way you present yourself online, the way you engage with people and contribute to the community, that’s what can increase your online influence and increase your sales.

The things you’ll be remembered by are the additional benefits you offer besides your services/products, so for example; excellent customer service, informative general advice, or an interesting campaign you have run online.

Even if you offer an uninteresting product, when the time comes that someone needs it, they might remember you from your social media profile. They might be more likely to buy from you rather than a competitor.

This is why it’s crucial to present yourself well online, because the exact opposite could happen if you have a negative brand image.

What opportunities are available?

With Twitter, you will be able to provide information about your products and services to potential customers; present your followers with discounts, ask them questions, and much more. Your engagement on Twitter can be useful when creating a piece of content for your website, as you can retrieve information about what your customers are interested in and the sorts of things they have problems with.

You can keep an eye on your competitors, see where they are going wrong, and where they are going right. You can also connect with customers, ask for feedback and provide information. Who knows, you might even go viral!

Still don’t think Twitter is important for business? Why don’t you try it out for yourself? Let’s face it, we’re entering a technology driven generation. The majority of people will be on Twitter, including your competition. Don’t let them get a step ahead of you – get on Twitter.

Let us know what you think of Twitter in the comments below. Does your business use social media? If not, why? We’d love to hear your thoughts.