What is the buzz about Twitter, Tweets, Retweets, Tweetups, and Twestival ?

Twitter, for those of you that do not fully understand what it is as of yet is a social networking site where people can post short updates, up to 140 characters, on everything and anything that they choose. It is often compared to status updates on Facebook and MySpace because the updates are so short. These small updates are called tweets but are also known as micro-blogging.

Twitter can be used for socializing and finding like minded people in your area or you can use Twitter to build your business both online and offline. You can find people with the same interests as yourself and follow there tweets and in turn they can follow you. As far as a building tool for you business it is an exceptional way to grow your list, build relationships and build your credibility. Blogging and twittering now go hand in hand because when you post a new blog you can send a tweet out on twitter and your followers will immediately get the link to your new blog post. If you find a tweet that you know may be of interest to your followers you can forward that tweet on, just like an e-mail and that is called a Retweet.

If there is a group of people in your area that use twitter a lot you may be invited to a Tweetup. A Tweetup is a social gathering that takes place at a neighbourhood bar where you can get to know fellow twitter uses, build business connections, friendships, learn something new and just have a fun evening out.

Today, Thursday February 12 there was a Twestival that took place in over 200 cities around the world. This world-wide Twitter event brings online users together and raises funds for charities. It originated in London where a group decided to use their Tweetups to raise money for charity. The idea spread over the internet to other cities including Barcaelona, Beruit and even Edmonton, Alberta. All the money raised from all the Twestivals will go to a New York based organization called charity: water.

Twitter`s profile was raised recently when the US Airways plane landed in the Hudson River and the Mumbai terror attacks were reported on Twitter by witnesses. Twitter is used by politicians to publicize their initiatives, students use it to have conversations instead of phone texting, journalists use it to pump up their stories and their circulation and business people use it to promote themselves and build relationships.

If you are not using this fastest growing, number one social site as of yet I really need to ask, "what are you waiting for!" You may be missing the boat to phenomenal business and relationship growth. If you are interested in growing your Twitter following you can do so by following this link and start growing your business today.

Suzanne Lavigne has a successful home based business and is a successful internet marketer. She believes that everyone can become successful with the right plan and the right mentor. She enjoys helping others become successful to live the life of their dreams.

Etiquette on Social Networking Sites

According to Wikipedia social networking sites started as early as 1995 but were used at that time mainly for friends to reconnect. It began to flourish as a component of business Internet strategies in 2005. So here we are today, only three years after it was first introduced as a business strategy and it is pretty much accepted as mainstream as social networks connect people at low cost. This is beneficial for both entrepeneurs and small businesses as they look at expanding their contact base.If you are not on social network sites then you are not in business.

We are all excited about the home-based business that we promote, but sometimes we tend to be a little over zealous when it comes to promoting on the social network sites that we belong to.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you join a social site.

When you join a social group of any kind please remember to be social. Yes it is even in the name. So many people come into a group and you never hear from them. I have tried to add people as friends and they do not respond to me at all. Either accept a friendship or decline it but by not doing anything it tells me that you are one of those people that sign up for things but never do any more then just that.

Never accept someone’s friendship and then bombard him or her right away with your business opportunity. That’s not being a good friend. If you did that with people you meet face-to-face I am afraid that you really would not have many friends. This holds true on social sites also. Chances are if you send your information off to someone right away they don’t even look at it. It will be a quick delete because they do not even know you.

People do take the time to post blogs and start discussions on all the social sites that I belong too. There is fantastic content within those posts from many people who have walked the walk of multilevel marketing. Please take the time to read those blogs. Maybe you cannot read them all, you may have to pick and choose but there is valuable information within those posts. Please, whatever you do, DO NOT add a comment to any blogs or discussion that have nothing to do with the content involved. This IS NOT the place to put an advertisement for the business you are offering.

There may be no such thing as etiquette on social networking sites and maybe there are no rules that are set in stone but if we could all have the same consideration on social sites as we do when we meet people everyday then we will all have a much more rewarding experience.

Suzanne has a successful home based business and is a successful network marketer. She enjoys helping others become successful to live the life of their dreams.