Eliminate Twitter Overwhelm (or Why I Heart TweetDeck)

Since the release of my last article about why you should get your business rolling on Twitter, I’ve received many questions about how to climb out of the info-pile dump and keep on top of the feeds.

My answer: TweetDeck. If you want to make sure you can find all the topics, people, and feeds you’re looking for in real time, get TweetDeck in front of you. There are mobile versions for your phone, but it is best viewed on your PC, at least until you understand what you are looking at and have it customized for your needs. Here’s why you need it:

You’re the Captain. It may be hard to believe, but with TweetDeck you’re in charge of what you see on Twitter. The system is based on columns. Each time you open TweetDeck, you’ll be presented with column after column of tweets categorized by what you’ve chosen to see. Everything from standard Twitter info, such as replies and direct messages, to categories pre-compiled by TweetDeck to topic searches or groups of people that you have pre-determined. You’re the captain, and this is your helm!

No Flipping. If you get frustrated by the surf that is twitter.com (you know, an intriguing retweet compels you to click on the user, which compels you to click on a link, which compels you to go back to twitter for a search, and you forgot to DM someone but now you have to flip back to find them), you’ll be relieved to know that with TweetDeck’s column view you don’t lose where you are, you just get more places to go! With the magic search icon, a new search appears as yet another column now permanently set up for your viewing pleasure until you remove it.

Magic Mouse Action. Okay, so it’s not the mouse, but it’s the options you have with each avatar that feels like magic. When you hover, you’re presented with the usual options to retweet or direct message, but you also have bunches of other options for dealing with the tweet itself and/or that user, including translating, viewing a complete profile (in a temporary column), and even emailing the tweet! If you discover a new user to follow and want to add him to a particular category you’ve columned, just click!

SuperPost Power. I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time with the 140 character limit, especially when a url is involved. TweetDeck can do wonderful things while you’re keying: alert you when referencing a username that doesn’t exist, automatically “tiny” urls, shrink your tweet, translate it, attach photos and video, and remind you of recent hashtags you’ve used.

Add Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. That’s right, once you’ve become addicted and don’t want to be separated from your TweetDeck columns ever again, you’ll be pleased that you can add columns for your Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace management, too!

Ahh, necessity really IS the mother of invention. TweetDeck is such a blessing for the Twitter superhighway that Twitter itself has finally caught on and launched a new “lists” feature and some hover-type tools. To begin, just go to www.tweetdeck.com. Oh! And don’t worry about TweetDeck portability, because when you load the mobile version it will populate with all of your columns. Did I mention you can minimize TweetDeck but have it chime when a new post comes into one of your columns? (I only recommend you use chime if you rely on real-time tweet scanning for your business; this could be too much of a good thing).

To Tweet or Not to Tweet: Top Five Reasons Your Business Needs Twitter

Many businesses are carrying the new tagline “Follow us on Twitter” in their marketing messages. While you may be hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, or feel overwhelmed by the seemingly alien language of the posts or “tweets,” chances are pretty great that you should be there, too. Check out the following arguments for getting in on the conversation.


1. Twitter is today’s information superhighway for your industry.
If you’re impressed by the magic of “Googling” any topic, person, or headline to instantly get answers, you’ll be blown away by Twitter’s real-time linkup to what’s happening in your industry, often directly from key sources. Stay in the loop and one step ahead for your customers.

2. You can keep an eye on your competition.
Do you know what your competitors are talking about? Do you know what they’re offering their customers today? Where are they getting their information, and who’s listening to them? With a click of the “Follow” button, you’ll have the answers.

3. When you ask your customers to follow you on Twitter, you’re inviting them to cultivate their relationship with you.
Unlike traditional marketing and advertising, social networking is a two-way conversation, and this will generate customer loyalty much more quickly than your other communications efforts.

4. Twitter is word-of-mouth promotion x 100.
Word-of-mouth about your brand is priceless, and with Twitter the phenomenon can ignite like wildfire. When you have valuable information to share, whether about the industry at large or about an exclusive opportunity for your followers, word will spread fast with re-tweets.

5. If your business isn’t on Twitter, you’ll soon be scrambling to prove you’re here.
Just like having a web site, any company worth its salt will soon have a hard time finding its audience without social networking presence. And unlike other popular sites, Twitter is fast becoming your customers’ go-to venue for their information. Let’s hope you’re there to give it to them--your competitors certainly will be!