Do you use Twitter? If you’re not using Twitter, sign up for your free account at http://twitter.com to see what all of the commotion is about. Twitter now has over 200 million users and is one of the fastest growing websites on the internet. Ignoring Twitter will not make it go away and you could be hurting your business by not using Twitter! (I’ll tell you why in a minute).

Most people assume Twitter is a waste of time but they’re quickly learning that it’s a very valuable tool to grow your business whether it’s small or large. Many celebrities are creating a buzz for themselves (sometimes in negative ways) and businesses are enhancing their brand recognition using Twitter.

Here are some tips to help you use Twitter effectively:
1. Listen before you Tweet. Go to http://search.twitter.com and search for your competitors. Follow them and see how they’re using Twitter. Learn from their mistakes before you start Tweeting.
2. Provide valuable information to your customers and prospects. When you come across a great product or service recommend it to them and provide a link to that resource at the end of your Tweet.
3. Don’t self-promote or sell on Twitter. Use it to enhance your brand and reputation by providing valuable information.
4. Don’t post negative Tweets about your competition. Keep your Twitter reputation positive and don’t get into negative debates online with your competitors.
5. Respond quickly to negative Tweets from your customers. If they are unhappy with your product or service, engage them on Twitter immediately. A simple Tweet like “How can I help you @Twittername? will most often calm them down and make them feel like someone is there to help them. Try to solve their problem by Tweeting a link to an FAQ or resource that can solve their problem. If that doesn’t solve their problem, invite them to Direct Message you or call youfor immediate assistance.

Twitter is a very powerful, real-time resource. People are talking about you or your company on Twitter so ignoring it is the worst thing you can do. You need to know what they’re saying and engage them to keep the sentiment positive about your brand.