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Social Media 101: What is Twitter and How Can it Help You?

Alice | April 16, 2012 | Comments (0)

In the most basic terms, Twitter is an information network. More than 140,000,000 users are active every day – which basically means there’s a network of millions of potential customers just waiting for you.

Twitter in a Nutshell…

Read, write and share short messages of 140 characters with the Twitter community. Businesses like bed and breakfasts can use it to build relationships, share information with customers or join relevant discussions.

Twitter Glossary

Tweet - this is your 140 character message

Follow - subscribe to a user’s tweets and updates

Follower - a user subscribed to your tweets and updates

Home - your account, showing a list of ’tweets’ from users you ‘follow’

Mention - alert another user or contact them publicly by using @ and their name e.g. @bnbedition

Retweet - you can share a message and forward a ‘tweet’ you like to your ‘followers’ by clicking the ‘retweet’ button

DM/Direct Message - take your conversation private with a ‘follower’ by starting the ‘tweet’ with D or DM e.g. DM @bnbedition

Hashtag - create a theme or category that users can follow and search for easily with a # e.g. #specialoffer

How to Create a Twitter Account

Go to the Sign Up page: https://twitter.com/signup
Enter your name and a relevant email address and password
Select a username – the name of your B&B
Double check your details and click ‘create my account’
Now, you’re reading to begin following users and tweeting!

How Twitter Can Help Your B&B

Traffic. A simple tweet about an event in the area or something new at your B&B lead bring potential customers to find you.
Brand. By being an active user and posting photos and updates regularly, you’re creating an image of yourself and your B&B that will be something customers remember or can identify with.
Relationships. Connect and communicate with your past or future guests. It’s a way to thank guests for their reviews or stay at your B&B or even solve problems and complaints instantly.
Research. Your customers are at your finger tips! Ask them questions or simply spy on them discreetly – you’ll soon have new ideas for blog posts or marketing plans.