Online marketing is quickly embracing the social media, with user generated content becoming a focal point for marketing campaigns. The massive potential of a successful social media marketing campaign is something that even the most traditional SEO company can no longer ignore. The social web represents an evolution in online interaction and brings with it the possibility of word of mouth and viral marketing for Internet marketers. One of the latest arrivals on the social web is witter, a micro blogging and social networking service.

Twitter expects you to answer the question "What are you doing?" in 140 characters (or less). From your mobile phone, PDA, laptop or personal computer, you can add a small message or tweet to your page; a micro-blog post that keeps friends and fans informed and helps you stay connected. Like other blogs, you can "follow" bloggers and receive updates as their posts are made real time. Apart from the regular text posts and HTML links, users can post pictures with plug-ins and affiliated services like Twitpic. On the surface, Twitter does not appear to be little more than a bite-sized blog and like blogs once were, Twitter is being decried by those who are not willing to embrace the change.

Here are some very compelling reasons why Twitter should be part of your marketing campaign, if it isn't already:

• Twitter offers transparency. Like other social media outlets, Twitters allows marketers to engage their customers and potential clients in discussions. A brand is, after all, controlled by customers and their perspective. Building trust can help establish and reaffirm your commitment to your customers, which in turn can have a positive effect on your brand.



• Twitter is personal. The Web is really about human interaction. Twitter, as mentioned before, allows a company to get out there. Brands can appear very impersonal at times, especially the large corporate ones. With a human voice, a human representative, each tweet can change the way your company is viewed.



• Twitter can demonstrate value. Probably the biggest selling point for Twitter is the ability to not just create a positive buzz, but also promote products and services. Get your latest offers, as well as discounts and sales announced directly. Of course, you do no want to overdo product promotion which might have your tweets look a classified ad section.

Twitter is more than just a fad or short-lived phenomena. Indeed, Facebook with its 140 million (and counting) users has revamped its layout to resemble Twitter's feed. The social media is at the heart of Internet marketing, and naturally Twitter is there too.