Are you using to Twitter to spread your message?

Twitter is a free microblogging service that allows registered members to broadcast short posts called tweets.

Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone and Noah Glass and it was launched in July 2006.

Twitter enables users to send and read short 140-character messages called "tweets". It also allows users to follow other users' tweets.

Jack Dorsey published the first Twitter message at 9:50 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) on March 21, 2006, when he tweeted "just setting up my twttr".

Why 140 Characters Only?

160 characters is the text message limit. Twitter subtracted 20 to make room for the name of the person making the post. This also made it easier to make the service work on as many devices as possible. Dorsey also thought that it would force people to become more creative in their writing.

Why use Twitter?

Twittering is a less “gated” method of communication. You can share information with people that you wouldn't normally exchange and email or IM (instant messages) with. This allows you to open up your circle of contacts to larger community

Personal reasons to use Twitter:

Opinions– collect opinions from trusted friends/sources on particular matters (eg. what clothing colours are 'in' right now?).

References– get referrals from trusted sources (eg. best Fine Dining restaurant in Newcastle?).

Quick Information – get quick information (eg. what is Bec’s boyfriend's name … have to meet with them in 10 minutes?).

Advice – gather Intel about what others think about a product/service that you may be purchasing. Use Twitter Search to see what others think about the product.

News – keep up with the latest breaking news in topics related to a particular personal interest.

Entertainment – Follow entertaining people.

Communication – to communicate with others all at once without having to make individual phone calls (eg. going to Gloria’s for coffee tonight @ 7 … meet us there!).

Employment – to find a job follow the Twitter accounts of companies you wish to work for.

Friendship – to make new friends. Follow those with similar interests, engage with them and then join the conversation.

Connect – connect with old friends.

Warnings – broadcast to the masses when you've been RIPPED OFF by a business

Customer Service - get quicker responses from customer service departments. Businesses will respond very quickly to negative information about them or their products.

Personal Branding – Monitor your own personal brand online to see how you are perceived.

Reminder Service – There are “apps” or applications that will send you reminders at specific times and dates (eg. Rachael’s birthday is tomorrow).

Some Business reasons to use Twitter

Competitive Analysis– track what competitors are doing and thinking by watching what they are tweeting, who they are tweeting too. Gain intel on their activates

Track Employees – Example. If you're a service business with contractors on the road, you can reveal where your contractors are around a city, and this will then give an indications as to how close they are to their next service call.

Market Research – perform quick polls and research (eg. iPhone or Android?) This may help you plan or implement your next business strategy.

Networking – great tool to connect with specific media personalities such as news reporters, industry figures, politicians, etc., in anticipation that building on these relationships can accelerate a business’s agenda.

News – You can stay abreast of the latest news as its breaking. Twitter broadcasts news almost immediately. Instant notification is provided to well versed Twitterers.

Branding –Building awareness, trust, and loyalty is one key benefit to twitter for business. If your business offers good information via Twitter routinely, and isn't always self-promotional, you will gather followers. Your profile is then associated with integrity and trust because frequency and the quality of your posts will breed familiarity.

Promotion – Promote your new content from your website. Promote your Latest company news (eg. expanding internationally).

Advertising – advertise your product/service. Drive business growth and sales 140 characters at a time. Form a relationship with consumers directly where they can engage with you and share marketing messages.

Find Employees –Smart job seekers will follow tweets of the companies they wish to work for. This is a great way to find motivated candidates.

Reputation Management – every problem is an opportunity that has the opportunity to be corrected. Your business can learn about issues and problems people are having, and you are then able to correct the problem instead of masking it. Listening on Twitter is your key to businesses reputation management.

So will you be tweeting real soon? I know I just have!