Social networking has tweet appeal

A year ago I’d never heard of Twitter, let alone used it or understood how it could help our PR and marketing business. Now – I can’t get enough of it, and tweet (see – I’m even into the social networking language!) several times a day, and am part of a massive Twitter family.

Using Twitter with a business head on means that it is inappropriate for me to tweet about what was great on TV last night or how bad the traffic was on the drive into the office. However, it gives myself and other users in the office yet another platform to spread the PR message in so many different ways.

Brands have been created and expanded upon through Twitter, messages spread, information gathered and contracts gained at the touch of a button with an instant global audience. Many people choose to follow their favourite celebs on Twitter, with Stephen Fry one of the main players - simply as another means of feeding the nation’s desire for celebrity gossip and making us feel that bit closer to our favourite famous person.

The same principle applies to business. Building up a bank of followers who have an interest in what you have to say helps to cement your reputation as an expert in your chosen field – whether it is selling holidays or reviewing fast cars.

I use Twitter to share news about client activity, drive traffic to our website by tweeting about our blogs, newsletters and general Media Matters activity, communicate with journalists looking for case studies, source information that is relevant to my clients and share useful tweets with other users. It has also helped me rekindle several business relationships with people who I have searched and found through Twitter– or who have found me!

Twitter isn’t new and scary anymore; it is simply another tool in the PR and marketing box of communication tricks. I’m by no means an expert, but it has become part and parcel of my working day - and something we would highly recommend businesses build into their own marketing strategy. What’s more – it is fairly easy to get started!

Cetti Long
Account executive