It is important for businesses, organizations, departments,  and companies to understand that there are many valid business reasons (that can deliver a positive ROI) why they should be participating on Twitter. The ways in which companies choose to use Twitter are quite varied. The use cases and ways in which they use it are typically determined by how they want to interact and the business value that they wish to extract.

Twitter is a Business Tool; how you choose to use that tool will be determined by what you want to use it for: ie. news distribution, customer service, sales, branding, extending product awareness, product launches, promotion, relationship building, etc.

In these tight economic times, Twitter offers your business a way in which to proactively listen, engage and extend your marketing, branding, support and business objectives for no hard costs. So put on your thinking cap and allow your mind to absorb this information and think about how these reasons can be applied to your communication channels & marketing mix.

Just remember that in today’s world… “Conversation is the new currency that fosters business & relationships. Twitter is the Stock Exchange of conversations where interactions get traded.”

17 Reasons Your Business Should Be on Twitter:

People are talking about your product, brand, company or service (you better be listening)

Lack of participation by your business could have negative consequences (ask Exxon or Motrin)

People want to interact with your business (seize this opportunity and the positive options that surround it)

Twitter drives website traffic & awareness

Twitter has the ability to allow your content to spread virally

You can make new connections

Twitter can be used as a channel to access people you that you might not otherwise have access to (networking)

Twitter allows for product feedback

Twitter allows you to touch and interact with customers in a personal way that they value

Brand evangelists on Twitter can be rewarded and encouraged in a variety of ways

Twitter allows you to gather insights and news from the people you follow

You can extend your brand in a new and meaningful way

Your competitors are already there (or will be soon)

You can create a network of influence to help your business in a variety of ways (sales, marketing, support, marcom)

Search Engine Visibility

Twitter allows you to have 1 to 1 conversations in a public way that can extend the reach of your business

Twitter allows you to turn brand detractors into evangelists

This list could have easily been over 50 reasons that your business should be on Twitter. The point to take away here is that Twitter is a new communication channel and it is not going away;  lack of participation will be looked upon negatively by your prospects and clients. The business opportunities abound; it is how you use Twitter that matters. You can learn more here.