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Product Description

The best guide to using Twitter to market to consumers-revised and better than ever

Since 2006, forward-thinking companies like Apple, JetBlue, Whole Food, and GM have discovered the instant benefits of leveraging social media site Twitter to reach consumers directly, build their brand, and increase their sales. Some companies have whole teams of specialists whose only job is to respond to the tweets of consumers.

In this revised and updated edition of Twitter Power, online marketing guru Joel Comm explores the latest trends in how businesses and marketers can integrate Twitter into their existing marketing strategies to build a loyal following among Twitter members, expand awareness of their product or service, and even handle negative publicity due to angry or disappointed customers.

• Updated with thirty percent new material, including all the latest business applications for Twitter
• Includes new, recent case studies of companies at the forefront of the Twitter movement
• Helps you develop your own social networking strategy to meet your specific business needs

Twitter Power is a must-have resource for any business leader who wants to keep up with the social media movement.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165052 in Books
• Published on: 2010-04-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 5.50" w x 8.50" l, .63 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 268 pages

Amazon.com Review
Since 2006, forward-thinking companies like Apple, JetBlue, Whole Foods, and GM have discovered the instant benefits of leveraging social media site Twitter to reach consumers directly, build their brand, and increase their sales. Some companies have whole teams of specialists whose only job is to respond to the tweets of consumers.

In this revised and updated edition of Twitter Power, online marketing guru Joel Comm explores the latest trends in how businesses and marketers can integrate Twitter into their existing marketing strategies to build a loyal following among Twitter members, expand awareness of their product or service, and even handle negative publicity due to angry or disappointed customers.

• Updated with thirty percent new material, including all the latest business applications for Twitter
• Includes new, recent case studies of companies at the forefront of the Twitter movement
• Helps you develop your own social networking strategy to meet your specific business needs

Twitter Power is a must-have resource for any business leader who wants to keep up with the social media movement.

Twitter Tips from the Author
Driving Followers to the Mall

Look through my timeline, and you’ll see lots of different kinds of tweets. You’ll see links to my blog posts. You’ll see replies to my followers. You’ll see my opinions on politics, gaming, and social media. You’ll even see the odd quote that I’ve thrown in for fun and to spark some comments.

What you won’t see are tweets that tell people they should be buying my products. That’s not what I use Twitter for. I prefer to use it to build a brand and a community. In time, that will bring me more loyal customers and more sales overall. I can already see it happening in the number of visitors to my blog and the type of comments those visitors leave. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use Twitter to drive direct sales.

You can, but you have to follow a number of simple rules:

• Don’t do it too often. A special offer once a week is plenty. More than that, and you’ll start to look like a commercial Twitter timeline rather than a personal one. That will reduce the number of your users.

• Make the offers really special. Time-limited offers and discount coupons make followers feel that they’re being rewarded for reading your tweets. Being part of an exclusive club is a powerful motivator to keep reading.

• Keep the offers targeted. People will follow you for all sorts of reasons. They might have seen your Twitter URL on your blog. They might have seen a reply to you in someone else’s timeline. Or they could have read one of your re-tweeted messages to name just three.

They’ll stick around because they find your tweets interesting and entertaining.

With a group of followers that could be quite varied, the temptation might be to make offers for any products you can think of. If someone offers you an interesting-looking joint venture, you might want to mention it on Twitter, offer a discount code, and see if anyone bites. You could do that, and some people might bite. However, if your keep your offers closely-targeted to your specialized subject—whatever that subject might be—you’ll continue to come across as an expert, and because your trust levels on that topic will be higher, your conversion rates should be higher too.

• Don’t link to a sales page without a special offer. Although Twitterers understand that companies are using the site for branding and marketing, they don’t want to feel that they’re being pushed into buying. If the tweets are interesting and entertaining, then followers will be happy to read them.

In fact, they’ll enjoy them and they’ll see the company as having its finger on the pulse, as a firm that feels that it’s part of their community and that knows how to follow the community’s rules. Companies that are seen to view followers as nothing more than walking moneybags, though, aren’t going to pick up followers. They’re actually more likely to lose followers who were once customers.

Link directly to a sales page without making the follower feel that they’re receiving special treatment, and you create the impression that you really want to sell, not tweet.

Usually, the best way to drive followers to buying pages is to use the strategies we’ve seen already: Create entertaining tweets, and throw in occasional special offers that appear to reward followers while avoiding the appearance of a hard sale—or even that you’re marketing.

There is one exception though. A number of timelines have turned up on Twitter that take exactly the opposite approach. They’re a bit like Darren Rowse’s Twitterfeed account: They provide just one type of tweet and followers know exactly what they’re getting.

In this case, they’re getting nothing but special offers. Once in a while, MomsWhoSave (@momswhosave) will toss in a personal tweet. But it’s mostly discounts and coupon codes for its 8,375 followers.

Review
"Arguably, one of the best tomes...Twitter Power is jam-packed with clever ways to start and dominate a marketplace." (Brandopia.typepad.com, March 23rd 2009) "...good comprehensive overview...Comm is at his best when discussing how to use Twitter as a marketing, PR or promotional tool." (B2B Marketing, July 2009)

Review
“For months I saw and heard the buzz about Twitter, but it wasn’t until Joel told me details about it that I fully understood its marketing implications. Now I can clearly see how this free site can help me further build relationships with my customers, and I am going to be ‘tweeting’ frequently! In fact, I have already started, thanks to Joel. So thanks for writing this book, Joel. It’s going to help a lot of people grow their business!”
Stephen Pierce (www.MakeRealMoneyOnTheInternet.com)

“In the short amount of time I have had with Joel Comm, I can clearly see that this is a man who understands how to build profitable Internet businesses. Twitter Power is sure to set a new standard for those seeking to broaden their entrepreneurial vision to include the latest Internet technologies. I recommend you read it and begin applying it to your business right away!”
Bill Bartmann, Billionaire Business Coach (www.billioanireu.com)

“I was lucky. Joel Comm sat down with me and explained what Twitter is, how it works, and how I could and should be using it for my business. Joel knows more about using Twitter than any other human, and the proof is in his own massive success with "tweeting." You're even luckier; in this book, Joel will teach YOU everything you need to know about Twitter—and you don't even need to buy him lunch.”
Dan O'Day, radio advertising guru (www.twitter/dan_oday)

“I'm amazed how many people are not yet using Twitter to connect with customers and associates.  Once again, Joel Comm leads the way into the future by showing people how they can have increased success by taking some very simple actions. This book has inspired me to take my social media presence to the next level!”
Christopher Howard, wealth and personal achievement expert

“Social media has given online business the fuel to ride the next wave of the Internet for many years to come. If you want to be on the cutting edge of strategies that are being implemented by the most successful businesses, Twitter Power is a must-read. Joel has done a great job of demonstrating how a minor investment of time and energy can result in long-term payoffs. No wonder they call him the Social Media Expert!”
Kristopher Jones, CEO of Pepperjam and author of Search Engine Optimization: Your Visual Blueprint for Effective Internet Marketing

“Joel Comm's understanding of social media and its applications for entrepreneurs and the growth of their businesses is remarkable. Beyond his knowledge, it is his ability to communicate it effectively that makes him stand apart, while his humor in delivery keeps you coming back for more. “
Jen Groover, a "One Woman Brand" and founder of Butler Bag LLC

“I've been a big fan of Joel's ability and track record to keep up and explain the importance of new web-based communication tools and trends. I consider him to be at the front edge of the Internet and a sage guide to help you grasp and understand changes in the fast-paced online world.”
Tony Rubleski, Amazon #1 bestselling author (www.MindCaptureBook.com)

“Thanks, Joel, for this intriguing look at Twitter. You’ve proven that Twitter Power isn’t just about making new connections to generate sales. It’s about brand-building, focus groups, the exchange of ideas and the emotion of debate. All conducted in real time via computer, cell phone, PDAs, and perhaps even TV by the time you read this. When you add in the incredibly viral nature of Twitter, the possibilities are virtually endless.”
Dan Nickerson (www.YouMetDan.com)

“I've been following Joel on Twitter for a while now and I'll be frank—he annoys me . But in a good way. He always manages to grab my attention in Twitter, despite the limited words availablle within the
microblogging platform. This clearly demonstrates that Joel understands how this new and powerful social media tool should be used. If you want to unleash the power of Twitter for your business, Joel is someone you should pay attention to.”
Yaro Starak (www.entrepreneurs-journey.com)

“I'm a twittering fool. Twitter is one of the most addicting things on the net. Besides the fact you get to update everyone and talk to people you'd rarely talk to, it's a great tool for building an online buzz. Make sure you follow Joel Comm on this subject, because he's on the cutting edge of this.”
Matt Bacak, Internet multi-millionaire, Atlanta, GA