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Have you started Twittering? If so, you may have a main goal. For that many, that goal is to keep their friends, family members, and coworkers updated with short messages. Yes, this is how many internet users use Twitter, but you may have other plans. You may wish to use the website to market your business and to promote a product or service you sell. If so, you can easily do so with @Replies on Twitter. How? Continue reading on to find out.

Before outlining how you can use @Replies to your advantage on Twitter, it is first important to understand the process. Twitter is an online social networking website and micro-blog. Once you register for a free account, you are able to develop a list of friends. You can follow these friends and they may do the same for you. Updates are sent through mobile phone web applications, RSS feeds, some instant messaging programs, and the Twitter website. These updates are text based messages, which should be shorter than 140 characters each.

When first signing up for a Twitter account, you will be promoted to provide the password for your email account. Although optional, this will allow you to see if your contacts have Twitter accounts. You can also find friends by searching by location, name, or email address. This is easy, but if your main goal is to use Twitter for internet market purposes, you need to expand your contacts. You can do this by simply reading profiles and finding someone interesting or you join online message boards. This is best if you stick with those inline with your business. Do you sell pet products? Join a pet message board and ask others to join you on Twitter.

As for how you can use @Replies to sell a product or a service, you do so by becoming a follower. This is where you can benefit from returning the favor. If someone becomes a follower and reads your updates, do the same. Although this is not required, it can work to your advantage. Why? Because some Twitter members do more than just post what they are doing. Some also ask questions or ask for help on a certain subject. If those questions or subjects pertain to what you are selling or have to offer, you could easily make a sale.

In keeping with the above mentioned example of selling pet supplies, do you run an online pet store? If so, you may sell a wide range of pet supplies. By finding other members of Twitter who are pet owners, you stand to make a profit. For example, did another member send an update saying “My dog ate my new pair of sandals. This is the 3rd time it has happened. I am so frustrated!” This is your perfect opportunity to mention a dog obedience training book or video you sell.

Online, you will find many people that outright advertise they have a product or service to sell. Yes, it is possible to do this, but you may be classified as a spammer. For that reason, it is best to use replies to your advantage. For example, you may already know that you can use affiliate websites and Google Adsense to make money online, but this is something that people learn each day. Someone may send a message saying “I want to make money with my blog, but it just isn’t working. What am I doing wrong?” If you are a web content writer, this is your chance. You can offer a response similar to “I am a professional web writer. For an affordable fee, I can write a few blog posts for you or show you how to make money with your blog.” Since you are responding to a Twitter, your post seems more helpful and less like spam.

As a recap, the best way to use Twitter for internet marketing to increase your sales is to doing so subtly. For that reason, use @replies to your advantage.

Do you sell online? Whether you run a full-fledge online store or if you only sell a few products on eBay, your success depends on marketing. After all,

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if consumers do not know you have products for sale, you will never make a sale. For that reason, internet marketing is crucial to your success. The good news is that you have many options, including Twitter.

Before focusing on how you can use Twitter to market products you sell, it is important to understand the system and how it works. Twitter is an online service that is defined as a social networking micro-blog. Users join the site and make contacts online. Then, messages or updates are sent. These updates can be received on the Twitter website, a mobile web application, instant messaging programs, Facebook, and more.

The first step in using Twitter to market your for sale products is to join. If you aren’t already a member, it is easy to get started. Visit the Twitter.com website and register for a free account. This involves creating a username, password, and providing your email address. Then, you are ready to get started.

The next step is to develop a list of friends, also known as contacts and followers. Fortunately, this is very easy. Start with importing your contacts from your email account. You can also search for contacts based on location, name, and email address. If you belong to an online message board community, create a post asking for other’s Twitter account information.

Once you have registered for a free Twitter account and created a fan following, you can start to market your products. Your first thought may be to create a short message outlining the products you have for sale, their price, and a link to buy. Yes, you can do so, but you want to avoid sounding like you are spamming. The key to making a sale on Twitter is to sound like you aren’t selling anything, even though you are.

To get started, send an update to your friends. The goal of your first message shouldn’t be to sell, but to rather reintroduce yourself. This is recommended if your list contains a bunch of unknowns from the internet. Your first message could be something like “Still trying to learn my way around the Twitter website. Thanks for joining me in the journey.” Then, you can work your way into marketing your products. This first personal message gives the impression that you aren’t just interested in making contact to sell.

Once again, it is important to be subtle. Instead of saying “Buy a leather office chair from my online store,” try something more creative. For example, say “I got a new leather office chair into sell. It looks pretty functional, what do you think?” Yes, you are advertising a product and your message implies so, but you aren’t outright asking for a sale. You will see this makes a huge difference. Twitter members don’t want to be bombarded with sales offers, but you will find that many like to express their opinions or give feedback. In the end, the results are the same. If someone likes what you are selling, they will buy.

Next, you can use Twitter @replies to market your products. When doing so, you can search for Twitter messages on Search.Twitter.com or send replies to updates you receive from those you follow. For searching, look for messages or questions pertaining to the products you sell. In keeping with the office furniture example, if someone states they are browsing for new furniture, send a quick @reply offering a link to your website.

When replying to members you follow, only market your products when applicable. For example, if you receive an update that says “heading out for the party,” don’t respond with a link to your office furniture store. This is considered spam and you may lose the contact in question. Remember, no one wants to be bombarded with sale offers on Twitter, so use clever marketing tactics.

If you use the internet and stay up-to-date with the happenings online, you have likely heard of Twitter before.

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Twitter is a cross between a micro-blog and a social networking website. Most importantly, it is free to use. A Twitter member will share updates with other members. These updates are called Tweets. These updates are in text format and they can be up to 140 characters each. Depending on personal preferences, updates can be sent via instant messaging, RSS feeds, email, Facebook, mobile phones or the Twitter website.

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For the most part, Twitter is used for social networking. Members will message their friends with fun and interesting updates, such as a grade on a paper at school, a spring break trip, and so forth. Although popular with teens and adults of all ages, Twitter is very popular with college students. It allows them to stay in contact with their family and friends back home.

So, are you too busy to call your friends or family on a regular basis? If so, Twitter may be your best option. You can send messages through the Twitter website or your mobile phone. If you are Mac user, as opposed to a PC user, you can also use the Twitterrific desktop program. It allows you to send from your computer without first logging into the website.

Although Twitter is commonly used for social networking purposes, many businesses have started using the service to their advantage. For example, coworkers working jointly on a project can update each other with their progress. This service is also increasing in popularity for businesses where deliveries are required. Updates and changes to a route schedule can easily be uploaded and shared with delivery drivers already in the field.

So, are you a business owner? If so, you can use Twitter to your advantage. Whether you operate a large business or a small one, Twitter can give your business an edge. Although you may not run a factory-style business, your employees may work in a line. For example, one employee must finish their work before another can begin theirs. If that is the case, the free updates that Twitter allows can make it easy for constant communication.

There are over 2 million members at Twitter. Unfortunately, you may not be one of them. As previously stated, Twitter is a cross between a micro-blog and a social networking website. If you use the internet to work, not just for recreation, you might assume that you do not have the time or energy to Twitter. Yes, that may be true, but there is more to it.

So, are you self-employed? Even if you work by yourself, you can still use Twitter to your advantage. Although advertisements are advised against, there are roundabout ways for you to market your business. Whether you are selling a product, service, or a combination of the two, you can spread the word with Twitter. For example, are you employed as a web designer? If so, send a Twitter message to your followers stating that you are working on a new website project. In the event a follower needs a website developed, they may later remember your message and the services you offer.

As you can see, Twitter is more than just a social networking website and a micro-blog. If you aren’t already one of the 2 million users who have tried it, give it a try. With Twitter being free, you have nothing to lose.