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WEBSITE SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORY
ALL ATWITTER
BY CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DAVE MONYHAN DMONYHAN@ENGINEBUILDERMAG.COM
You can’t ignore the power of social media anymore, no matter how much you may want to
S
o you said (actually, I said) a more than that, nope they won’t let couple of years ago that “Social ya…. 140 is the rule and it cannot be Media” is for teenagers and broken (Believe me I have tried). I movie stars, and fancy-pants types will admit it does get a little easier that yearn for ego fixes on a continwhen you have to say what you need ued basis. Yeah I am talking about to say directly and succinctly and in Twitter, and all the other newly cretime you will get a handle on it. ated outlets in this crazy new elecOkay, so maybe you’re already tronic world we all live in. Yes, I was down with the new social marketing one of those who said you will never and you have your Twitter account – find ME checking MY Facebook page now what? Well I had the same probor doing any of that Twitter stuff. lem: what to do with this and what You can’t drag ME by the ankles, to write about and what not to write kicking and screaming into this new about, who should I follow and who world order of communication! do I want to follow me? Nope. Not me, not no way, and not I came to the conclusion that anyno-how! thing that has to do with your busiHello, my name is Dave and ness should or could be tweeted out. today I am a Tweeter! I tawt I taw a Now I am not saying you have to puddy tat? tweet a hundred times a day, but I do Yes, I have stepped up to embrace say to tweet something about your this new technologically advanced shop or services that you think your world of 21st century communicacustomers or followers should know. tion, and now, I too, create the occaSomething as simple as stating that sional tweet to all of my followers. you resize each and every connecting Who would have thought that there rod on each and every build you do. would be any people on “We install new the planet out there all Setting up a Twitter account is waiting to see what I am simple and free. You may want going to tweet next? Well, to set up a personal account as I must admit that I now well as one for your shop. Tweetthink this twitter deal is ing can expand your audience. really just another vehicle that when used properly can inform and transmit information in a shorter time, and to more people than the simple emails we currently send. Tweeting can expand your audience by a 100 fold and even go viral if you get enough retweets. This can mean a great new expanded group of potential customers. Keep in mind when tweeting you only have 140 characters to say your whole deal. This of course has been my biggest challenge as all of you know Dave Monyhan is never going to stop talking when he hits the 140 character limit. But you can’t do any 32 August 2013 | EngineBuilder
cam bearings,” and things like “we just invested to have the latest boring and honing equipment, as well as all late model machines through-out the shop.” Tell your followers that your machinist(s) is (are) ASE certified. These are all badges of honor that you provide to your valued customers and, yes, you need to tell them! Keep your message simple and direct. Don’t add any fluff just get to the point and let it be. I know I have over-analyzed many a tweet only to not tweet anything at all. I have used humor in my tweets. I have used new products in my tweets. I have used technical advice or observations in tweets and I have re-tweeted other tweeters tweets that I thought were worthy of a re-tweet. Now ain’t that sweet. I read an article by Charlene Kingston who wrote an eBook called “Twitter for Beginners.” Charlene states that people tweet a variety of information that may pertain to your