Jul 10
5

Can social media be profitable? Part 2: Twitter

58 Comments

Twitter…

I’m torn on this one, really.

What do you think? In fact, I’d really like to know your opinion so please share it in the comments below.

Anyway, there does happen to be several examples of why I believe Twitter IS one of the good small business marketing ideas. Here they are…

  1. Targeted Searching:

    First, I like the fact that the Twitter search function allows you to perform targeted searches in order to find like-minded prospects to “follow.”

    For instance, if you’re looking for additional followers of your fitness gym located in San Diego, you could search on Twitter for Tweets containing the keywords “san diego work out” or “san diego running” or “san diego health”.

    You get the idea – Basically I’m just adding different keywords along side the geographical indicator of San Diego.

    Once you find these people, you simply ask to follow them and hopefully, they’ll follow you in return.

  2. Competitor Searching:

    Did you realize that you can discover exactly who is following your competitors and/or other businesses that target the same type of customer you do?

    Using my example #1, this fitness gym in San Diego could look up the followers of other gyms within the area. Or, they could find out who is following the organic/health food retailers of Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or GNC.

    Then, you could simply make a request to follow these people, and again, hope they reciprocate by following you.

  3. It’s Essentially FREE!

    (I use the word “essentially” because it really depends on how you value your time!) In reality though, it doesn’t cost a dime to join or to send out Tweets.

    Where else could you find extremely targeted prospects like we’ve done in examples #’s 1 and 2 for no out-of-pocket cost?

  4. Google Indexes Backlinks from Twitter

    Placing optimized backlinks (links on other websites pointing to yours) is an essential strategy for a profitable SEO campaign.

    And yes, even though backlinks on Twitter inherently contain the dreaded NOFOLLOW attribute, Google still indexes these links! Take a look at these Google search results:

So Why DON’T I Like Twitter?

Well for me, it all comes down to profitability. I’m just not convinced that Twitter can bring in the revenue – that’s all!

True, I am not intensely devoted to it (as you will see if you’re a follower of mine). However, I can’t say that I know anybody who has made it profitable. I have though, heard the opposite several times now.

Will I Keep Twittering, er… Tweeting?

Yes, I think I will… reluctantly. I like giving out small business marketing ideas for free, and Twitter is an ideal platform for doing just this.

So if you’d like, (here’s the shameless pitch) become a rare follower of Brodie Tyler here. I say “rare” because as I write this post I only have 35 followers. See? I told you I wasn’t intensely devoted to it!

~Brodie

P.S. If you liked this blog post, pay it forward and spread the word…

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Posted by Small Business Marketing Ideas 58 Comments

58 Responses to "Can social media be profitable? Part 2: Twitter"

  • Iraqi Dinar says:
    July 8, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I can’t say I completely agree a props a few points, but you absolutely have a unique outlook. Anyhow, I like the word used in these lines…

  • Aaron says:
    July 11, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    People go to social media sites primarily to socialize and kill time, not to buy things. There are some cases where social sites might be exploited for marketing purposes, especially products that are complimentary to photo and media sharing and social networking.

  • Christopher Jennings says:
    July 12, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Basically, I am an avid socialist (not to the extent in WW2 cold war issue) who loves to roam browsing people’s newest info like vid’s popular tweetings, but mainly to kill time. But if a certain business link from, like a certain social media site I don’t really look unto ads posted on my socialist republic site I am in. It annoys me having those lines like some in the side popping every now and then. If ever, you put some on it, it must be a catchy one like make it to people browsing on a certain social media site to be curious or got them interested in that particular ads(ei) that would make them link to yours.

    Thanks.

  • Telemarketing says:
    July 12, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Really feels good having twitter in negotiating some businesses online. This social media really helps me implement some of my ideas. So glad to read this post about this networking service.

    Marie

  • Anomynous says:
    July 13, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    Thanks for the topic .. I am convinced that social media are profitable.

  • learning How Site says:
    July 13, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    Social media sites like Twitter I think, are a waste of my time. I belong to many of them and if all you want from them is a place to kill time, then each to their own.

    Twitter though deserves a special mention here because it would have to be unique. If you wanted an immediate short news update from an authoritative and legitimate news site, then Twitter serves this purpose well.

    If you wanted to tell people (most of whom you don’t know) that you are about to eat a hot dog or whatever….or to go and have a shower…or that you are going to bed…alone…with a friend….who really cares? Enjoy!

    If you wanted to express an opinion and can do it in 140 characters…wow! Personally, if I have something to say about something, it takes me a lot more characters :-) I suppose you’ve probably noticed that already, huh?

    Twitter reminds me of the Galah session on the pedal wireless when the outback of Australia was first connected. They used to have the women’s session every afternoon to try to make the women in the outback feel less isolated. This quickly became known as “the galah session” and everyone would listen in. It was the daily social event :-) Everybody talking (tweeting) and no one listening.

    Jan Smith

  • Kenneth Cole Watches says:
    July 13, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    There are millions of people tweeting day by day. So, for online marketers is a great opportunity to start making money. One of its advantage is, its totally free so you can promote and negotiate as much as you can. This is the reason why marketers uses social networking sites to sell their products and services.

    Elizabeth

  • Anomynous says:
    July 14, 2010 at 12:22 am

    It is really feels good having famous social medial i.e. twitter sharing some real-time businesses online. This social media really helps us implement some new innovative ideas. So glad to read this post about this networking service.

  • valentin alecse says:
    July 14, 2010 at 4:24 am

    Nice and informative post!I used Twitter especially in business field and the labor market.What some people don’t know yet is that Twitter can be a valuable source of web traffic and probably this happens because of an misperception….

  • Local Internet Marketing says:
    July 14, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Twitter can be profitable but you have to have a strategy for it that involves targeted searching. You also have to know why you are on the site and what you’re expectations are for it. If you are there just to be social and give out free tips then you’re getting what you want out of it. On the other hand, if you want to make it profitable and it’s not, then you have to change what you are doing.

    Brad Davis

  • The Market Samurai Site says:
    July 14, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    Personally I have never had a lot of luck trying to market using twitter or any other Web 2.0 site. Maybe it’s just me!! I feel these sites were designed for SOCIAL use and not necessarily a marketing platform. When I get a Tweet containing a URL to a sales page etc. I get annoyed. Just as bad as a cold caller who phones late evening when you are deep into a movie on TV and as bad as a door to door salesman knocking just as you get into the shower!!
    Doing the job properly from the start with the “old fashioned” keyword research etc. gets a more long term web presence over time and that leads eventually to good customer relations.
    Brian Lucas

  • calgary Kia dealer says:
    July 17, 2010 at 1:45 am

    I have to disagree with you Brodie, marketing is a part of social media interaction. And whether we like it or not, it will remain like that.

    Jim

  • Anonymous says:
    July 17, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    Honestly I really don’t see twitter being a huge help to websites trying to make a name for themselves. Outside of short textlike messages, havent’ really found a use for it.

  • Anonymous says:
    July 19, 2010 at 2:43 am

    Twitter can be profitable if you have a decent amount of true followers who actually read your tweets, but to get true followers you need to put a considerable amount of time into posting quality tweets that actually are beneficial to your followers.

  • Lookup tool says:
    July 19, 2010 at 9:12 am

    I only use Twitter to advertise my blog posts and websites, i never use it to sell a product or anything else, better is to have true followers who are really interested in your blog.

    Sushie

  • Anna Green says:
    July 20, 2010 at 3:06 am

    I think Twitter is a powerful tool, especially for creating an online presents for yourself and your company.

  • Anonymous says:
    July 20, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    I think that twitter is only good for being a sort of a free marketing site. True you might not bring in direct clients from twitter but at least you can put your companies name out there.

  • Signs Melbourne says:
    July 21, 2010 at 1:32 am

    I’m with you Brodie. I agree that Twitter is useful in driving traffic, but I’m not sure that its all of what proponents of the new media claim. We’ve dabbled in it with mixed results. I think that you probably have to be in particular niches to really have an impact with it.

    Jeff

  • Daniel Rose, business and management consultant says:
    July 21, 2010 at 4:01 am

    Hi Brodie,
    Thanks for your article. My thoughts on twitter (and social media in general), are that people genuinely mistake business function (finding customers) with social needs (friendship) far to much. Twitter is really only useful if it brings in the clients, and as you mentioned, whether it’s any kind of revenue stream is really up for argument..
    Thanks again, Daniel

  • Merril the Turning Roll says:
    July 21, 2010 at 4:36 am

    Social media can be profitable, but usually only one of two ways: making it part of an overall larger branding campaign or spam.

  • Austin Mortgage says:
    July 21, 2010 at 11:54 am

    Brodie–

    I think social media is a TOOL, not a solution. Yet, here I am commenting on dofollow blogs for some backlink love, but I do read posts to expand my knowledge from time to time as well ;) .

    Is Twitter profitable by itself? I don’t think so either. Then again, I can’t say I’ve been able to track a client all the way from Twitter. Maybe someone else has.

    Twitter, for example, is hard to be effective in. For us, you can’t just follow people who ‘need a home loan’. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. There aren’t a whole lot of ways to tell. However, if I update my twitter with links to blogs with fresh content that we’ve created, then someone who is looking has the opportunity to find you. It’s easier to find Waldo when he’s not on a crowded page.

    Ben

  • Make Money Online says:
    July 21, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Social media can be profitable for your business, but on the other hand people who go on social media are not looking to buy stuff they are just browsers..

    Ilya

  • Anonymous says:
    July 22, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Absolutely! Social Media can be profitable in the sense that it invites you to interact with the site and with other visitors all of them shows profit gaining friends and socializing.

  • Katie Burns says:
    July 22, 2010 at 4:26 am

    I think its a case of how many friends or connections you have and also how relevant your friends are to the related matter, ie if your website is about finance and all your friends are about something totally different , then nobody will follow your links. Yes you get the backlink from twitter. But it would be better to create hundreds of twitter accounts instead of one account with lots of friends

  • Anonymous says:
    July 22, 2010 at 7:06 am

    Web presence is important for all the companies these days. Social media is very essential as more number of consumers come to know about the products easily.

  • Mens Military Watches says:
    July 22, 2010 at 7:11 am

    Web presence is important for all the companies these days. Social media is very essential as more number of consumers come to know about the products easily.
    -Rohit

  • Hair Salon Marketing says:
    July 22, 2010 at 9:07 am

    I’m in the same boat as you Brodie. I think Twitter is a great brand builder and communication tool, but I don’t think its profitbale just yet. The biggest issue is the investment is time and the return is minimal, the impact of each on your business (less time, and minimal income) will determine if it’s worthwhile or not.

    Kay

  • promotional products says:
    July 22, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    I’m not sure the web itself is a good venue for generating profits. It may be good for generating interest in your products overall but whether that converts to sales often enough for all of the financial outlay involved to set up an online business is debatable. Sometimes I wonder if it’s really worth it for most people to set up an online business.

    Kim

  • Otis Duffy says:
    July 25, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    As for social media, it is really a large pool of prospect clients. All you have to do is fish them and you’re earning in no time…

  • Dan Horton SEO Consultant says:
    July 26, 2010 at 9:51 am

    It’s the way forward with branding surely? Here in the UK Social media is definately taking off.

  • Investment says:
    July 27, 2010 at 7:13 am

    Investments in social media is a good idea. Today Twitter has soared the internet marketing strategies and have helped many business to boom. It helps to promote your business to soaring heights. It is a good SEO campaign to follow in online marketing.

    – Jenney Hide

  • Web & Software Development says:
    July 28, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    I’d say the answer to your question is, “it depends.”

    Twitter doesn’t make sense for many types of companies, but I’ve found that there are exceptions to this rule.

    Local retailers, for instance, can use it to announce events, sales, new items in stock, etc. Professional writers, speakers and top-tier bloggers can use it to spread their popularity and drive new visitors to their sites. “Personalities” big and small can use it to build their brands.

    I think the average Joe ACME is going to have a hard time turning a profit from his efforts on Twitter, though.

    Kurt

    • Small Business Marketing Ideas says:
      July 28, 2010 at 10:14 pm

      Great comment Kurt. Yes, Twitter can be used to build your brand, but that’s if somebody is listening right?

      ~Brodie

      • Web & Software Development says:
        July 29, 2010 at 1:01 am

        You’re absolutely right – someone has to be listening.

        Good luck building a brand from scratch only using twitter. But if you’ve already built a brand (even a local one) and want to strengthen it, Twitter can be a good tool in your toolbox, especially if you’re using it in conjunction with a posting service like ping.fm to broadcast messages you’re posting elsewhere.

        I’m certainly not a big defender of Twitter as a marketing tool for most small businesses to spend lots of time and resources on, but I’ve seen it used successfully as part of an overall marketing mix by certain classes of businesses.

        Interesting topic, and it will be interesting to see how Twitter fares in the next few years – fad or the real deal?

        Kurt

  • Anonymous says:
    July 30, 2010 at 2:06 am

    Twitter is still one of the most effective social media site that will help you in getting more traffic. I believe that twitter is becoming a social marketing tool now a days due to its vast appeal & development of tools like friend search & follow concept based on interests. It is said that social media without a strategy for it, is like building a house without a blueprint. You need to develop, plan, start, and execute a strategy for your social media success.

  • digital fm transmitter review says:
    July 30, 2010 at 6:38 am

    I think they are a waste of my time. I belong to many of them and if all you want is a place to kill time, then to each his own.

  • Anonymous says:
    August 18, 2010 at 3:34 am

    Not all the time. Sometimes facebook, twitter etc can be profitable with the help of publishing ads in them.

  • Anonymous says:
    August 19, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    I have seen my fair share of sponsored tweets.

  • Custom Lapel Pins says:
    August 19, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    You make some good points Brodie. We are planning on using twitter to communicate with our customers regarding sales and promotions that may not otherwise be advertised on our site. This could help us build a twitter following and keep customers coming back for more.

    Michael

  • dog training books info says:
    August 24, 2010 at 4:46 am

    Twitter is useful in driving traffic, but I’m not sure that its all of what proponents of the new media claim, helped many business to boom. I use twitter to create backlinks.

    Steve

  • futon covers says:
    August 26, 2010 at 2:50 am

    Nowadays, social media sites are in vogue, and the scene is not likely to change for quite some time. So thousands of people are using them, and their popularity is still rising. You can find out sites that are frequented by your customer base and thus can have an instant and voluminous audience at your disposal.

What do you think?

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