If you’re responsible for the direction of the online strategies for your company or organization, you’ve probably been hearing a lot of flutter about Twitter, a next-generation instant messaging tool.

Twitter is a form of text-based “Micromedia.” Twitter is really much like blogging, but on a miniature scale. Twitter has social networking features, so users can add and remove friends, for example. The 140 character limit requires users to simplify their message.

Like much social media...it’s another ear to the ground, another touchpoint, another “opportunity to build relationships.”

In business, Twitter is a tool through which subscribers can further reach their audience, real-time. Users can hear and express thought leadership, broadcast their message, connect to their influencers both on their desktop and through their mobile units, among other things.

Is it for everyone? Heck, no. (But what is?) What’s more, it’s a new and emerging platform that’s only now finding its footing. There's some junk you need to deal with, and sometimes it’s unreliable. But that said, Twitter has a real use for media companies and social-media brands.

Twitter extends the reach of those individuals or companies that already have a blogging strategy in place, and want to deepen or further ties:

• Announcing sales and deals.
• Increasing the update frequency to blogs or web sites or news.
• Building consensus or community of supporters.
• Building buzz.
• Updating breaking news at conferences or events.
• Updating your network to shape your own personal branding.

References:

What Web Marketers Should Know About Twitter by Jeremiah Owyang
http://www.marketingprofs.com/7/what-web-marketers-should-know-about-twi...

- Jason Holland, Interactive Graphic Designer