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 ”How To Use Twitter As A Marketing Weapon”

This was the title of Alltop’s Guy Kawasaki’s hard-hitting, no-nonsense Keynote Address as he opened the 2010 Social Media Success Summit on May 4. 

What is the Social Media Success Summit?

     The 2010 Social Media Success Summit, whose theme this year is “Delivering & Engaging Customers With Social Media” was founded by Michael A. Stelzner.  This year it brings together 24 noted social media experts, such as Mari Smith, Chris Brogen,  Steve Rubel, Darren Rowse, Ann Handley, to name just a few. 

The Social Media Success Summit (SMSS) began on May 4 and runs through May 25. However, unlike other summits or conventions the SMSS is totally online. However, it does provide networking as other conventions do, as well as social media connecting. And for busy people who can’t attend the sessions live – the SMSS also provides replays and transcripts.

Guy Kawasaki’s Keynote Address

In his talk Guy Kawasaki highlighted about 7 vital ways that companies can employ to use Twitter as a marketing tool.

1. Monitoring:
   Kawasaki gave practical examples of how Twitter search could be used to find one’s keywords, name, brand, competition.
2. Engagement:
   Once found, the marketer could then reply to the tweet and engage the peeps in conversation.
   Kawasaki encouraged his listeners to check out the Twitter account who are paying  close attention to the creative ways people are using Twitter and sharing this at their Twitter account.
3. Selling:
   Under this point Kawasaki gave examples of how companies are using Twitter as a marketing tool. Dell Outlet he pointed out alerts its customers to coupons, discounts, tips and tricks. He also noted under this point that Dell found out that it is far better to have peeps who are following you because they want to – Dell Outlet found out that an increase in numbers did not necessarily mean a corresponding increase in sales.
4. Support:
   Companies, Kawasaki highlighted, are using Twitter as a way to give technical support to customers. He also pointed out, with a few examples, how big companies are monitoring what people are tweeting about them and responding.
5. Prospecting:
   Kawasaki showed us, through screen shots, how we could use Twitter’s advanced search feature to find targeted prospects, even in  our own geographical area.
   He emphasized that to get more followers it is essential to tweet about what your audience will find interesting. 
   Kawasaki said that he get more followers by tweeting interesting links.
6. Where to find Interesting Links:
   Kawasaki described and shared 3 sites that he says provides him with his interesting story links:
   - www.alltop.com 
   - www.StumbleUpon.com
   - www.SmartBrief.com 
7. Marketing Campaign:
   Kawasaki shared, explained and discussed various tools that he recommends to create Twitter marketing campaigns:
   - www.ObjectiveMarketer.com
   - www.TwitterFeed.com 
   - www.TwitHawk.com
   - www.TweetDeck.com
   - and the plugin/button TweetMe which he said should be on all our posts as it can change our lives.

 At the end of his address, Kawasaki took about 3 questions. A few things that stood out in his answers to his questioners that I would like to share with you:

• He pointed out a fact that Dr. Kevin Hogan has also highlighted, i.e., have articles on your site that solve or answer the persons’ problems.
• Think BIG picture, that is, if you know that there is another site that has the answer the person needs – you send them to that site and tell them to read the article. In this way, you will have gained a friend, enhanced your credibility and you will gain more followers.

 This post has been longer than planned but I wanted to share with you the highlights of Guy’s address as I found it really useful. (Now to go put a TweetMe plugin on this site… )

Enjoy Being Online,

Eileen