In recent years Social Media has emerged as a popular form of web-based interaction. Currently there are countless prominent Social Media sites that offer users free online communication and sharing of thoughts, ideas, information, videos and music. Even if you are relatively new to the web, chances are that you have used at least one of them before. Among the most popular Social Media sites today are Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter and the list goes on and on.
So what exactly is Twitter?
Twitter is a free online social networking site that allows users to connect with one another and communicate using real-time short messages, known as Tweets. Tweets are short text-based responses to the question of “What are you doing?” that appear on a user’s profile to be viewed by other subscribed members. Tweets can be answered via the web, instant messaging or text messaging, making it very easy for subscribers to use.
Like many other Social Media sites, Twitter’s content is purely user generated. Due to this, many other Social Media sites have suffered from an information overload. Twitter, however, gives users the power to receive as little or as much information and updates from their connections as they please.
Most popular with middle-aged working adults
There is a widespread belief in the online community that Social Media is ruled by teens and young adults. While this may be true with many Social Media sites such as Facebook and MySpace, it is not with Twitter. Of its 7 million unique users in early 2009, almost 3 million of them fell between the ages of 35 and 49. And this number is expected to rise. In the past 12 months, Twitter has experienced unique user growth of over 1000%, the most of any social media site.
As this form of Social Media continues to grow, it will no longer only be used for simple communication and interaction between friends and colleagues, but as an important online marketing tool.
Have you considered using Twitter to market your company?
