If you’re not on Twitter, perhaps you should be.
The growth of social media giants like Twitter since they first began has been exponential. Initially, they existed purely so you could write messages to friends. Now, these platforms are the cornerstones of some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Many of these success stories believe that platforms like Twitter played an important role in where they are today. Let’s take a look at Twitter as a social media website and how it has moved in the direction of marketing since it first began.
The Reign of Twitter
When looking at the history and growth of Twitter, we need to go all the way back to 2006, when Jack Dorsey and Noah Glass created this American social networking service. It was also intended to be a news service as well, where people could come for their information.
Originally, a ‘tweet’ was restricted to just 140 characters. However, in 2017 this limit was doubled. The conciseness of a Twitter post certainly has its advantages and disadvantages. A lot of the advantages are reasons why marketing on Twitter has been able to take off exponentially.
At this point in the Twitter story, it’s impossible to deny that it has begun breaking down the walls between brand and customer for businesses that have adopted it as a way of advertising.
This is because social media allows companies to communicate with their clients directly and on a frequent basis. This, in turn, helps them to form strong, personable relationships, even allowing clients to collaborate with businesses on projects.
When businesses adopt social applications like Twitter, they see it break down walls of traditional marketing and management structure.
Let’s take a look at three entrepreneurial success stories which have all found Twitter to be integral in their path to prosperity.
Liza Viana: CEO of CMK Marketing
Liza doesn’t have to look far to see the benefits of using social media platforms like Twitter every day.
The long list of benefits that her company receive on a daily basis includes potential leads, quick and easy advertising, monitoring the target demographic, keeping a finger on the pulse of the community, establishing their online brand voice, and being given the opportunity to network with current clients and other businesses.
Liza found Twitter to be a quick and easy way to spread the word about her growing business. It was also an inexpensive way, as well. This is because Twitter gave her a platform to engage with other local companies and potential clients, making her budget go a long way.
She believes that while a smaller business than hers could become successful without social media, they would find the road long and narrow.
Whatever price you land on when it comes to online marketing will match with what you receive in leads, analytics, and targeting of demographics. Being able to establish a visual brand and a voice that has a home on a platform like Twitter has undoubtedly accelerated the growth of a business like this.
Alex Kehr: Founder of Wander Agency
Alex says that social media has changed the way of the entrepreneur. This is because it’s created a portal for startup founders like himself to rapidly test out ideas on willing consumers, while at the same time getting invaluable feedback.
This entire process can take months sometimes, without the power of social media. However, when you’ve got an existing platform that organically draws interested parties, you can accelerate the trial and error period that you have to go through as an entrepreneur.
Alex says that it’s easy to get feedback on Twitter. It’s also easy to access customers, as well, and land on their target audience without too much researching and outsourcing.
Wander Agency uses Twitter not only to promote the business but to learn more about how they can grow their business. This is thanks to the accessibility of a target audience that’s active and willing, to be honest.
Like Liza, Alex believes that it’s possible for smaller companies and businesses to do well without using social media. However, he only thinks this is applicable in specific niches and industries.
When it comes to a startup, social media is essential.
Craig Bloem: Founder and CEO of FreeLogoServices
Craig likes how social media is an open door that allows the company to stay in direct contact with existing customers. Craig says that they use it primarily to share ideas, promotions, and encourage their target audience to interact with the brand.
This company’s success with social media websites like Twitter lies in customer service. Many of their existing customers will message them or post on Twitter. This has been an excellent way for Craig and the team to get positive feedback, as well as resolve any issues quickly and painlessly.
Personally, Craig hasn’t seen too many new clients get on board through the likes of Twitter, so they tend to focus more on their existing customers instead.
While social media wasn’t initially their focus when they were still starting up, they now believe it to be imperative. Craig says that whether it’s to find more information about your company or easily get in contact, having an online presence is essential.
He believes that using platforms like Twitter as an entrepreneur is a great way to build awareness around your brand, as well as legitimacy for it, too.
Final Thoughts
Twitter has been around for going on thirteen years, and there are no signs of it slowing down.
This means that it will only become more and more an integral part of every startup. While there are a minute number of businesses that won’t gain anything from posting their brand on Twitter, the vast majority of people will.
Just take a leaf out of these entrepreneurial success stories. While hard work is still very much alive and well, social media and the opportunities it comes with can make a significant difference to the success of your startup.
Recently, we’ve also seen a huge rise in social media automation where people are using Twitter auto follow tools to get their account numbers up, let us know in the comments below what tools you use to help grow your Twitter account.
Get inspired by these entrepreneurs and discover how Twitter can up your company’s online game.