Become a Good Listener on Social Media

No, you don't need to be a C-Suite exec for this position! "Listening" simply refers to an awareness of the buzz around your brand or business on Twitter. How can you locate potential followers or measure customer satisfaction via Twitter? You'd be surprised how many services and features are out there to help businesses do just that! Check out Trendrr or TweetBeep, for example, or measure the value of your own Twitter identity using TwitterGrader!

Don't just react. Interact.

You will quickly discover that repetitive spamming and relentless hawking is not well received on Twitter. Users are looking for responses to their questions or concerns, naturally. But to go above and beyond, it's important to engage in ongoing dialogue with users that extends beyond the occasional reply. Essentially, Twitter's a great tool to serve as an interactive FAQ or customer service, but it can be so much more. Here are just a few suggestions for businesses to consider:

• Menu changes
• Exclusive discounts/promo codes
• Re-Tweet articles relative to your industry
• Solicit feedback from followers about potential additions to your product line
• Headed to a convention or summit? Tweet your experiences while there!

Give it time.

The social frontier moves at a rapid-fire pace, but success on Twitter still takes a little time and patience. Don't get discouraged! You're involved with a marketing channel that levels the competitive playing field better than any of its predecessors! Experiment, get creative, and have fun!