Tweet success

Twitter is increasingly used by businesses to raise their profiles, make them personable and engage with their audience but as with all social media this is done with varying success.

Whilst perusing the latest tweets last night I began to think about the different tacks businesses take on approaching this social networking giant. Below are some of the main trends I’ve picked up on:

The all work and no play tweeter

This business uses Twitter purely as an information outlet keeping their followers informed of their events or latest business developments.  I find this a pretty boring way to use Twitter but I suffer them because occasionally they tweet about a useful seminar they’re holding or a client they are working with. If you want to play it safe with Twitter this is the profile to adopt but you certainly won’t be getting anyone chatting about you over morning coffee.

Conclusion: An informative bore.

The work, work, oh something shiny tweeter

I admit that I fall into this category along with the many others out there who use Twitter for work but get a bit side tracked from time to time. This person has a profile normally including their work name, company logo, snazzy work background and the best intentions for networking until oh ASOS have a sale on better tweet that.

Conclusion: Interesting, effective and fun (well of course)

I may work XYZ but my tweets are all my own thoughts and I don’t conform to their corporate ideals tweeter

This is one of my favourite types of profile and is commonly seen on media folk’s profiles such as employees of newspapers or BBC. They make it very clear in their biog that they are only going to be sharing their personal opinions yet spend more time than any of the above promoting work.

Conclusion: Ironic

The buy our latest edition and my cat just died tweeter

Inappropriate tweeting is inevitable with so many users sharing their thoughts on such a regular basis but when done on a business profile it brings a whole new façade. Often these tweeters will be set up under their business name e.g. LifestyleMagazine and will share business news intersected with the woes of their life. I find myself shivery at their unabashed sharing of tragedy and it’s irrelevance to promoting their business.

Conclusion: I’m sorry that your gerbil has leukemia but I’m following you to hear about your magazine not Snuffy’s final hours.

If there are any business profiles you’ve picked up on let me know and I’ll get them added on. I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts on Twitter in the workplace.

Tags: Business, Guinea Pig, Laura, Twitter