Currently, there are many third-party applications out there that provide analytics to allow you to check out how influential a Twitter handle is, namely TweetGrade, Twitalyzer andTweetStats. Expected to launch by the end of 2010, Twitter will also provide users real-time analytics and data so users can find out which of their tweets are most successful, which tweets caused people to unfollow them, and who are their most influential re-tweeters.

This is definitely great news and particularly useful for businesses in finding out what they should be doing more or less of.

Despite the New Twitter’s ability to display simple numbers like seeing your tweets  re-tweeted and other tweets your friends have re-tweeted, the below screen shots allow you to compare tweets at a glance how your handle is doing, with filters ranging from Best, Good and All. You would be able to find out who has marked your tweet as Favourite.

Sneak Peeks from @mongoosemetrics’ Testing

Awesome infographic from Flowtown!

Neal Creighton, CEO and co-founder of RatePoint shares, “Social media use is no longer limited to one demographic, everyone is adopting. While many small business owners are uncertain, big brands are investing heavily in social media. Social media can be a great equalizer for small businesses to compete alongside larger brands and SMBs are missing out if they are not involved.”

Here are reasons why social media marketing is an opportunity and would be a waste if ignored:

Customer Acquisition

Fish where the fish are. The Internet is ubiquitous and also a cost-effective way to reach out to your customers and prospects. Compared to traditional marketing & advertising, setting up a Facebook page or Twitter account is free. (Of course, note that getting engagement and participation for your digital campaign is another story.)

Connect & Build Relationships

Customers need to be persuaded before they buy what you have to offer. Think of marketing as making friends. Just like how you would make a new friend offline – you must be deemed as honest and trustworthy. If they like you, they introduce you to their friends, and trust me – word-of-mouth does wonders.

I’d say @thegardenslug does a good job at relationship marketing on its handle – a good mix of tweets about the menu, promotions, the staff, sharing valuable content, and tweets that truly care about the customers. Would you consider that time-consuming if you are sincere?

Branding & Visibility

You would have known by now I am a big advocate of increasing awareness. I strongly believe that if you are not even making yourself visible, there is absolutely 0% chances of being in the customers’ evoked set. This is something like share of voice (SOV) – if you want to be heard, you must take the first step to speak!

Become an Expert in Your Field

I’ve noticed an increasing trend in companies using blogging platforms like WordPress and Tumblr as part of their company site. Providing useful content adds value to your customers, aids search-engine optimisation (SEO) and earns you respect in your niche. When users find your content relevant, traffic to your site would also increase as users point to your site.

Online Reputation Management

Listen and find out what your customers are talking about you. (e.g. Singtel’s classic case) It provides an opportunity to seek suggestions and fix problems, if need be. In time of crisis, it would be useful for clarifying yourself – at least you would have an audience who would listen to you.

Why, all it does it BONG BONG BONG where the number of BONGS equals to the time in London. Perhaps this is a fun way of letting people tell the time. Would you follow Big Ben on Twitter? I wouldn’t… seriously.

What is next? Will we have a Statue of Liberty on Twitter?

Now we have micro-blogging – blogging made easier to update, either via web, mobile, with a limit of max 140 characters (so just speak to the point!) Some examples are Twitter, Plurk, Fmylife, but mainly focusing on Twitter.

Twitter faces a problem addressing to the majority about its purpose of existence, as discussed in article by SocialMediaToday. “Why would anyone update what they just ate for breakfast or whether someone farted in the lift?” Truth is, it only matters when you are Ashton Kutcher. Otherwise, why would anyone care? Unless you’re inviting stalkers.

Uses of Twitter
- Get connected with many awesome thinkers on the net; you are only a direct message (DM) away!
- You could ask questions and challenge others’ opinions for a juicy discussion.
- Keep in touch with friends, or just broadcast to whoever who wants to listen.
- You could make money
- You just might get employed by a head hunter.
…or check out this lens, 50 Ways to Use Twitter, or 17 Ways to use Twitter for more!

Pros

• Exceptionally useful for those with fans – y’know, fans always want to know what they are doing!
• Direct traffic to your website by notifying them of updates
• Network with similar minded professionals
• Notify your audience – new products, updates and announcement

Cons

• As the number of tweets and tweeters increase, it will take a longer time and harder to read quality tweets.
• Direct Messages (DM) are deemed as spam when they are not personal, useful or sound automated

If you have an account on Twitter and you wish to get more followers, try reading How To Get More Followers by DianeRayfield.

Tools

• Stats: Helps you keep track
  E.g. Twitterholic:, Twitter Analyzer,TweetStats, etc.
• Followers: Friend or Follow helps you conveniently check who is not following you back on Twitter.
• APIs: Be connected to Twitter wherever you are, on your mobile, etc.
  e.g.TweetDeck

Woofer
A spoof, Woofer has been created and positioned as Macroblogging, apparently teasing Twitter. Users are supposed to write at least 1,400 characters for each post.