twitter means business: how microblogging can help or hurt your company [Paperback]

Julio Ojeda-Zapata (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2008

Millions of Internet users have fallen in love with the Twitter "microblogging" service, which lets them swap brief text "tweets." Now companies are embracing the service to engage customers, promote products and monitor what is being said about their brands.

Given the passion and high profiles of "Twitterverse" denizens, the service has evolved into a vital early-warning system for businesses seeking to stave off criticism, and as a way to build better relationships with customers. That is why companies need to know Twitter. Embracing it can help a business thrive; ignoring the service could well hurt it.

For companies unfamiliar with Twitter, this book serves as a field guide. They will get a Twitterverse tour, and learn about the dozens of firms big and small that have harnessed Twitter as a powerful, flexible business tool. The bottom line: Twitter means business.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Happy About (November 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600051189
• ISBN-13: 978-1600051180
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and packed with info, January 22, 2009

By 

Paul A. Baker "communicator" (Madison, Wis., US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: twitter means business: how microblogging can help or hurt your company (Paperback)

Whether you're a seasoned Twitter user or a newcomer, this book will pump you up and lead you to new resources. Julio Ojeda-Zapata packs this little book with examples of why people and companies Tweet, and how they do it.

He documents dozens of corporate Twitter users including Zappos, Best Buy, Home Depot, Starbucks, Sprint Nextel, Comcast, JetBlue, and Whole Foods. H&R Block uses Twitter as a customer-support tool, a public-relations tool, and a product-development tool. Customers tweet about what they like and don't like about the company's online services and desktop software. A "Twitter lesson" follows each case study.

I found really helpful Ojeda-Zapata's descriptions of Twitter-related services, including Tweet Scan, Twellow, TwitScoop, The Social Brand Index, and Twitterati.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introduction to Twitter, April 3, 2009

By 

G. Krivicich "social media expert" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: twitter means business: how microblogging can help or hurt your company (Paperback)

If you have little experience with Twitter, then this book will help you understand the impact that social media is having on business. having real-world examples of businesses using Twitter is an excellent method for teaching the reader about Twitter. The book is conversational (a quick read) and not written like a novel. I was going to lend this book to a friend, but I decided to keep it as a reference tool next to my computer. Well done!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Twitter + Business---Why? This Book Gives You Answers, February 26, 2009

By 

O. Brown "Ms. O. Khannah-Brown" (Twopeas, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: twitter means business: how microblogging can help or hurt your company (Paperback)

****
This is a completely business-oriented book about Twitter, ideal for those companies and small business owners wondering, "Why" and "How can something so simple as a 140 character status update be useful to my business?" This book answers this question and provides many helpful examples of companies large and small who use Twitter, describing exactly how they have benefited. It gives you many ideas about how Twitter can be used to help you in business, no matter what type of work you do.

The book includes a nice resource section called "Twitter Tips, Tricks and Tools". The book is a quick read, and quite short (135 pages), but to the point and well worth the expense. I just read another Twitter book called "Twitter Revolution" and found that there was not a huge amount of overlap; both books helped me to understand what the Twitter phenomenon is all about and how to use it for myself. If you're serious about using Twitter for business, get both.

Recommended.
****