Twitter, while not new anymore, is a very powerful tool for individuals as well as businesses, and we are all still learning the capabilites of Twitter on an almost daily basis.

The majority of regular Twitter users seem to be bloggers who have started using it because other bloggers have as well, but there is a growing usage of Twitter from businesses trying to reach their target market to create more sales and a better customer relationship.

This is very important, especially with our economy the way it is.  So as a business, whether your blog is your business, or you have a more traditional business, here are very important ways in which Twitter can help further your efforts, and fatten your wallet.

Customer Relations

Recently I made a comment on Twitter about how Crocs were the ugliest shoe ever made, but within a matter of minutes, @georgeGSmithJr, the social media representative for Crocs, reached out to me and offered a view of different styles of Croc shoes that I had never seen before.

My view of the shoe as well as the company changed dramatically.  They actually do have some decent looking shoes. (I even own a pair of the flip flops for men, now.)

The fact that the company had a representative reach out to me gave me a view of them as real people and not some giant machine that sucks everyone in.

I’ve even met George at a couple of blog and social media conferences since that time and have realized he is a really cool guy.

Had Crocs not been on Twitter and not reached out to me, they would have one less customer, or even less depending on how many other individuals they’ve reached out to in the same way.

Your company will be talked about, whether you’re using social media or not.  Your best bet is to jump in and help direct the conversation in a way you want it to go.

Increased Sales

I have Tweetdeck to help manage my Twitter efforts, and recently I added some search columns looking for any conversations involving web design and other variations of the topic.

My intentions were to monitor who on Twitter was looking for a website designer and to offer my services.  I was hoping to get one or two new web design projects using this method, but what I wasn’t expecting was to get so much business from it that anything else I’ve been working on would get neglected (such as this blog).

But I’m finding that it doesn’t bother me, because all of this new work is putting money in my pocket to better take care of my family and build my business.

By doing the same thing, you can use Twitter to build your business, while spending virtually no money in marketing.  Which brings me to our next benefit of using Twitter for your business.

Free Marketing

While you don’t want to simply blast your marketing campaigns on Twitter (I explain why in a recent post that shows how Twitter is A Sports Bar), it is still a great platform for marketing your business.

Traditional methods of marketing often cost thousands of dollars and offer very little chance that you’ll actually get any return on investment from it.  You may be marketing your business to a huge audience, but what percentage of that audience is even in your target market?

With Twitter, you can market your business for free, and can even target your product or services to an audience that is interested in what you offer.

Social media websites like Twitter are putting many traditional companies with non-internet limitations out of business because they offer your company increased profit by decreasing your overhead.

How do you use Twitter to build your business?

I’m sitting here in the middle of the room in Orlando’s Sea World Ports of Call conference room listening to all the great speakers of IzeaFest.

If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, you can join in on the conference too.  Here’s the live stream from IzeaFest:

Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

This live stream is only available between October 2, 2009 and October 3, 2009.

You may think that in order to make money using Google AdWords, you need to spend a lot of money, but that simply isn’t true.  While it is a little harder to turn a profit than in the the days when you could spend pennies and make thousands, if you follow these three tips for Google AdWords, then you will be able to be successful without breaking the bank.

Google AdWords Tip #1

Make sure your ad is relevant to your keywords.  It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at the amount of people who run the same ad over multiple keywords.  It is imperative that you write a new ad for every keyword that you use, even if it’s just a slight modification you make to the ad.  When people search on something, they want to see those exact words in their search, and they won’t click on an ad that doesn’t match their search terms.

Google AdWords Tip #2

Write good ads.  While it is important that you use the keywords in your ad text, the ad must also be good.  It has to be compelling, and it has to give the reader a reason to click on it over the other ads as well as the natural search results.  So why should they choose you?  You need to make your case, using your keywords, in very few words.  If you can develop this skill, it will be a very valuable thing to have.

Google AdWords Tip #3

Mix up your bidding strategy.  Don’t think that the same style of bidding applies to all situations.  When you first start out, you may need to bid a little higher on the more competitive keywords because your click-through-rate and standing with Google isn’t so high; but don’t forget, as your standing with Google increases, to go back and lower your bids – there’s no point in spending money when you don’t have to.

Conversely, you also need to bid differently on less popular keywords – in that case, you start low, and slowly increase your bid in small increments until you have the position you want on the first page of results.  By increasing your bid slowly, you’ll get the best possible placement for the least possible amount of money.

What tips do you have for using Google Adwords?

I see it everyday.  Literally hundreds of people on Twitter asking if anyone will sponsor them to attend a blog or social media conference.

Everyone would like to have their trips paid for, so what makes you special?  Why would a company pick you over everyone else asking for sponsorship?

The Wrong Way To Get A Sponsor

There is a reason only a handful of people actually ever get sponsors to pay their way to conferences.  Because most bloggers are doing it wrong.

You can’t send out a Twitter message asking (in general) if anyone would like to sponsor you.  Companies get proposed to all the time, so they will quickly look over your cries for help.

If you want to be noticed and truly considered for sponsorship to a conference, you have to prove to the companies you’re targeting why you are the best candidate.

Don’t assume anyone else knows how great you are, just because you think it. If you do, you’ll never be looked at for a sponsorship.

The Right Way To Get A Sponsor

There are many things involved in increasing your chances of landing that perfect sponsor, but with determination and the right guidance, you’ll be suprised at how simple it really is.

1. Create A Sponsor Me Page

The first thing you should do, before anything else, is to create a page that contains the following:

• The reasons bloggers should be sponsored.
• The reasons you should be the blogger to be sponsored.
• What you’ll offer the sponsor.
• What you want from the sponsor.
• What conferences you would like to be sponsored for.
• How to get in touch with you.

2. Create A Letter That Sells You

Once your page is created, you need to focus on writing a letter, that is short and concise that includes all of the same points included in your sponsor me page.

Not every company wants to spend the time scouring your blog trying to find out why they should sponsor you, so sending them a letter by email (or even better, by snail mail) containing the same information, not only makes you look professional and sophisticated, but it also makes sure you’re key points of interest don’t go un-noticed.

3. Contact Companies Through Social Media

The companies more likely to sponsor your conference trip are those that are already into social media and blogging.  Those that know where the future is going and want to be in the front of the pack.

They understand already why sponsoring bloggers is so important, so half of your work in selling yourself to them is done.

When you contact the companies using social media, make sure to provide a link back to your sponsor me page.

In Summary

Companies don’t just give money to anybody that asks them.  If they did, they’d be out of business within a week.  They have to have a great reason to sponsor you and justify it with some kind of return on investment (ROI).

If a company doesn’t see a return on investing in you, they will move on to the next person.  And first impressions are still everything.

Have you been sponsored for a conference?  What process did you go through?  I would love to hear your feedback on your experiences.