Finding Tweeters

It's amazing the kind of topics you can find on Twitter - there are posts about
almost anything you can image! While there's a wealth of information and conversation available, it can be quite intimidating. Without a little organization and categorization, your Twitter feed might just seem like its spitting out random thoughts about nothing in particular.

I thought it might be helpful if I took a few minutes to introduce you to a few Twitter directories. These sites will not only help you find people with similar interests to follow, but you will also want to make sure you are listed, and under the correct categories. People who are looking for tweeters in your industry or field can search these directories to find you.

Twellow: The "Twitter Yellow Pages" allows you to post a detailed profile and
pulls information directly from your Twitter account. You can add an extended
bio and register under up to 10 categories.

Just Tweet It: The "Tweeter Directory" lists several categories and
subcategories. Choose one that best fits you and add your information. Your
listing includes a short description of what you do and a link to your Twitter
home page and Web site. If you click on a tweeter's entry, you can read the
recent posts, which makes it easier to decide if you want to follow that person
or not!

Wefollow.com is a "user-powered" Twitter Directory. It lists the most popular (those who have the most followers) in categories such as news, music, celebrities, tv, and social media. It determines the cateories based on the use of hash-tags, the popular tags that tweeters label their posts with, beginning with a "#". If you find an interesting tweeter, one click on the "info" button will give you the latest tweet, their Website, and tags that identify their subject matter.

Women Get Info, Stay Connected Through Social Networking

A recent study released by BlogHer finds that women who are online are twice as likely to get their information from blogs than social networking sites. However, 75% of them use social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and family.

The 2009 Women in Social Media Study, which was released on April 28, indicates that women use social media platforms as their primary sources for community interaction, entertainmet, and information.

"Blog now wield considerable influence on consumers' purchasing habits - 45 percent of survey respondents stated that they decided to purchase an item after reading about it on a blog," the survey states.

The study, conducted by BlogHer and iVillage, and in partnership with Compass Partners, offers insight on how women in the U.S. use social media every day. Of the 42 million women who use social media each week, 55% participate in blogging, 75% visit a social networking site such as Facebook or My Space, and 20% use Twitter. The study also suggests that women are spending less time with more traditional media, such as TV, radio, magazines and newspapers.

The implications here are obvious for small business owners. If your target is women (and even if it's not!), you need to be active in social networking. Whether your blogging or promoting your profile on Facebook and MySpace, or both, you will likely reach a larger and more engaged audience than if you are advertising through traditional means.

If you need help developing a strategy for your social networking activities, e-websmart would be happy to help! Give us a call!

To access the entire report, click here