Enterprise Nation

What's technology editor and resident geek, San Sharma, twittering on about now? Twitter, that's what. Learn about the micro-blogging service with a viral video from Common Craft and read about how it can help your home business.

All a-Twitter

"Life is what happens when you're making other plans," wrote John Lennon. But, to quote Tim Canterbury from BBC comedy, The Office, "he also said 'I am the Walrus, I am the eggman' so I don't know what to believe."

Makers of micro-blogging service, Twitter, would like you to believe that life is what happens between emails, blog posts and Twitter updates!

It was the darling of last year's SXSW festival. And this year, everyone's looking for the 'next Twitter'.

It's back on the blogosphere for that reason and also thanks to the viral success of this video from 'explanations company', Common Craft. If you're not familiar with Twitter or if you want to convince your friends and clients to use the micro-blogging service, but can't seem to explain it well, check out the video below, then read on to see how Twitter can benefit your home business.

Twitter in Plain English

Twitter for your home business

The video from Common Craft does a great job, I think, of demonstrating how Twitter "brings you closer to the people that matter, 140 characters at a time." But how can Twitter bring you closer to the people that really matter to your home business - your customers and clients?

Business/technology blog, Web Worker Daily, lists eight ways in which "Twitter is Useful Professional." Here are just three:

1. Make existing professional relationships stronger and more intimate. I know where Jane’s traveling this week and that Joe’s caught that flu going around. This makes them more human to me and it’s a decent substitute for meeting physically.
2. Get questions answered. Say you’re trying to put a plugin in your WordPress blog but it gives you errors. Tell your Twitter friends and someone might be able to help you. Now, you wouldn’t have emailed all those people to ask and you wouldn’t have instant messaged them either… but a broadcast message to those paying attention is a lightweight non-intrusive way to do it.
3. Expand your professional network. By paying attention to @ messages, you see who people you’re working with are working with. If the discussion is interesting enough, you might find someone you’d like to follow on Twitter… and eventually work with.

• Eight Ways Twitter is Useful Professionally - [Web Worker Daily]

Feedback

Do you use Twitter? Do you think it's a waste of time? Or does it help you feel connected? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow my Twitter updates, 140 characters at a time, on the link below. – San Sharma

• sansharma - [Twitter]