If you haven't heard of Twitter yet, you're about to. It may not be the biggest social network out there, but the way Twitter was designed, and subsequently the way people tend to use it, lends itself to much more of an information and communication tool, whereas sites like Facebook tend to just become a place to connect with friends, rather than disseminate information.
Once you get onboard with Twitter, there are a plethora of options when it comes to clients, add-ons and services that extend Twitter, making it more useful. This is because Twitter chose from the beginning to provide an open API to developers. You don't need to know what that means technically, but what it means practically is that there are websites and pieces of software (that are generally free, or very low cost) that can transform Twitter into a marketing machine for your small business. Here's a look at 3 popular tools that can take your Twitter game to the next level.
TwtQpon
If you're new to Twitter, prepare for an onslaught of made up words, most of which contain the word twit, tweet, or something to do with birds or owls (don't ask me why). TwtQpon (pronounced 'tweet coupon') is a coupon generator for Twitter that you can use to promote your business on Twitter. It's free to use and not only allows you to generate a coupon that will be shared with all your followers, but it also gives them the sense of being in the inner circle of your company and it's a great way to build brand loyalty. There is also a paid option which lets you upgrade to personal branding, but there's no set cost, it's more of a by donation system.
Brizzly
If you're looking for a consolidated dashboard to control Twitter, Facebook and even Foursquare, look no further than brizzly.com. While most of the innovations that Brizzly brought to the table have been implemented into the recent Twitter update (aka 'new Twitter'), Brizzly still offers a great way to login and connect on Twitter and Facebook at the same website. There are plenty of desktop and mobile apps that do this as well, but having it on the web means it's universal, so you don't have to wait for the app to come out on your Windows Phone or on the iPad, all you have to do is launch the browser. Brizzly also has the added bonus of letting you host a 'Picnic' which is basically an instant message and photo sharing dialogue with multiple people, this could be potentially useful for connecting with staff members, or customers, but either way it's a fun freebie.
FutureTweets
This is one of the most valuable tools in your Twitter arsenal; FutureTweets (as the name implies) allows you to schedule your tweets to go live at a future time and date. The value of this is that to fully utilize Twitter and maximize your followers, most people recommend between 2-3 updates per day, but not everyone wants to log into Twitter 3 times a day (after all, entrepreneurs are out there getting things done, not wasting time online). With FutureTweets, you can schedule your entire week's worth of tweets and have them roll out at specific times throughout the week. The reason you'd want to do this rather than just post them all at the same time, is that people see all the posts of the people they follow in a timeline, so if they see 10-15 from you at one time, they're likely to just skip them all.
Mon, 04/2/2012 - 01:56 AM | viewed 421 times
In February, 2012, Facebook held its 'fMC Conference' which introduced upcoming features and changes to the site, including Timeline for Pages. All of these changes impact the way an entrepreneur or smb can best utilize their Facebook presence to increase traffic, interact with fans, and ultimately, convert these fans into customers. Here we'll take a closer look at the changes to Facebook, how you can use the new features to your advantage as part of your business plan, and some helpful tips on creating a successful Facebook promotion.
Sat, 03/10/2012 - 05:35 PM | viewed 491 times
In the initial stages of a business startup, most entrepreneurs recognize that they'll need the expertise of an accountant at various times, but few realize that they'll no doubt need the help of another professional, an attorney. Their logic would be that they don't plan on breaking the law or getting sued, so legal services aren't necessary. The truth is quite the contrary, however.
Sun, 03/4/2012 - 01:54 PM | viewed 530 times
Now that you've developed a great startup concept, and you're in the business plan development stage, the time has arrived to come up with the right name for your new endeavor. There are a number of differing theories on what makes a great business name, but one thing is certain, choosing the right name can play a big part in how your business is perceived by your customers, and it can make or break your image.
Sat, 03/3/2012 - 12:55 PM | viewed 410 times
On average, roughly 600,000 Americans start new businesses each year. If you're one of the millions more contemplating taking that giant step into business ownership, don't let fear of the unknown stop you. Some of the stumbling blocks for would-be entrepreneurs include indecision about the right kind of business, a fear of putting their money and time into a business that fails, or they may simply have no idea where to start. Generating an idea for a small business isn't always easy, but with some good advice and common sense, you can learn how to choose a viable concept.
Thu, 03/1/2012 - 12:16 PM | viewed 616 times
If you're a small business owner or an entrepreneur involved in your first startup, you're well aware of the impact that successful Facebook marketing can have on your bottom line. Finding your way through the maze of available apps and tools is time-consuming, tedious work. If you're on the hunt for the latest and greatest ways to reach a larger audience and build your business, check out our recommended Facebook tools and apps that are specifically geared toward taking full advantage of your fan page.
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