Internet Marketing Help for Business Owners
 
Jim Gibson - Publisher, Online Media Today
By Jim Gibson – Publisher, Online Media Today

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of grumbling from people who use Twitter who say that it’s a complete waste of time.  With Twitter constantly in the news and so many people talking about it being the holy grail of social networking, it’s no wonder the immensely popular micro-blogging site has gained so much attention.  Yet, you don’t have to look far to find a bevy of disenchanted Twitter users who claim the social networking site is not worth the bandwidth (both physical and mental) it consumes.
 
 
Pauline Monot - Content Manager, Online Media Today
By Pauline Monot - Content Manager, Online Media Today

Launched in July 2006, Twitter is now one of the trendiest social media sites, with around 75 million users according to Computer World.  You may still not be one of them, but for sure, you’ve no doubt heard experts discuss the benefits you can take from Twitter to help market your business online.  Maybe you are afraid of taking the plunge when everybody around you seems already familiar with it.

Well, you shouldn’t be and here’s why. 
 
 
Pauline Monot - Director of Content, Online Media Today
By Pauline Monot – Content Manager, Online Media Today

 As I outlined in my last blog post “An Introduction on the Use of Hashtags on Twitter”, hashtags are becoming more and more popular on Twitter.  Indeed, they prove to be powerful tools to keep abreast of what is being said in particular communities and also to extend your reach on Twitter.  Any business owner, even those with limited online visibility, can leverage hashtags to improve communications with followers and even help to promote their brand.  
 
 
Pauline Monot - Staff Contributor, Online Media Today
By Pauline Monot – Online Media Today, Staff Writer

If you are a Twitter user, there’s little doubt that you’ve noticed hashtags (the "#" sign in front of users Tweets).   But do you know what they mean, what they are used for and also how powerful can hashtags be?

What is a hashtag?
 
 
Online Media Today Guest Blogger
Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk
 By Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk

My client base consists primarily of attorneys and accountants. This is not an early adopter group of most new technology, and for good reason.  They are saddled with all sorts of regulations that most businesses are not, and have to worry about anything they say being construed as advice. 

Also, in their defense, Twitter was not marketed very well as a business tool in its early stages.  Twitter is still seen by many as an egocentric medium where people are always posting about what they had for lunch or how great (or horrible) their date was last night.