1. Keep Track of Breaking News- One of my favourite things about Twitter is it keeps me up to date with all the news that’s important to me. I’m not just talking about world news that you can find on Sky / CNN or anywhere else. I mean industry news that often flies under the radar. By following the right people, I always have the latest niche news I can’t find anywhere else.

2. Monitor Your Reputation- If you’re using twitter for professional purposes, it can be an effective tool for online reputation management. Track your name to keep tabs on what people are saying about you at any given time. This information can be useful for fixing in-house problems, and it can also help you eliminate any untrue rumours that might be spreading around.

3. Fast Answers- If nobody is around to answer your question or you just want a fresh perspective on a topic, Twitter is one of the best ways to get a fast response. Simply pose your question to the community, and within minutes, you’ll have an array of responses from your followers. It could even spark a larger discussion that gets you some attention.

4. Gain Exposure for Your Website- Perhaps the most obvious benefit of Twitter is generating traffic to your website. When you’re connected with followers who care about you, they’ll help spread your content by ReTweeting it to their friends. Just be careful that you don’t overdo the self-promotion as that will drive your followers away. Use Twitter responsibly, and you’ll experience more traffic to your blog and website.

5. Stay in Touch- Whether it’s a business contact from across the country or a friend from down the street, connecting with them on Twitter is an easy way to stay in touch. You’ll always know what they’re up to, and you can engage in brief discussions through DM or @ messages. Even if it’s someone you see all the time, you might get to experience a whole new side of them by following them on Twitter.

Part 2 to follow

Guy Fagan
04/10/10
Director – Lucidity Technologies
www.lucidity.ie