Twitter - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Jimmy0246 · 05-18-2009, 12:32 PM

Anyone using twitter? I was thinking about getting it to market my own business, but I was wondering if anyone else had been using it/if it was even successful?

**ChrWright** · 05-18-2009, 12:34 PM

http://www.contractortalk.com/f22/al...twitter-57228/

MattCoops · 05-18-2009, 12:35 PM

Successful in gaining customers? Probably not.
I think the only people that follow me are guys from this site.
Ashton Kutcher has a lot of luck with it.

MOTB · 05-18-2009, 02:13 PM

Hey all. I put the same reply in the General Section since this seems to come up in different areas of curisoity. I was just contacted by a major national newspaper. Forgive me, but I have to wait to say the name until the article (hopefully) makes it out. The net of the story has to do with the exchange of information for small business (business data, marketing and of course the useless exhange of social information that is a waste of time). I happened to use this thread as an example, that thank god everyone was NOT connected with via the technology in debate or we just would have been getting useless updates. There seems to be environments where Twitter is valuable (i.e. congress people updating what is happening in chambers and Paris telling us where she is shopping next - joking of course). But the net is "no one can provide a truley compelling measurable reason how this technology can benefit a contractor to bring in more business". That is a key to marketing or efficiency gains. I did search myself for my business in hopes of finding something to be in tune with the tech-craze of the moment (so I can continue to claim I am bleeding edge) but this one just doesn't seem applicable to our environment. I will only chime in one more time to indentify the article if I know its coming out, otherwise there are just too many other good topics to go back and forth with. Hope you agree, and if not ... may I suggest to not waist your time since it could be used elsewhere to to help get some business. Thanks for the help guys! Brian

MattCoops · 05-18-2009, 10:52 PM

You could use twitter for something useful like creating a buzz that the economy really isn't that bad anymore and homeowners can start spending money on doing the remodels they been dreaming of since winter.
Call it subliminal messaging if you will.

I see a lot of blackberry, pda, and cell phone advertising on social media sites. If people have money to spend on a $500+ phone/music player/notepad/appointment reminder, surely they have some money to spend on leaky shower pans and squeaking floors.

PGD · 05-20-2009, 02:48 PM

could twitter be used to network with realtors or contractors in your area?

DevonZ · 05-20-2009, 03:08 PM

I think yes - you could use Twitter to network with Realtors and contractors. I am seeing more builders, contractors, design professionals, and Realtors joining. Again this is a networking tool - it is meant for conversation and building relationships. There is also a lot of information being shared - links to articles and industry related information. It is also another place to share press releases, blog posts, websites, and even information about what you do. It is not for direct selling, but can be used for networking.

Devon Zimny
Vintage VA Services

MattCoops · 05-21-2009, 05:59 AM

why would you want to network with realtors?
selling your home?

assocplumbers · 05-21-2009, 10:09 AM

It can also be used as another way for the search engines to locate you and hopefully push business to your website.

rbsremodeling · 05-21-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattCoops

why would you want to network with realtors?
selling your home?

The right realtors can send business your way

PGD · 05-21-2009, 10:40 AM

I joined today, I'll let you know if this works:

"Garage door repair! get your doors fixed right here! low low rock bottom prices, hurry hurry hurry!"

PGD · 05-21-2009, 10:52 AM

is it better to have you twitter account "locked" or "unlocked"?

rbsremodeling · 05-21-2009, 10:57 AM

Twitter is retarded. I can see the use of all the other networking and social sites but Twitter is a bust too time consuming and annoying

FAIL

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 11:12 AM

in twelve months. no one will give a crap about twitter. Not that they do now.

I'm not a sixteen year old high school student. I don't want or need twitter anymore than i need facebook or classmates or myspace..

rbsremodeling · 05-21-2009, 11:13 AM

Maybe we can start a twit about how annoying it is?

Twit out homies!

karunnt · 05-21-2009, 12:32 PM

I got a twitter account, added some people and forgot about it. But this is how I see twitter:

I think if you are a good news 'source' then people will follow you on twitter to get the 'breaking news' instantly.

If your news is the type of cookies you are eating right now then that may not be worth someones time to get that info right away.

But suppose you are responsible for signing building permits in your town. Then I think people would be interested in your observations/information and getting that quickly.

If you write a blog and 'consume' information it would be great to follow people who are knowledgeable in the area. So SEO blogger may follow Google's Matt Cutts and get Google news right away.

I see 'followers' and 'following' as news 'consumers' and 'sources'.

If you want realtors to follow you then become a news 'source' for them. And follow people that can help you.

Clancy@SS · 05-21-2009, 02:20 PM

I don't know if it was intentional, but ironically, the popular use of the term "FAIL" stems directly from twitter. So it may be affecting the world more than you realize.

Just think of it like this: At home you use text messaging. At work you use email. Maybe a chat client. Twitter sort of combines all those into a universal messaging system, that can essentially be public and/or private.

Public messages are searchable. So say you search for "remodeling" within 10 miles of you. You find a tweet saying "Thinking about remodeling our master bathroom" --You can contact that person, and (tweet) back -- "Saw you were thinking about remodeling -- We'd like to give you a quote when you're ready, check out our work on our website."

Its like being at a bar, and hearing someone talk about their outdated kitchen. You can step in, offer some knowledge, and make a business connection. Its like being able to listen in on a world's worth of conversations and being able on interject and network with them!

Clancy

Clancy@SS · 05-21-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

in twelve months. no one will give a crap about twitter. Not that they do now.

Well statistically, they kind of do. But you are right, in 12 months it will be gone. And 12 months ago, MySpace was big, and Facebook was just starting to grow.

You certainly don't HAVE to participate in any of that stuff.

But this forum is evidence enough that there are plenty of people who DO participate in their "online communities!" Even folks on here who are self-proclaimed anti-tech guys. It reminds me of those yellow page ads, where they tell you how effective it is to be in front of someone when THEY are looking for YOU. When people want local service, they have traditionally opened up the phone book.

But the new generation is increasingly going to the internet instead of the local yellow pages. And like I have always said -- online referrals are the easiest for the customer, cause they're just a click, rather than a phone call or an email! There is a ton of ongoing potential in online marketing if you want to commit to it!

Clancy

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clancy@SS

I don't know if it was intentional, but ironically, the popular use of the term "FAIL" stems directly from twitter. So it may be affecting the world more than you realize.

No. its popularity started LONG before twitter

here
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Main_Page

and "fail" images posted here
http://www.4chan.org/

PGD · 05-21-2009, 02:42 PM

I just found out that the San Diego's new elephant exibit opens May 23rd... and where to get free coupons for lunch... twitter your city and you get a ton of local offers.

Networking just for work, probably not, but network for fun.... yup!