I have been thinking about tweeting about how much I love Doritos, and hopefully I'll get the same treatment as you :)

You could try it and see! Although your followers might end up thinking
you're shilling for them. :-)

Cool site, I just found your blog & I dig! As a blogging, entrepreneur myself I will be checking back in.

Thanks!

I have been thrilled the way these new technologies are moving us back to old fashioned values and conversations. I've used keyword alerts very successfully to find people who share my interest in the power of personal, handwritten notes to connect with others, in both personal and business relationships (We even have a Facebook group: http://bit.ly/rJq9h). It has also put me in touch with purveyors of quality papers, pens, and inks, so when I write my book on heartspoken note-writing, I'll have some potential sponsors!

Michael, I'll be very interested when you get your book written for bricks-and-mortar businesses. I'm active in the local chamber here, and there is a huge need. Will you have an affiliate program for it? :-)

Yes, there will be an affiliate program for it, precisely because there's no
way I can reach all the people who need it by myself. Thanks for expressing
your interest. :-)

I guess I am kind of lost. I still haven't figured out exactly what Twitter is good for. I mean I use it to update my followers on articles/guest blogs I've written etc, but I just cannot get into it for some reason.

I suppose I'm still at the point of asking if it's really worth my time to tweet when I could be doing other things. Feel free to reach through the monitor and slap me a few times if need be.

Twitter has changed the way my business operates and is my 3rd biggest form of traffic generation.

It's great for meeting both customers and potential partners.

I couldn't agree more Nathan. It has had the same impact on my business as well and is also the 3rd largest form of traffic generation for me as well.

I enjoy the ability to meet and network with others through it and have really begun to find a great sense of community with those I connect with.

Nathan, you and I have experienced a lot of both! Twitter is a networking
machine. :-)

Yeah i agree, i'm struggling with twitter, facebook and all of the other channels out there. It's hard to push a traditional business model into this box and with customers that sell a non changing product range (chesterfield sofas) theres not a lot to talk about thats new.

It all seems to be a 1 way conversation with things being broadcast... anyone got any tips on how to make it a conversation?

Replying to your friends/followers makes it a conversation. What you say is
up to you. It's helpful to think of social media as more of a party than a
business meeting. Business gets done at parties (and often, the most
important business), but it's part of all the other stuff, too.

I suppose... but it's hard when you have an agenda... I guess its a skill I have to learn like networking, I'm no good at that either (yet lol)

Mark, one thing surveys have shown is that people really want access to
special deals via social media. They will readily follow/friend you in
exchange for this. Your follower list may not be huge, but they'll be
listening. :-)

Make it clear on your twitter bio that your tweets are all about deals,
specials, announcements. Certainly you can still engage in conversation, but
your mission will be clear to your followers. It will also be relevant to
them and inline with their interests.

However, in spite of all this, focus on the channels that have the biggest
payback, which, for you, might be email marketing or even good old fashioned
direct mail. Don't jump on the bandwagon, serve the needs of your customers
(whatever form that takes).

Thats great advice... I hadnt thought of it being completely commercial, instead I had it in my head that it was a subversive medium (basically link spam)... I like the honesty of this approch and will definately take it up

We're already doing email marketing which started in January and we had our best months sales in over 2 years so thats something we'll continue with... but thanks for the advice I really appreciate it.

You're welcome, Mark. Glad to be of help. I'm currently in the process of
creating an online marketing guide for brick & mortar businesses, so keep an
eye out for that.

Thanks, Joel. I almost never have problems with Disqus, but it looks like today's my lucky day. Now all I need is for a big internet marketer to come here and be all pissy with me in the comments. ;-)

Sorry if this comment is a duplicate, the first form wasn't a Disqus form and I posted and Disqus returned without my comment. Been having problems with it all day...
Despite revealing myself as not being a real man as I use a vibrating razor (hey it was free from Gillette), I really enjoy seeing examples of excellent social media marketing so thanks for that. It makes me even more keen to over-deliver and provide value, as you don't need physical products to do this or course.

It worked on another level too as made me want to return to my shaved head and beard days, though perhaps without the beard this time.