As a business professional myself, I asked the question about a year ago. How can I use Twitter for my business? Over the last year I have discovered several ways to do just that. In this article I will share five simple strait forward ways to use twitter in your business.

One additional note before going into these five tips. Be sure that you use the twelve to one ratio in any social space. This ratio stands for helping, assisting, or bringing value to people twelve times before you ever do anything to promote your business just one time. Always keep in mind this ratio as this is a true democracy of people who have been empowered through the social community who can potentially make or break a companies long term success.

1. Events Promotion: Whether your holding a webinar, exhibiting at a tradeshow, or putting on a public presentation twitter is a great way to create interest and secure attendees. It really is as simple as coming up a with a great headline or sales copy to post along with a link, which is a must for people to sign up or register for the event so you can monitor your status update success.

2. Find Contacts: Through Twitters search application http://search.twitter.com you can potentially find contacts or representatives at companies who may not be the direct contact you need but can put you contact with the right person. I have done this several times by direct messaging them via twitter securing significant business.

3. Schedule Appointments: Through Twitter I have been successful generating appointments by mentioning a contacts names in my tweet or direct messaging them requesting an appointment.

4. Generate Opportunities Using Qualifying Questions: One of the great ways to use Twitter is to enter in your status updates with qualifying questions. What I mean by qualifying questions are open ended sales or marketing questions that allow you to take the sales process to the next step with lead generation. When people answer your tweet you have just received a potentially qualified lead!

5. Brand Advocacy: In todays online world one thing the Twitter offers is the ability to do brand advocacy and reputation management pro-actively before others take handling your reputation over, good or bad.

Bonus Resources:

~Twitter Strategy Group on LinkedIn, loaded with tips and experts sharing how to master twitter join us here

~Fast Start Guide To Twitter Success “no cost” grab it here