Just a word of dissent here - I must be one of the few who doesn't do
1) Twitter
2) MySpace
3) FaceBook
4) FriendsReunited
Oh, and hardly ever visit YouTube, either.

Now admittedly, I'm not target market for some of them, but perhaps just a bit "jaded" about all the mentions given on the radio (BBC and commercial) about different presenters expecting people to join their FB group, or use Twitter.

I know of a small number of firms which run promotions (eg "be in a prize draw by following us on Twitter") but even that hasn't tempted me to get involved.

As I see it, these are potentially short-lived "fads" and one or several will be sold off or have a funding crisis if they have their profitability model(s) wrong.

It seems to be the media "promoting" by dint of "using" these facilities, rather than any one of them being intrinsically "good" and "useful" (at least to me). So they're getting free advertising, just like some presenter suggesting a person go and "google it" rather than "search online for it".

Yes, they may well work for people, but I've still to be convinced there's much of value in any of them.

I use twitter a lot, I'm a work at home mum running my business on my own, so on a sociable level it's nice to connect with other wahms.

I've also found some great info (about all sorts of things useful to my business, marketing, PR, sales etc) eg from following links to peoples blogs or websites of interest.

A few weeks ago I replied to a tweet by BBC2's Working Lunch programme, which led to my tweet (and company name!) being read out on air. Only something small, I know, but I was v. excited

I've also done some business thro twitter- I tweeted some information about one of my products, which led to a lady running an online baby shop sending a DM asking for trade terms, and then placing an order!

I'm on Twitter at twitter.com/ChiggsLtd

I use it a lot.

I would say it's something you need to put a fair bit of effort into, and you need a strategy.

I tend to tweet or retweet items that are of interest to my target market (small businesses, preferably in my locality) and also tweet marketing information and tips. About one in twenty tweets - or less - I'll "plug" my business, or link to it.

I follow businesses that may be interested in my services. Lots of companies have an automatic follow feature, so they follow you back. I also make sure I follow my clients, and people I've met at networking events.

It's all about engaging with people too, so not just broadcasting, but listening and having conversations. I try to limit my time on it to half an hour a day.

It's quite hard work, and you need to put in some effort to make it work. But I have had enquiries through twitter, and I have found new suppliers, so it's been good for me.

I'm @ClaireKerr and @Marketingin1Day if you want to look me up.

Hi,

Is anyone using this for their business? Any thoughts? I just read a book about it, but it seems like a lot of work and not sure that many of our customers are on there. Just wondering if anyone was giving it a try...