Advantages and disadvantages of Twitter for business
Twitter is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms with over 353 million users. Many businesses use Twitter to reach and connect with their customers.
Twitter can help you reach a wide audience and connect with your customers. The downsides include possible negative feedback.
Consider if a twitter account will benefit your business. Are your competitors using it? How do other people in your industry use it? What success are your peers having on Twitter?
Evaluate the pros and cons and decide if Twitter is right for your business.
Benefits of Twitter for business
There are a number of advantages that using twitter can bring to a business:
- Reach a wide audience: Twitter has a large user base, which could include your potential customers. Using hashtags can help you reach an audience interested in a particular topic or in a particular location.
- Deliver customer service: The platform allows direct two-way communication with your customers. Because it’s a public interaction, if you do it well it shows your business in a positive light
- Brand identity: Being on Twitter can help communicate your brand ethos and personality. This should help your business appeal to your target audience.
- Feedback: Twitter can be a useful resource for gathering feedback from customers.
- Cost: It is free of charge to set up a Twitter account. While paid ads are available, many businesses see benefits from organic posts and interactions.
Challenges of Twitter for business
It’s important be aware of the downsides of Twitter for businesses:
- Resources: Maintaining a presence on Twitter requires a time commitment. It’s also important that the staff looking after the account have the right skills and training.
- Negative criticism: Customers could complain publicly about product or services. Negative comments can reflect badly on your business. However dealing with complaints well can have a positive impact on your reputation.
- Time sensitive: Unless you tweet at the right time, when your followers are online, your tweets could easily be missed.
- Spam: Be wary of spam accounts on Twitter. In particular, do not click on suspicious links from users you don’t know.
- Limitations: You are restricted by Twitter’s 280 character limit. It can take time to learn how to communicate effectively with brevity.
