> …a miniature blog. Not all people wish to blog in long posts. They would rather just provide people with a tiny one or two lined update of what is going on throughout their day. Blog posts often take a lot of forethought and creativity, whereas with Twitter you can just post something along the lines of “eating supper then taking kids to soccer.” The maximum number of characters in your Twitter posts is 140.

> …an outlet for making new friends. You can search for people with similar interests or hobbies, and request to follow them. They then decide if they will allow you to or not. This is the one spot you are urged to use with caution, however. If the “follower” causes any discomfort or actually seems to be “following” you too closely, it may be prudent to block them from following you.

> …news on the run. If you watch the news on television, normally there is a news ticker rolling across the bottom of your screen. This is where the headlines are posted throughout the broadcast. With more people using the internet for obtaining their news information, a ticker such as the one found on television was needed for internet users. This just happens to be another great use for Twitter. The news media of the internet has embraced Twitter as the news ticket of the blogosphere, as it is more immediate and faster than blog services.

> …social messaging, being somewhat of a cross between a blog and instant messaging. With this resource we are now able to follow people as well as have people follow us. Even via your cell phone, you can still keep up to date with all Twitter members. It can be used to let people know where you are so you can meet up later in the evening, remind people of a meeting at the office or even keeping your friends up to date on sales, sports events or concerts coming up.

So, you know that Twitter is like a miniature blog. Do you realize what this could mean to your small business? You can now make sure everyone on your team is “following” or receiving updates from one another. You can send messages or “tweets” to one employee or all of them. You can create different aliases depending on the area of the business is involved if you wish (sales, inventory, website etc.). You can decide to send messages to your entire staff, or just certain members to which this particular situation applies as well.

With this micro-blogging tool, you can be accessible to all of your employees when they need you, and vice versa. Handy and versatile, are you ready to make running your business easier? And this is only a few of the many uses. You can also use it as a learning or teaching tool.

If you are new to internet marketing, you will turn to the internet for research.  You will get many great ideas, including the use of article directory back links, buying advertisements on other sites, exchanging banners with other webmasters, and search engine optimization.  These are important internet marketing steps, but to maximize your results, think outside-of-the-box.  When you do, you will find Twitter.

Twitter is a social networking micro-blog.  Users can communicate with each other through updates, also known as Tweets.  Many Twitter members highlight their daily activities, but many also use updates to generate traffic to their websites or blogs and to increase sales.  Straight up advertisements are allowed, as long as they do not qualify as spam.  With that said, many find the best approach to be taking the roundabout way.  If your sell a product or service, drop hints and highlight what you do or what you sell.  Be sure to include a link.

As nice as it is to hear that you can use Twitter for internet marketing, as a newbie, you may have a few questions.  Continue reading on for answers.

Question:  Why use Twitter for internet marketing?

Answer:  The better question should be why not.  There are over 5 million members on Twitter.com.  You will not communicate will all members, but it gives you an amazing opportunity to meet and network with others.  By playing your cards right, you can find your targeted market.  For example, do you work as a freelance web designer?  If so, your target market is those who want to make money through affiliate links or business owners who want a professional website.

Question:  How much time does Twitter take?

Answer:  It all depends.  Like any form of internet marketing, the time and energy you put forth depends on you.  With Twitter, you want to take it slow and easy.  If you create too many messages directing your followers to products you sell online, your messages may be considered spam.  For that reason, send a few Tweets a day.  Since Tweets are 140 characters or less, this is easy.  The most time consuming part of Twitter is finding and adding contacts.

Question:  What can be marketed on Twitter?

Answer:  Just about anything.  As previously stated, it doesn’t matter whether you sell a product, a service, or if you generate income through affiliate links, you can market yourself on Twitter.  You can do so by sending carefully crafted updates.  @replies can be sent to members on your list or those you find on Seach.Twitter.com.  Look for members that ask questions you can answer.  Always provide a link to your website or blog.

Question:  Won’t people turn away from advertisements?

Answer:  Yes.  As previously stated, you want to carefully craft your Tweet messages and @replies.  Don’t just say “Come shop at my online store.”  Instead, send messages stating that you updated your store, got a new product in, or ask for feedback.  Always provide a link and those interested will click, but without feeling forced into doing so.

Question:  How much money can I make using Twitter?

Answer:  It varies.  Twitter is a service that is free to use.  You are not paid for using it, but there is income potential.  The first step is driving traffic to your website or blog, where you sell a product, service, or have affiliate links displayed.  It is, however, important to have something good to sell.  No matter how much traffic your generate, poor quality products and services will not sell.

Twitter is an online social networking community that is user based.  Members create a free account, develop a list of contacts, and then send and receive messages.  Responses are sent with the use of @replies.  These messages are 140 characters or less in length.  They are sent through various avenues, including some mobile web applications, RSS, Facebook, and the Twitter website.

At first glance, Twitter looks like nothing more than a common social networking website.  Yes, it is, but there is more to this popular service.  Remember, it can be an effective internet marketing tool.  You can advertise your website, blog, products, or services in messages known as Tweets.  You can create interest and clicks with catchy Tweets and links.

Do you need more reasons to implement Twitter as an internet marketing tool?  If so, continue reading on.

1 – It is Easy to Join

Joining online programs and communities should be easy, but it isn’t always.  You will not have this problem on Twitter.  You register for a free account from Twitter.com.  Next, you provide your email address and create a username and password.  It is really as simple as that.  In fact, you do not have to wait for a confirmation email to get started!

2 – It is Popular

With some internet marketing methods, you are lucky if you reach a thousand internet users.  You will not have this problem on Twitter.  Why?  Because there are over 2 million members!  Yes, you will not communicate with all of these members, but this is a huge audience for you to gain.

In addition to finding contacts, members will find you.  If you set your messages to public, as opposed to private, they will not only be sent to your followers, but appear on Search.Twitter.com.  This means that other members can read your posts and opt to follow you.

3 – It is Easy to Find Your Target Market

Marketing online is a great way to increase your earnings potential.  You will find the best success with finding your target market on Twitter.  These are individuals who will buy your products, buy your services, or visit your website or blog.

An easy way to get started is to post link exchanges online.  Visit message boards and ask for Twitter contact information.  Also, visit Search.Twitter.com.  Here, search for Tweets that are related to your blog, website or the products or services you sell.  Send a reply.  If possible, incorporate a link.

4 – It is Easy to Market Yourself

As previously stated, incorporate a link into your Tweets.  Do this when applicable.  Instead of sending advertisements, take the clever approach.  Answer the Tweet question by staying you are updating your website or processing sales and provide a link to your website.

5 – Twitter is Free to Join

Since Twitter is free to join and use, you have nothing to lose.  There are no investments required and no risks are assumed.

As you can see, there are five great reasons why you should use Twitter as an internet marketing tool.  In fact, the better question would be why not?

Before you signup for a free Twitter account and start sending messages, it is important to understand Twitter.  For starters, messages should be under 140 characters.  This means that you need to master the trade of being short, yet right to the point.  This may require some practice, but it is important.

Next, it is important to understand what Twitter is used for.  Yes, you are using it for internet marketing, but not everyone has the same goals.  For that reason, explore the Twitter website.  Visit the help section, as well as Search.Twitter.com.  This gives you the opportunity to search for sample Tweets.  See how others format their messages, what they have to say, or what they are looking for.

Before sending Tweets, otherwise known or messages or updates, you need to have followers.  These are members who will read your messages.  It is easy to add and search for your friends and family online, but this will not help if your goal is internet marketing.  Instead, search for who will buy what you have to sell.  These are members of your target market.

As for how you can search for your targeted market, use online message boards.  Ask around for Twitter exchanges.  You follow a member and receive their updates and they agree to do the same.  Also, visit Search.Twitter.com.  Look for those who could be customers of yours.  For example, do you sell a dog obedience eBook?  Look for posts that signal a pet owner.  You can make contact and join their list of contacts.  Remember, many will return the favor.

Once you have registered for a free account and developed a fan following, you can begin to send updates.  This is when you can use advertising.  With that said, remember discreet is the best approach to take.  Straight up advertisements may leave those on your contact list feeling used.  People use Twitter to socialize and make new acquaintances, not to be bombarded with advertisements.

So, how do you advertise a product or service, without really doing so?  Try asking for feedback.  Do you sell pet products?  Ask followers on your list for feedback on your website layout or a particular product you sell.  Include a link to your website.  This accomplishes the goal of generating traffic.  Not only that, your Twitter followers will feel as if you care and value their opinion.  And, if someone like what you are selling, they will make a purchase.

Another way to disguise your advertisements on Twitter is to offer promotions or incentives.  For example, do you have product samples available or can you offer a discount?  If so, extend this offer to those in your Twitter contact list.  Making this offer exclusive takes it a step farther.  Include the offer in a Tweet update, but be sure to state it is only extended to Twitter followers.  Yes, this is an advertisement, but you are offering an incentive.  Plus, your Twitter followers will feel honored that a special offer was extended to them.

Now that you have a few ideas on how to disguise your advertisements on Twitter, it is important to know why.  Internet users use Twitter for a wide range of reasons, but being bombarded with advertisements is not one of them.

The following are other ideas which can help with subscriptions:

1)  Connect your blog or social network site to your profile. By adding a link to each of your social media profiles to your Twitter profile, and vice versa, you are making sure everyone you know is able to reach you in all the places they have accounts as well.

2)  Ask others to recommend your profile. A blog reader could recommend your social networking page, or other members of your social network could recommend your blog. Word of mouth can go a long way, especially in the world of social networking. Although you may not get every person who hears of you on your Twitter page, you can easily raise the number with a few referrals from friends.

3)  Purchase banner ads which in turn can be linked to your profile. This way, when your website banner ads are clicked on, the link is automatically established to your Twitter page. This will prevent anyone having to search far and wide in order to find you.

4)  Use usernames and avatars which match either your business or other social networking sites. When you sign up for your Twitter account, use the same name you have on other social network sites. If this name isn’t available, try to use something as similar as possible. You can use the same avatar as well. Anyone who is familiar with you from another site will notice when you send out a tweet.

5)  Avoid spamming your Twitter. If you constantly drop in silly and unproductive comments several times a day, people won’t take you seriously for long. Make sure you are adding something of value when you post. While it’s fine to post your own URL, joining into conversations will show people you are approachable.

6)  Asking questions will show people you are not only looking for input, but you don’t consider yourself a guru either. Who knows – this may result in not only receiving an answer to your question, but with reciprocal following as well.

7)  Be careful when posting URLs in Twitter. If the link is too long, it will be shortened with tinyurl. If this happens, it becomes impossible to see the source link to figure out what the page is before clicking through. Before you post any links, it’s recommended you write a short description or the title of the page.

8)  Follow people from within your personal niche. Not only will you be able to understand what they are talking about, but you may be able to bounce some ideas off them when you get stuck. Having similar concerns and experiences means they are more likely to follow you as well.

9)  The difference between bios and backgrounds is easy. Bios on Twitter are short and to the point, unlike an About Me page found on most blogs. People will get to know you from how and what you tweet, not from a novel written in your bio section.

10)  If at first you don’t succeed, try again. The most experienced in the internet world make mistakes sometimes. It’s part of life. If you find you have made a mistake in one of your tweets, fix it. If you find you have chosen the wrong person to follow, stop following them.

Take the time to work out the kinks on your Twitter page, and you will see how quickly everything else will fall into place.

If you don’t already know, Twitter is a social networking micro-blog. It is a user based program. Internet users create a free account, import contacts from their email account, and search for users based on location, name, and email address. Many also use online message boards to exchange information and develop a larger contact list. Messages, also known as updates and Tweets, are sent to all followers. Those individuals read and can respond. Messages are 140 characters or less and are sent via the Twitter website, some mobile web applications, RSS Feeds, instant messaging program, and Facebook.

At first glance, Twitter looks like any other social networking website, but it can be so much more. When properly used, Twitter can become an effective internet marketing tool. The first step is to create a free account and develop a list of followers. By following the updates of one member, they should return the favor. Remember, you can also use message boards to exchange information.

Once you have registered for a free account and developed a following on Twitter, you can start marketing your blog. Your first thought may be to make a big post introducing your blog. Yes, you can do this, but don’t let you first post be an advertisement. Instead, send a quick hello. Explain you are getting use to the Twitter website and thank your followers for joining you. This establishes a personal connection. You do not want your followers to feel right from the start that they are used solely for the purpose of advertising.

For your next Tweet, start working your blog into the mix. Since Twitter asks what you are doing, say “I am updating my blog. Check it out if you want,” and provide a link. This answers the Twitter question, but will also generate interest. Your followers will want to know your interests; therefore, they will click on your blog link. While there, they may buy a product you have available for sale or click on an advertisement. This is great, but first focusing on increase page views.

Another unique approach is to offer a contest on your blog. For example, does your blog share tips on how to save money. If so, giveaway a free eBook on the subject. People love free stuff. A contest should generate organic clicks on your blog, but it makes good content for Tweets. Send an update telling your followers that you just added a contest to your blog and that they should participate.

Aside from sending updates, also send replies. You will receive updates from those you follow. You can also search for Twitter messages on Search.Twitter.com. While there, look for questions that you can answer with a plug to your blog. @replies are nice, especially when responding to a specific question, as you are not sending an unsolicited advisement. Instead, you are sending advice.

As for why you should cleverly market your blog on Twitter, it has to do with communication. That is what Twitter is about, encouraging short, but meaningful conversations. Users want to feel like they made a new friend, not like they are being pursued as a consumer.

Do register for a free account now.  Unfortunately, many new internet marketers put off registering for a free account.  Yes, there are no guarantees that your Tweet messages will lead to increased traffic or income, but you won’t know until you try.

Do not send personal messages to potential clients.  Do you already have a Twitter account for personal communications?  If so, do not send personal messages to prospective clients or site visitors.  This is very unprofessional.  If you are trying to sell a product, don’t talk about how much fun you had at a college party.

Do create two separate accounts for personal and business use.  As previously stated, avoid sending personal messages to prospective clients.  You can send private messages to your friends and family, but this can be a time consuming process.  Instead, create two separate accounts, as you will save time and there will be no confusion.

Do not spam.  Spam is a big violation on Twitter.  You may find your account banned.  If that wasn’t bad enough, think about the consequences.  Your name, website, and products may be attached to your messages, resulting in a bad reputation.

Do use clever forms of advertising.  Spamming is prohibited on Twitter, but advertisements are allowed in moderation.  If you do not abuse the privilege, you will not find trouble.  Even still, use clever forms of advertising.  Instead of highlighting your services as a professional web content writer, ask readers to review your samples or give you input on your rates.  Be sure to include a link.

Do not pressure your followers to buy.  Your followers are those who signed up to receive your Tweet updates.  They chose to do so of their own free will; however, they can also choose to end these updates.  That is why no pressure should be applied.  Users do not want to feel used; therefore, use clever forms of advertising, as there is less pressure.

Do include a link.  When sending Twitter updates to followers, include a link.  Do not over abuse links, but use them to your advantage.  Once again, it is important to be clever.  Do not spam your followers with advertisements highlighting your writing service rates.  Instead, answer the Twitter question of what are you doing.  Your message could say “Writing articles for a client.” Then, insert your link.  You aren’t soliciting business, but making it know you work for hire.

Do not send late night tweets.  It is no secret that home based and online workers work flexible hours.  Yes, many may work the traditional 9-5, but others are up till the early morning hours.  If you are one of those individuals, know that most are not on the same schedule.  For that reason, avoid late night Tweets.  Followers with mobile web alerts may be awoken from sleep.

Do visit Search.Twitter.com and use @replies to your advantage.  Many people Tweet about what they are doing, but others ask questions.  With a search, you can find members who are looking to buy a product you may sell, looking for a service you may offer, or looking for advice you may offer on your website or blog.  If so, send an @reply with a personal message and a link.

If you have yet to try Twitter, you will want to do so.  As previously stated, Twitter is a combination micro-blog and social networking website.  For that reason, some internet users bypass the opportunity.  One of those is internet marketers and home based workers.  If you work from home or from your computer, your main goal while online is to make money, not make new friends.  This mindset is beneficial, but it can also hurt you and your business.

Despite what you may have heard, you can do a lot more than update your friends and family on a new job, grade in a class, or an upcoming trip.  It is easy to network and make new friends, or followers, on the Twitter website.  This is where you have the potential to market yourself and your online business.  In fact, Twitter can be used to increase your sales.  It isn’t recommended that you outright advertise your product or service on Twitter, but there are unique approaches that you can take.

As for how you can use Twitter to market yourself or your business online, start with updates.  For example, do you sell handmade products?  If so, quickly describe the product you just made and provide a link to the website where it is available for sale.  Instead of saying buy my product, ask for feedback.  Depending on how your message is viewed, the link may not be clickable.  Even still, internet users may key your link into an internet search to see and review your product for you.  If anyone likes it, they may buy.

Since you can use Twitter to do more than just update your current friends and family members, you may want to get started.  If you do not already have a Twitter account, the first step is visiting the website, which is located at Twitter.com.  You will see a link to get started.  Click on that link and fill out the form.  You will be required to create a username, a password, and provide your email address.