Top 8 Twitter Tools: Market Yourself and Company

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Are you looking for a way to market yourself, your company, without a tremendous amount of cost and time? Is this really possible? By simply adding twitter to your sales/marketing process and using the tools described in this article it is not only possible but can be accomplished quick and easy.

Let’s get started
If you haven’t already… then you need to sign up with twitter. Before you do however make sure you have a decent name. I use totallysales which is unique and catchy, at least I think so, and describes’ what I want to focus on. Also you will need a logo or picture, small size, so that you’re not stuck with the ugly bird avatar Twitter gives you by default. Don’t worry… you can change it later. I would also change the default background. My favorite background tool is twitterbacks. It’s free and very simply to apply.

What’s your End Game?
Using Twitter can be extremely powerful but typically you need your followers to go somewhere. I found this with Linkedin as well. With Twitter you get around 119 characters with a “shorten URL” to get your message across. Hardly enough space to tell any story much less “offer” something. Start a blog. This is easier to do than you would think. Your provider through programs like simplescripts make this an absolute no-brainer. Post some decent content. Blogger is probably the easiest to get started with. I use WordPress because I like to program and tweak.

Remember: Too much self promotion is a turn-off. The 80-20 Rule works well here. 80% of your tweets need to be of some value to your connections. For example I use totallysales to promote lottspace. My tweets are typically sales related with occasional updates to my latest articles.

Sticking with your end game, search for folks that are the type of followers you’re looking for. Below are some great free tools that can help you focus, locate and maintain your social media network. Even if you’re a beginner you’re results will be astounding in no time.

Twitter Tools
Pockets You can now leave a private voicemail for anyone on twitter. From quick texting to quick voice messaging easily. Great business application for that personal touch.

Screenr Now you can screencast as easily as you tweet. Show presentations from your desktop by simply hitting a record button on their website. When finished you have an instant ready to tweet presentation. Powerful and easy business product presentation tool.

Buzzom With Buzzom you can bulk Grow, Reciprocate, and Flush twitter connections. A powerful bulk management tool and a quick way to gain and maintain connections. You can also see how you’re doing with their stats page and TwitIn score. TwitIn gives advice on what your influence and direction is using twitter. This is a must have to grow your connections quickly and specific.

Localtweeps If your looking for local tweeters then there is not a better tool to do this with. It’s easy just search by zip, city, or keyword. A pretty cool feature is you can post and browse local events and specials.

Socialoomph Here’s just a few of the powerful features SocialOomph offers: Scheduling your tweets, Sending welcome direct messages to new followers automatically, Follow those who follow you automated, Unfollow those who unfollow you automatically, and purging your direct messages inbox .

Twittercounter To see how your trending, total counts, and a great place to find more followers you just can’t beat TwitterCounter.

Tweetdeck What can I say… 90% of the professionals actively involved in Social Networking are using this tool. Download it, install it, and it’s FREE. At first it can be a little overwhelming. Just take some time with it. You’ll be happy you did.

Power Twitter The goal of Power Twitter is simple: make twitter better. You can play videos and music, see and share photos, search and track, find cool people / mark your Top Friends, answer the #dailyquestion, and lots of stuff like Facebook updates, expanded links, peek, and more. I have always felt limited with the current twitter interface… With Power Twitter that is past history.

With these powerful twitter tools you’ll be on your way to successful social networked sales lead generation quicker than you can imagine.

Can you have too much business?

I started a business with a forty thousand dollar loan from a friend of mine. The business meteorically grew to over one million in sales per month within a year. I had nothing to complain about, right? Except… I was rotating my inventory 4-6 times a month. Cash flow issues were the order of the day. I went through three “bookkeepers” and as many accounting programs. Within a year and half I had over 50 employees and 4 locations. We tried to slow things down to only find that there is no “slow” with business. You’re either climbing or you’re declining. Within 4 years this same business failed due to bad accounting advice and practices, poorly designed loans, theft, and lack of a solid core business direction. We grew too fast. I should have planned to fail… let me explain. Banking is a critical piece to the planning to fail approach. You should always have separate accounts for payroll, taxes collected, and any monies pre-collected for future services/product. Failure to do so can be construed as using monies inappropriately. Separate accounts that are clearly defined to what their purpose is (audit trail) leaves no discussion of fraud. A single account leaves you wide open to possible fraud and usage. It would have also made it easier for me to see where my monetary issues were. Business Loans Collateral: This can be confusing. I eventually attained a couple of different type of loans: A business line of credit and company expansion SBA loan. The business line of credit was to help with our account receivables. We would present P.O.s against the line. The SBA loan was for cash infusion to solve store inventory issues. Even though we used these loans for entirely different purposes both had dual collateralized my business. A major screw up to say the least. The SBA loan contract was at least 100+ pages. We were walked through by the processor. We missed the collateral part. This became a “powder keg” later. Personal guarantee consequences:I had personally guaranteed all these loans as we were a fledgling business. My company was incorporated which did not protect me from this liability. I had to personally file for bankruptcy to protect myself and my family. Business loans (SBA) and who you are “really” dealing with: We settled with the banks during our bankruptcy proceedings. My incompetent attorney did not settle with the SBA however. While I knew that there were two parties to the loan I didn’t realize I needed to settle with each individually. Nine years later the FBI shows up and serves papers for my demanded appearance in superior court. They were attempting to collect their part of the loan. Scary times. I would personally never get a SBA loan again. Factoring – Good or bad for business: This is actually one of the better moves I made. I was told to never use this type of financing. As it turns out if I had early on I would probably still be in business today. They would take my P.O.’s, pay me fifty percent up front, collect from customer, and then payout the rest upon delivery minus their fees. For a start-up that was being asked to stretch their cash flow past reason this would have been heaven sent. Taxes Pay your taxes: At the end of our demise we were behind on everything including our taxes. Understand that there is no tax redemption/protection for your business even if you’re incorporated, even in bankruptcy. I personally had to take on this serious burden. Mentors Your business posse: A strong business relationship with a CPA, Business Attorney, Banker, Landlord, and optionally a business mentor is crucial to success. I know a business, especially a start-up business, is focused on designing, marketing, and selling their product/services. This group is just as important to your success. You should have a business posse day one. If I had been on top of this I would have known my accounting practices were flawed, my dual collateralized loans would not have been made, and I would have managed things differently. I did eventually bring in a mentor and a third party accountant later. Unfortunately it was already too late to save a very popular, growing business. What a waste. Life-Business Lesson This life-business lesson was learned years ago. I have had many successes since. I am now being asked to be part of the posse (mentor) ironically. Interestingly this “advice” still applies in today’s market maybe more so. I see advertisements to go get incorporated now, get a quick loan, “don’t think about it, do it now” strategies – “advice”. There are so many repercussions to these actions that need to be carefully thought through. In picking an attorney it can be helpful that they have a strong CPA background as well. Not all CPA’s are a match to your type business. On-staff accountant-bookkeeper doesn’t have to be a CPA but should be hired carefully, preferably graduated from a good business-accounting college, and be able to work well with off staff CPA. Accounting software, initial books setup are so critical as well. And the list goes on. Take my advice, plan like you’re going to fail.

Craig Jamieson

Posted July 3, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Chris,

Great article and cool site. I have added you to my reader.

Thanks!

Craig

Chris Lott

Posted July 6, 2009 at 4:11 PM

I appreciate the follow. Thanks

Kalda

Posted January 8, 2010 at 12:39 AM

great article. I wanted to get on twitter but didn’t know where to start. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Marilyn Hillyer

Posted February 4, 2010 at 10:56 AM

Wow – great information here! Thank you for sharing this with me. I am new to Twitter, so I am going to start using these tools and resources.

Posted February 22, 2010 at 6:16 AM

Marilyn… I am glad you have found this article on twitter useful. Twitter can be such a time waster but can also be a tremendous tool for a variety of uses.

Posted February 22, 2010 at 6:17 AM

Kalda… Glad you found it useful. Let me know how your progress with twitter goes.

Top 8 Twitter Tools: Market Yourself and Company

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Can you have too much business?