Although many internet users use Twitter as a social networking tool, it can also be used as an internet marketing tool. Regardless of what you want

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to market, whether it be a website, a blog, a product, or a service, you can do so with Twitter and in 7 easy steps.

1 – Create a Free Twitter Account

To create your account, visit Twitter.com. Click on the link to join and fill out the requested information. This information will include your email address, a username, and a password. This process is very simple.

At this point in time, you can also customize your profile. Although optional, there are benefits to doing so. In your bio section, state your profession, such as freelance writer, web designer, or online retailer. Include a professional picture of yourself, as pictures always help to generate interest.

2 – Search for Friends on Twitter

After registering for a free account, you can find friends on the website. To do so, you have three main options. These options include importing your contacts from your email account, searching for members based on their email address, or by performing a search with name or location.

When you add friends, you will become followers of their messages and updates. Many times, they will return the favor to you. If a user has a private account, a friend request will be sent.

3 – Use Online Message Boards for More Contacts

To use Twitter to market a website, blog, product or service, target more than just friends and family. In fact, strangers will be your best option. Do you belong to any online message boards or other communities? If so, mention that you joined Twitter and ask to exchange information. This is an easy way to not only get people to follow your messages and updates, but individuals who share similar interests.

4 – Perform a Twitter Search to Find More Contacts

As previously stated, the best way to market a blog, website, service, or product is to extend your reach. You can target those who you do not personally know with a Twitter search. You can do so at Search.Twitter.com. Look for those talking about or asking questions on the subjects that interest you.

5 – Send Updates

Once you have developed a following on Twitter, you can start to send updates. Most users will highlight what they are doing or are about to do. For example, a Tweet may say “heading to the airport.” When marketing a website or a blog, send a quick message about a recent post or update. Offer a quick summary and provide a link.

6 – Respond to Updates You Receive

As stated above, many will send out updates on their daily activities. Others will ask questions. You may be provided with a few good opportunities. Is someone asking for tips on how to market a website or a blog? If you have a post on your website or blog about this very subject, send a @reply to your friend and link them to your blog. Not only do you give them an answer to their question, but you also gain website traffic.

7 – Answer Questions Through Twitter Search

The more contacts you have on your Twitter account, the more applicable questions you will come across; however, you can also perform a Twitter search. Your search phrase should be something that is line with your website or blog topic or a product or service you are selling. For example, is someone looking to buy a computer? Do you sell computers on your website, either directly or through an affiliate program? If so, send an @reply and direct them to your website.

As you can see, it is very easy to turn Twitter into an internet marketing tool. Once you register for a free account and start making contacts, you will find multiple opportunities to promote a service, product, website, or blog.

Are you a freelance web content writer? If so, you may have noticed an increase in competition. With high gas prices, the high unemployment rate, and various other reasons, more people want to work from home. Many of these individuals give writing a chance. Competition is nice, but it may leave you wi

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thout work. To find work, you may start to examine unconventional approaches, such as Twitter.

If you are a freelance writer, you may have heard of Twitter before. As a writer and researcher, it is your job to stay up-to-date with internet happenings. In fact, you may already be a member. But, are you only sending messages to friends and family? If so, you aren’t using Twitter to its fullest extent. As previously stated, you can use it to gain writing clients and projects. How? By using Twitter as an internet marketing tool.

If you aren’t a member of Twitter, signup for a free account. You can do so at Twitter.com. After creating your screen name, password, and providing your email address, you start adding contacts. You can do so by importing your email contact list or by searching for members based on email address, name, or location.

Before you start marketing your writing services on Twitter, you need to develop a list of contacts. As stated above, this needs to be more than friends and family. Start with a Twitter search. You can do so by visiting Search.Twitter.com. Perform a search with targeted phrases, like writing, writer, freelance writer, and so forth. These individuals share similar interests with you, so they make great Twitter contacts and friends.

You can also turn to online message boards. Since marketing is an important component of writing on the web, you may already belong to a few message boards for writers, internet users, or working from home. If so, create a new message stating that you are a member of Twitter and that you want to exchange information. If someone starts following you, do the same.

The above mentioned approaches will help you find those with similar interests, likely other writers. Now, you may wonder how this can benefit you. After all, these Twitter members may be your competition. They may apply and compete for the same jobs. Yes, this is true, but have you ever been overwhelmed as a freelance writer? If so, you may have turned to outsourcing. This is your goal.

When following Twitter users who are writers, you will commonly find updates that include “I am overwhelmed with this writing project,” “I am suffering from writer’s block,” and so forth. This is your opportunity to find outsourcing projects, even if they aren’t advertised as such. Send an @reply saying “Writer’s block. Yes, I have been there. Taking a break or asking for help works to overcome it.” You can also outright state that you are a writer and ask if any help is needed.

Using @replies is the best way to market yourself, subtly, online as a freelance writer, but so is sending updates. For example, do you have contacts on your list who run websites, are looking to work from home, and so forth? If so, send updates that cleverly mentioned you are a freelance writer. For example, “I just finished writing a series of articles for my blog. I hope it generates enough Adsense revenue.” First, you make it known that you write for money. Next, you generate interest. Someone on your follow list may respond to ask how you make online or they may even ask for paid help.

In short, Twitter is a social networking website that millions of internet users use. Although social networking is often regarded as playful fun, it can work to your advantage as an online writer. In fact, to become a successful and profitable web content writer, you need to rely heavily on internet marketing. Twitter can help you.