Twitter as a Business Tool

I see Twitter as a tool for businesses to legally eavesdrop (but not really) on their customers or prospective customers to gain an honest perspective of their needs or desires. Because people tend to share opinions through Twitter with friends they speak candidly and because this must be done in 140 words or less they also get straight to the point. Although users know twitter is public they blab away to friends as if it's not, as though its as intimate as being at a barbecue. So if a customer is tweeting about service (good or bad) a company is likely to get succinct, meaningful feedback in a way that they cannot through a survey or blog.

In addition to this businesses can tweet in short blurbs about new developments or products attracting the interest of both followers or non-followers who search their brand. Twitter presents a great opportunity for both start-up and established businesses to market themselves to an audience who is likely to read their tweets because they already use Twitter. As more people start using Twitter as an alternative to texting, instant messaging, or emailing this group will only continue to grow.