Twitter

How Micro-Blogging Can Boost Your Web Traffic ...

And Build A Brand

Twitter, the latest social media phenomenon, is a free to join social media website that has brought about a new twist in social networking called "micro-blogging". It's called that because each account holder is given a dialogue box that they can use as often as they like. The trick is to say what you have to say in 140 characters or less. That message goes out to all of your followers.

Besides search traffic, social marketing is promising to be a contender to the search engines for free targeted traffic to business websites.

When you sign up for an account you are required to provide the same basic information to build a personal profile as any other social media site.

Once you're all set up, you are ready to begin to build your network. You may be part of an existing network at other social media sites. Obviously, you want to invite those in your existing networks to follow you. Also, like other sites you want to have your email accounts receive a personal invitation to follow you on Twitter.

At this point you may have a few followers. Your goal, if you are marketing a business, is to get as many followers as you can. Preferably in the thousands!

Do Your Posts Add Value Or Do Followers See Them As Spam?

What is "spamming" the community?

Spamming, in the social networking arena, is overt, blatant self promotion that does nothing to add value. If your posts are considered to be nothing more than an advertisement for your benefit, your followers will see it as spam.

Your Twitter posts, in order to add value, can provide timely information, links to valuable resources and can also be of seemingly meaningless updates as to what you are doing at the moment.

It may seem to many at first glance that almost every post entered seems, well, spammy! You may say, "Really, who cares what I'm doing right now? Why is this not a waste of time?"

Here's the secret to the power of this social site: Those seemingly short, innocuous posts you make over time creates a personal brand. They create an overall impression of you and what you're all about.

Over time, your well thought out posts and providing valuable information and resources for your target market will begin to drive quality traffic to your website.