TwitsMag Canada

Article Source: Financial Post

BMO Capital markets launched a Twitter feed yesterday, saying it’s among the first North American investment banks on the micro-blogging service. You can gets all its “tweets” here.

In a release, Head of Marketing Rick Kuwayti [pictured, right] said “Twitter is another way for us to deliver information to our clients and other followers at precisely the moment they want it, wherever they might be.”

The feed will provide updates on the firm’s institutional investor conferences and events, new-hire announcements, awards, products, services, and upcoming appearances on news programs by BMO Capital Markets analysts and strategists.

Most of its tweets will link back to the BMO Capital Markets website here.

300,000 new Twitter users sign up every day

Citing as its source Sysomos, January 2010 and Twitter, April 2010, BMO’s release includes the following facts about Twitter’s growth:

• Twitter has more than 105 million registered users
• 300,000 new users sign up per day There are 600 million search queries on Twitter per day
• 37% if active Twitter subscribers use their phone or PDA to tweet
• 60% of all tweets come from third-party applications – mobile and web-based

I’ve added the feed to my Findependence Day list here. Twitter lists are a useful way to sort Twitter feeds by category. The limit of feeds per list is 500.

Some unsolicited advice on managing followers

One thing I’ve noticed about BMO’s feed is that it has yet to follow-back anyone. My unsolicited advice for Kuwayti is to follow back any credible Tweeter that chooses to follow them.  Because the Twitter culture is largely one of “reciprocal following,” it’s an unfortunate fact that many initial followers will later “unfollow” unless the “love” is returned — celebrities and big shots excepted.

You can judge the quality of any Twitter feed by reading the last few tweets, checking the follower/following ratio and the number of lists that are following that feed. Generally, I avoid feeds with no photo and have only a few tweets or listings to their name.

Article Source: Bloggingstocks.com

Twitter-watchers have been expecting the company to make some move toward corporate microblogging capabilities for months now. This is one of the two directions that the social media platform has on its agenda for generating revenue, and it is likely the one with the greater potential. The other, serving ads on Twitter.com, is currently constrained by the fact that nearly 70% of Twitter use occurs away from the company’s website.

While all talk of corporate accounts is still shrouded in speculation, the obvious plan would be for corporate users to have more robust analytics and other marketing tools for which a premium would be paid. Among the tools being rolled out ostensibly in advance of this business model is a multi-user account model, in which several “Contributors,” as Twitter is calling them, can tweet under the same umbrella.

The way it works, according to Twitter’s blog, is that @BloggingStocks (to pick a self-serving example) would continue to be a Twitter account. But it could invite me, @tjohansmeyer, to tweet on its behalf. Each of my tweets via @Bloggingstocks would list me as the contributor.

The tool is “not ready for prime time” yet, according to the company blog, but it’s in the pipeline, along with several other enhancements.

As with Twitter’s other new features rolled out (at least to beta) this year, the objective is straightforward: Enhance the product to generate revenue. It seems as though both options — ads and corporate accounts — are being kept open. That isn’t much of a surprise, since the company’s investors are expecting a performance that reflects the $1 billion valuation they bought into.

For a while, it looked as though Twitter would be able to license its data to search engines as a way to bring in some revenue, as it did with Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT). But, Yahoo! (YHOO) followed these companies into the world of real-time search by pulling Twitter data using free tools, which jeopardizes the revenue stream going forward.

Twitter has said it plans to start generating revenue in 2010 and is even kicking around making a few acquisitions, probably from the robust community of third-party Twitter application developers that are active in the space, siphoning eyeballs away from Twitter.com and serving ads as a way to generate revenue (Ubertwitter, for example, is doing this).

Article Source: mashable

Think Twitter’s flattening growth might lead the company to consider selling out to the likes of Google or Microsoft? Think again.

Speaking at an event at Oxford University, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone told reporters that “We are definitely not interested in selling the company.” Instead, he suggested the microblogging service may eventually eye an initial public offering.

Of course, no one ever seems to say publicly that they are trying to sell their company, but much of the talk around Twitter right now seems to be about the impending launch of various revenue models, including advertising and paid accounts. The company also recently saw its first significant revenue via deals with Google and Microsoft to put tweets in search results.

Of the company’s new advertising, Stone said “Everyone’s going to love it. It’s going to be amazing” and added that 2010 would be Twitter’s “revenue year.”

getpeek.com

Article source: PC world

How much would you pay for a mobile device that does only one thing: Send and receive Tweets? A company called Peek is betting $199 and has created just such a device.

Described as the world’s first dedicated Twitter device, the TwitterPeek offers a QWERTY keyboard, color screen, and measures 2.7 x 0.4 x 4 inches. It was introduced on Tuesday and is not unattractive.

The $199 price includes a wireless service plan for the life of the device. A $99 price includes 6 months of service, which then costs $7.95-a-month thereafter. The always-on device promises four days of battery life “in normal use” and promises nationwide wireless coverage.

The device supports a single Twitter account at a time, allowing users to tweet, reply, retweet, download followers, and send direct messages to other users. Access to TwitPics is also possible using the TwitterPeek’s “view content” option.

Who needs this device? That’s a fair question. Smartphones already have Twitter applications, so this is not a great second or third device to carry around.

Presumably, some people are using Twitter as an e-mail replacement and do not want the monthly expense associated with smartphone use. Peek also makes similar e-mail only devices, which seem to address a much larger market (and support five accounts at a time).

The TwitterPeek is available exclusively from Amazon, which also sells the Peek Pronto e-mail device for $299, including a lifetime service contract.

Article source: bcs.org

Twitter and social networking sites such as Facebook are costing UK businesses an estimated £1.38 billion annually.

Over half of the employees surveyed (57 per cent) admit to spending 40 minutes a week on these sites, which equates to just under a full working week being wasted every year.

The findings, published in a poll by business consultancy firm Morse, suggest that the problems could be even worse, especially with regards to brand damage.

Employers such as Curry’s, BA and Virgin Atlantic have recently suffered high-profile damage after employees were found to be writing abusive comments about their customers on their social network pages.

Philip Wick, a consultant at Morse, commented that the rise in popularity of social networking has brought with it a ‘temptation to visit such sites during office hours’.

He added: ‘It is clear that businesses shouldn’t turn a blind eye to their employees’ use of social networks and instead look to formulate and enforce sensible usage policies.’

Morse insists that a lack of specific usage policy was a key factor in the problem, with 76 per cent of those surveyed saying that their employers had not issued them with specific guidelines for Twitter.

The Twitter directory Twitdir estimates that the micro-blogging site has over five million users.

Author: Claire Prentice

Article Source: BBC News

It is the 21st Century equivalent of word of mouth.

From “mom and pop” diners to cupcake shops to technology start-ups, small business owners across America have been thrown an unexpected lifeline in the midst of the recession by social networking sites.

Companies that have jumped on the Twitter and Facebook bandwagon are reporting a surge in customers while others struggle.

With minimal marketing budgets available to many small businesses, social networking sites offer a quick and, more importantly, free means of promoting their wares to a global audience.

In the face of stiff competition and a global economic downturn, it is a route more and more companies are going down.

Virtual focus group

Sisters Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis have been using Twitter and Facebook as a marketing tool since they launched Georgetown Cupcake in Washington DC in 2008.

“Together they work like a virtual focus group, a bulletin board, a marketing campaign and branding exercise rolled into one,” said LaMontagne.

As well as posting details of new flavours, specials and events, they are using the social networking sites to promote their new nationwide delivery service together with their new store in Maryland.

Filling appointments

For some small business owners, traditional advertising channels such as television, radio and newspapers are prohibitively expensive.

For others, the web is a medium more in tune with their potential customers.

“They’re not a good fit for everyone, but if you’re a small business with a customer base who uses social media, you can’t afford not to use them,” says Rachael Ritchie, who runs Goodfellas Pizza with her husband in the college town of Athens, Ohio.

She recently asked her Twitter and Facebook followers to vote on whether she should use Coke or Pepsi as a soft drinks supplier.

“That real-time feedback is invaluable,” she says.

Goodfellas Pizza offers cross-promotions with other local businesses via Twitter.

They include Athens Relaxation Station health spa, which gives Goodfellas customers discounts, a deal which is reciprocated at Goodfellas.

“I am a one-woman business in a small town so free marketing is a huge bonus,” says spa owner Jennifer Hunt.

“And if I get a last minute cancellation I hop on to Twitter and within minutes I’ve filled the appointment.”

Small firms gain

“Every day we are seeing businesses using Twitter in more and more creative and exciting ways,” says Anamitra Banerji, manager of commercial products at Twitter.

“We’ve got lots of restaurant and bar owners right through to plumbers and building managers.”

Though multinationals such as Starbucks and McDonald’s were among the first to realise the potential of social networking sites, anecdotal evidence suggests it is small businesses that have the most to gain.

Twitter, which allows users to post tweets of up to 140 characters, is currently developing products to sell to business users, including software to verify accounts and analyse traffic to Twitter account holders’ profiles.

The company recently launched Twitter 101 on its website, which includes advice for new users along with case studies, describing how companies of all scales and in various sectors have used the site to grow their business.

Facebook, which has 300 million users worldwide and recently announced it had become cash-flow positive, offers businesses special pages and the option to buy ads to show to users who like similar companies.

Customer interaction

As well as using social media sites to communicate with customers, small businesses are using them to connect with potential suppliers, stockists and other people they can trade skills with, such as accountants, marketing experts and technology workers.

One recent Twitter post from a graphic designer asked other business users for advice on computer software his company was thinking of buying.

Kogi BBQ runs three Korean mobile food trucks in Los Angeles.

It has 43,000 followers on Twitter and 3,150 on Facebook and uses the sites to post specials, discounts and details of where the vans will be parked each day.

“It’s a great way to interact one-on-one and build a relationship with our customers,” says Kogi BBQ’s creative director Alice Shin.

“Customers feel a personal connection, which encourages repeat business.”

>>>>> Read More

Article Source: CBC News.ca

You’ve heard about Twitter — that curious, strangely addictive social-networking technology that facilitates torrents of truncated messages among millions of users. You might even know your hashtags from your re-tweets. But how can you make money with it?

Forbes canvassed scads of businesses and pricey social-networking gurus looking for honest answers. Admittedly, we were skeptical. After all, how much can you accomplish in 140 characters or less?

Turns out there are myriad ways Twitter can have an impact, and not just as a marginal marketing tool. Indeed, we found 21 clever ways to use Twitter — for everything from boosting sales and scouting talent, to conducting market research and raising capital. Chances are, there will be many more.

“I believe Twitter is a communication platform,” says Nathan Egan, founder of Freesource Agency, a social-networking consultancy in Philadelphia. “In a year or two, everyone will be on it, using it in totally new ways.” Better yet, getting results “doesn’t take a year or six months, but a matter of weeks,” adds Mark Schaefer, head of Schaefer Marketing Solutions in Knoxville, Tenn.

Some strategies take more time, or are more industry-specific, than others. Taken together, though, this collection of techniques and real-world examples constitutes a powerful online arsenal for companies large and small. Herewith, some highlights:

Coupon Campaigns

Congratulations for getting to the end of this sentence. “As an online culture, people are not reading; they’re scanning,” says Dell Computer’s Stefanie Nelson, voice of @DellOutlet. “The shorter and more direct your message is, the more successful you’re going to be.” Dell tweets links to coupons at Dell Outlet’s Facebook page, which shoppers use during checkout at Dell.com.

This strategy works for small companies, too: The abbreviated offers are easy to produce — you don’t need an ad agency to write 140 characters. California Tortilla, a chain of 39 causal Mexican restaurants based in Rockville, Md., spread coupon “passwords” — through its Twitter feed @caltort — that must be spoken at checkout to be redeemed.

Viral Marketing

In July, in honor of its 10th birthday, London-based do-it-yourself Web site builder Moonfruit gave away 11 Macbook Pro computers and 10 iPod Touches. Contestants had to tweet using the hashtag #moonfruit. (Hashtags collate Twitter responses.) Nearly a month after the contest ended, traffic to Moonfruit’s Web site is up 300 per cent. Sales are up 20 per cent this month, more than paying off the $15,000 US investment. And the Moonfruit Web site has climbed onto the first Google page for “free website builder” (it used to be on the fourth).

Word to the wise, says Moonfruit founder Wendy White: Such campaigns must be courteous and fit with a company’s brand, lest you draw the ire of the Twitter-sphere: “There’s a fine line between annoying people and getting the thumbs up.”

Artful Customer Service

Frank Eliason, director of digital care at Comcast, uses Twitter to help 200 to 300 subscribers a day with issues ranging from sporadic Internet service to errant e-mails. Frank and his team receive direct questions at the @comcastcares account and search for complaints. Twitter has a built-in search, but it’s more efficient to set up a permanent search on one of the free, third-party Twitter applications, such as TweetDeck.

Eliason’s key to success: maintaining friendly relationships, not foisting unwanted advice. “If they want assistance, they’ll let me know,” he says. Eliason has a 10-person help desk at his disposal, but small businesses can use Twitter to provide better customer service, too. Even a little help goes a long way. Focus Groups

Back in the old days (last year), companies actually paid customers to solicit their opinions. There were 3.37 million mentions of Starbucks on Twitter through early May 2009, and all of that information is available for less than the cost of a frappucino. “There is a major element of Twitter that’s about listening and learning,” says Brad Nelson, the man behind @Starbucks. “Twitter is a leading indicator.” Collecting the information is as simple as searching for references to your company.

Morgan Johnston, manager of Corporate Communications at Jet Blue, abolished a $50 fee for carry-on bikes after hearing complaints via Twitter. “Think of Twitter as the canary in the coal mine,” says Johnston. “We watch for customers’ discussions about amenities we have, and what they’d like to see made better.” For a more formal approach, lob a simple post asking for feedback and provide a hashtag to collect the responses.

Poaching Customers

“Twitter is not just a kid story,” says Chris Brogan, president of New Marketing Labs. Brogan should know: He is one of several Twitter experts advising companies on how to spy on their competition and to swoop in with a better service or discount.

Freesource’s Egan describes how to do it: Using TweetDeck, set up a permanent search for all permutations of your competitor’s name, as well as words that convey dissatisfaction (”sucks” or “hate”). Public replies to those new prospects are dangerous, as your competition may see them, so the best bet is to follow them and get followed back, allowing you to send direct messages. Customer Expectation Management

Bad things happen — it’s how you condition customers to deal with it that counts. Jet Blue tweets flight delays. In April, when a Stanley Cup broadcast was interrupted, cable provider Comcast used Twitter to immediately inform its subscribers that the culprit was a lightning storm, and that transmission would soon be restored.

Small companies — like United Linen, a linens and uniform company in Bartlesville, Okla. — can manage expectations this way, too. When a major snowstorm hit the area, Marketing Director Scott Townsend used Twitter to let customers know deliveries would be delayed. “It was a great way to send information to everyone,” he says. “They understood we wouldn’t be there, but they wanted to know what our status was and updates as the situation changed.”

Corralling Eyeballs

During last year’s NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic, Turner Broadcasting managed to weave social-media feeds into its home page. Fans accessed the conversation by logging onto Twitter through TNT.com, and the tweets were also posted on Twitter with links back to TNT.com. Those forums mean more Web traffic — and thus more advertising revenue. “It’s exciting to sell this to an advertiser,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of marketing for Gigya Socialize, the brains behind the integration technology.

Vendor Selection

Twitter can snag customers, but how about suppliers? Crowdspring, an online marketplace that marries businesses with graphic designers (see “The Creativity Of Crowds “), used Twitter to build up its stable of contributors — now 12,000 strong globally.

Business travelers can apply this same logic: Tweeting that you’re about to visit a city can scare up discount offers from hotels, bus companies and other travel-services providers.

>>>>> Continue Reading here

By Rosalie Marshall

Article Source: The Inquirer

SEARCH RIVALS Microsoft and Google are looking to integrate real-time Twitter feeds into their results, according to reports.

A post on news blog All Things Digital citing sources familiar with the situation claims that Twitter is in separate “advanced talks” with both firms.

If the talks are successful, Microsoft and Google will be able to supply real-time information provided by Twitter’s 54 million monthly users. The micro-blogging site is likely to get a share of the revenue generated from the search results.

Twitter was recently valued at $1bn (£614m), after a new round of funding to the tune of $50m (£30m), despite still having no revenue model. The company is said to have raised $55m (£33m) to date, and to have around $30m (£18m) in cash.

Twitter said in February that it would start creating more revenue-generating products, and it has recently started rolling out a beta of Account Verification which will involve a charge.

A deal with Microsoft and Google would give Twitter an even bigger web presence and generate obvious cash benefits for the firm.

Rumours that Microsoft or Google will attempt to buy Twitter have arisen in recent months, but nothing concrete has emerged. Twitter is now targeting both companies when it is their priority to give users more access to real-time data.

Google last week added its Hot Trends to search in an effort to give its US users real-time information on the most popular web topics.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has trialled the integration of a limited amount of Twitter data into its search results.

Twitter, Microsoft and Google all failed to respond to a request for comment at the time of writing.

exectweets.com

A great tool to help you find and follow up with all the business  executives and CEOs on Twitter.

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