5 Reasons Why Small Businesses Need Twitter

So you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur; that’s great. The thing is, you’re probably not looking to make it stay so small for the lifespan of the business, are you? After all, what’s the point of having a business that doesn’t grow to reach out to more and more people?

No matter whether you love it or hate it, the fact is Twitter is here to stay, and if you’ve been avoiding it like a leper because you’re afraid of it, you don’t know how to use it, or because you’re just worried about having it become a time vacuum like other social medias tend to become, it’s time to face down your fear. It’s for your company’s own good.

1. The “Duh” Reason

The basis of growing a business is painfully simple: have a market of people to expand toward. If you want to grow, you need to reach more people, and reaching more people to grow to means expanding a market. Market may seem like an overtly profit-centric term, but even for non-profits, a market is what you’re looking for.

Let’s take the obvious example for explaining the reasons why small businesses need Twitter: Twitter itself. Twitter was once a small business and is the quintessential representation of increasing success through expanding a market of people (i.e. the phrase “social network”). Numerous other social media startups have come and gone without enough staying power for you to have even heard of them, but Twitter grew by reaching out to celebrities who in turn reached out to the hordes of people who are interested in them.

2. Using Twitter to Engage a Market

Going off of the last section, let’s look at what ideal Twitter usage does.

The most successful, biggest-name companies (i.e. Starbucks) and celebrities (famously Ashton Kutcher) have huge followings because people are genuinely interested in what they have to say. From updates to tidbits to tips, they have an ever-growing network of followers to market to. These companies can then directly engage the market they’re already trying to reach out to whenever they want to knowing there’s already interest.

3. It’s Way Better than Email Blasts

Another reason why your small business needs Twitter is because email blasts aren’t always very effective. Emails get lost in spam, get misdirected, are accidentally deleted, and can simply be ignored. Plus, if you say too much or have slowly-loading graphics, people won’t even read the whole thing.

Twitter is concise and fast and people are far more likely to read what you have to say if they logged in to tweet something and are faced with your 10-word message.



4. It’s All About Engagement

Engagement is the name of the game, here. Twitter is a quick means of not only creating a network of potential and existing clients, but a means to engage with them.

Ask questions, post links to your site, or request advice. If you can master this, you’ll have direct feedback and a devoted following who appreciates you.

5. Effective Marketing

Our final reason for small businesses to jump on the Twitter train is because it’s just sound marketing.

The basis of marketing is communicating to interested potential clients to generate more interest in you or your brand. When you have a complete database of people you know are interested in you already (i.e. they follow you), you know they’re receptive to what you have to offer. Send out exclusive deals or generate mystery over time by leading up to a new release.

PuTTin’ OuT BONUS TIP: Geo-Targeting Customers

Twitter also offers the unique opportunity to specifically target customers right outside your door through automation if you’re a local business. Local businesses thrive on the local market (hence the term), so honing in specifically on those who are most likely to stop in physically is a huge point of conversion for these types of retailers and servicers.

More Reading

If you’re not convinced all this is necessary, try checking out how Twitter works for small businesses.

Does your business thrive on Twitter? Back us up in the comments!