Conversations about Twitter

When I talk to businesses, networkers, or friends about Twitter, I usually hear something like, "I don't get Twitter. Who cares what I'm eating for breakfast?". I'm good with that -- I don't care what you had for breakfast.

The second thing I hear is "And who would follow me anyway"? Granted, you're not Aston Kutcher. (Who would have thought? Was That 70s Show such a big deal?)

But that's not what Twitter is about when you're a business or a networker who's looking to expand your online footprint. Twitter is a way to publish, immediately and broadly, content on the Internet. Twitter is a way of handing out your business card.

Why should you use Twitter?

1. Twitter is a tool that distributes your content on the internet.
2. Twitter is the cheapest search engine optimization tool you can get. It doesn't matter how many followers you have because Google, Bing, and other search engines read all tweets.
3. Each tweet adds to your online presence and, if you include a link to your web site, increases its rank in search results.
4. Tweets that relate to what you do increase your chance of being found in searches.
5. Relevant, thoughtful, and occasionally humorous tweets increase your social reputation and help establish you as a though leader.

By the way, in case you care, I prefer Trader Joe's Organic Os for breakfast. Follow me on Twitter.

Dear ENG member:
I hope you enjoyed the recent workshop about online presence optimization at ENG, the Executive Network Group of Greater Chicago. If you have questions about how to use my site about creating a branding web site, create one like it, or online branding in general, feel free to contact me, via email or in person at the next ENG meeting.

Every networking list I’m on and every networking seminar I attend tells me that I need to establish a personal brand for myself.  I’ve got my tag line ready — Strategic Information Technology Management.  What’s yours?
 
How do you get your brand out there?  If you’re reading this, you know.  You need to be on the web.  A website like this is absolutely free and you can set it up for yourself.  Visit my guide at http://sstern.wordpress.com.  You'll have your site up and running, for free, on one of the best web platforms in the world, within 20 minutes. Really.