Why use Twitter?

Twitter for PR is one of the main reasons I use the service. But I also use it to keep up with e-business, marketing, branding and technology. For me, Twitter is a news terminal, a way to reach journalists and an opportunity to build an audience.

It is February 2010, and I am trying to explain to some professional, sensible and intelligent friends why I think they should use Twitter. I did not want to at first either, so I understand the resistance. But I find it odd that they still will not try it when I tell them what I get out of it.

Find people who write about your interests

We all have interests. Mine include e-business, marketing, branding and PR. Over time, I have found people on Twitter who write interesting things about podcasts, share good PR ideas or link to interesting marketing campaigns.

I also follow technology through publications such as TechCrunch and Wired. Many of the tech media outlets I like have a Twitter account where they link to their articles. So I discover new things quickly.

You can choose entrepreneurs, brands and media outlets that match your interests. If you are interested in the same things as me, you can start by looking at who I follow.

I do not use Twitter much socially, but I also follow some friends to see what is happening in their lives and get a bit of entertainment. Morten Lund, for example, is interesting to follow. I think he writes a lot of nonsense sometimes, but following his travels around the world is entertaining. I also find them puzzling in light of what I had heard about his finances at the time.

How I use Twitter for PR

I have gradually found Danish journalists who interest me and use Twitter. Not every journalist in Denmark, but around 15–20 at this point.

I start with one I find interesting and look at who he follows or links to. Often there are other journalists among them. Then I can keep digging through the network.

I do the same when I find an interesting entrepreneur. His list of people he follows can lead me to more interesting people.

I have noticed that quite a few journalists start following me back. Then, when I write about something interesting, I have a chance to put a story in front of them without first sending a traditional press release.

I can start tweeting about a subject and hope a journalist notices it and calls. It is a form of guerrilla PR that I think works well.

An audience gives you more people to tell things to

A good audience is valuable, whether you have it on an email list, on Facebook or on Twitter. You are in touch with more people when you launch a new product or want to talk about something you are doing.

I also use Twitter to talk about my products and podcasts. But direct sales should not be the first thing on your mind.

Start by making yourself interesting to the people you want as followers. If you want to attract marketing people, follow some interesting marketing people yourself. When they share interesting links, you can retweet them and pass good things on. Also read E-pusher for my experiences of online sales and marketing.

I also mention the cheekier option of taking a link and presenting it as though you found it yourself. My broader point is that you need to share something people want to follow.

The audience grows if you do the work

If you consistently do a good job, you can slowly build an audience. In the video, I imagine perhaps a thousand, two thousand or three thousand followers after a year to a year and a half. That is my estimate, not a guarantee.

My Tweetburst account is another example. It is not yet a year old and has around 12,000–13,000 followers at this point.

There I share entrepreneurial quotes in English, ideally once or twice a day when I do not forget. It has grown faster, but it is also international. It is a different kind of audience from my personal Danish account.

On my own account, thorborg, I do not post so much that you will be completely overwhelmed. I mainly use Twitter to follow my industry and for PR, and also to talk about products and podcasts.

Spend a little time finding the right accounts

In the video, I suggest trying a Twitter app on the iPhone, such as Twitterrific. Those are the options I am talking about here in 2010.

Start with my account and see who I follow. Try following some of them. You can quickly unfollow anyone you think is an idiot or get nothing out of.

When you find someone great, look at who they follow and carry on from there. Spend a few hours on it, take your time and enjoy it.

For me, it can be a pleasant thing to do in the morning. I see what Berlingske is writing about events in Denmark while I have been asleep. Then I get American news and a bit of technology on top. Suddenly I know much more about what is going on.

During the recording, I am also interrupted by ambulances and fire engines at yet another traffic accident. I make a sarcastic remark about people using their phones and making podcasts in the car. But back to my point: Twitter is a very cool tool for keeping up and making connections. That is why I think you should try it.

That is what I use Twitter for.. Follow me on Twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/thorborg Best wishes, Martin

Location:Jasmine Ct,Delray Beach,USA