Twitter. The name alone conjures images of a frenetic social environment filled with bespectacled nerds who sip coffee from jugs while reading esoteric tech blogs in their pajamas. It’s time to banish that stereotype once and for all. The ubiquitous micro-blogging tool has finally moved beyond its geeky tween years and has matured into a rich trove of up-to-date information, populated by the movers and shakers of any and every industry imaginable. If you’re relevant, you’re on Twitter. And if used properly, it can enlarge your professional network and impart a technical sophistication while incorporating your voice into the conversation of any industry.

First and foremost, it is not necessary to read every tweet or click on every link that comes your way. Used properly, Twitter should not take up more than a few minutes each day. Start slowly and take your time in how you decide who to follow. Try doing some easy searches relating to your business or personal interests. If you don’t like what people are saying, drop them and move on until you get a sense of what you like and what’s irrelevant—and there will always be a lot of irrelevant information.

That’s the trick: staying relevant. To succeed and stay relevant on Twitter, one must be interesting and informative. And yes, that’s easier said than done; but take note of what others say that catches your eye and see if you can apply those techniques to your own messages. Having a strategy is key, but know that nobody blasts to thousands of followers overnight unless they’re a celebrity with a bad haircut and a penchant for outsized behavior—ahem, Charlie Sheen. If you stick with it you’ll learn just as much about your audience as you will about yourself.

If you are serious about incorporating Twitter into your business strategy, just consider it another angle to increase awareness and get your message out—because that’s precisely what it is. Tweeting should not be used as a sales tool; if you speak with a genuine voice you’ll get a genuine response—if you simply try and shill your wares, your followers will turn off and tune out.

Still not sure? Why not send us an e-mail or give us a call to find out what’s possible for your business today. We’ll craft a strategy unique to your business and guide you along the process so that your voice is heard amid the rabble. We wouldn’t recommend it if we didn’t do it ourselves!