Friday, December 19, 2008

"Twitter Means Business" -- A Twitter Manual for Companies

A new book released by publisher Happy About is a "how to use Twitter" guide for businesses. "Twitter Means Business: How Microblogging can Help or Hurt your Company" taps the wisdom of Twitter expert and leading technology journalist Julio Ojeda-Zapata (@jojeda on Twitter).

See how Twitter -- the fastest-growing social network, according to Nielsen Online -- is used by corporations like Comcast, Dell and JetBlue. This book profiles dozens of businesses of all sizes on Twitter. These are tracking what is said about their brands in the "twitterverse," and are interacting with customers in Twitter's conversational style.

Find out how businesses are using Twitter in innovative ways -- such as responding to complaints, nurturing online relationships, posting hot deals and recruiting evangelists -- with "tweets" that are just 140 characters or less.

Twitter has become a place to burnish a corporation's reputation, drum up new business, get ideas from customers and find those who wield influence online. "Twitter Means Business" documents these trends, and more.

Public-relations agencies are also on Twitter, showing their business clients how to use the service. "Twitter Means Business" devotes a chapter to such P.R. agencies, ranging from giants to tiny P.R. shops.

Learn how businesses that don't understand the Twitter culture can be blindsided. "Twitter Means Business" shows how ignoring Twitter can hurt a company. "Twitter means Business" has tips, tricks and tools so businesses will understand Twitter and use it effectively. The book examines rival microblogging services used by companies, too.