I’m looking for examples and case studies of how using Twitter has resulted in some kind of positive business outcome.
As I progress with my outline for Popcorn Content, I’m now looking for some solid examples of how using Twitter has resulted directly in a positive business outcome.
(Come to that, it would be interesting to hear if there are examples of how being on Twitter has resulted in NEGATIVE business outcomes.)
Do you have a story you can share?
As a business, have you been able to achieve measurable results with Twitter?
As an individual professional, have you secured new clients or projects through Twitter?
I know there are several levels on which one can achieve success with Twitter. At the “soft” end are the longer-term benefits of networking and holding the attention of influencers and prospective clients. That’s all good. But I’m particularly interested in hearing about the “hard results” end, where a profitable outcome can be directly attributed to using Twitter.
If you have any examples you can share, please use the comments function below.
Thanks!
Nick
I originally joined Twitter for the opportunity to learn from others. However, I am please to say I have also made a few nice business connections.
Because I am able to choose who I follow on Twitter, I seem to be able to connect with a higher caliber of clients. Craigslist often has questionable writing gigs. Twitter has connected me with serious business people. Joining was definitely a wise move for my business.
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Although not a hard revenue example, Twitter is helpful in changing the culture of how we communicate and share...crisp and clear. It is also great practice to develop catchy headlines being limited to small number of characters.
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As a direct result of Twitter, I've been able to greatly improve my network, and have recently received leads from some of my new associates. Which, of course, I'm hoping will convert to new business.
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I landed one of my major clients via the Fast Pitch networking site. Actually, the client found me there (not vice versa) and, over a year later, we continue our "virtual" business relationship.
http://home.comcast.net/~thehiredhand
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I've set up a Facebook fan page for two of my sideline sites: Freelance Theology and Life is Mootiful. In both cases, I've sent short messages out to all members of the group/all fans which has driven web traffic to the sites. Just quick 'hey, there's some new stuff to look at' messages, with the relevant link(s) does the trick.
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Got serious about Twitter only recently. Pretty good results: apart from enhanced speed of communication and better industry specific networking -
1. increased targeted traffic to web site significantly (appr. 10% on average);
2. ramped up number of subscribers to our newsletter;
3. found an excellent freelance copywriter we're now working with regularly.
No direct sales as far as can be discerned but definitely increased interest in our products and services.
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Hiya Nick...
I've had two concrete deals that have emerged specifically through Twitter.
The one had a negative outcome. The other is in the process of having an outrageously delightful outcome.
1. Around a year ago, someone saw a tweet about my being an illustrator. She sent me a direct message asking if I'd like to quote on a job. We took it to email, and she commissioned me to create three of six superhero badges for a project of hers.
All went well. She liked my rough illustrations. I took them to colour. And she liked those too.
And then disaster struck. I'm in South Africa. And this has major repurcussions for receiving payment for international work. Simply put... PayPal does not allow me to receive money.
So I did a quick search to find payment gateways that would allow me to accept money from America. Signed up. And my client paid me. Except the money didn't come through. Turns out they were shysters. US$600 was sitting in a crooked account.
I back-and-forthed with my client. Finally, I threatened QuickPay with exposure to the USA Internal Revenue Service, and they quickly gave my client her money back.
The story gets a LITTLE better at this point... She bought me an Amazon.com gift voucher for the full amount.
But our relationship capsized thanks to the crooked payment gateway cretins.
Fast forward to...
2. One of the guys I follow -- @iannarino -- Tweeted a Magpie advert. I immediately wrote him a semi-polite tweet saying something like, 'Dude... you sent me Magpie spam. And I really don't like that. So I'm unfollowing you. Sorry.'
I unfollowed him. And he emailed me back, apologising, and letting me know that he enabled the Magpie account in error (there was only one tweet from them).
We got to chatting, followed each other again. And shortly after, he told me about a book he was writing. A book that needed 20 icons -- one for each chapter.
He paid me upfront... this time starting out with an Amazon gift voucher right from the start. And I'm seven down, thirteen pics to go. And he's very happy. And I'm even happier.
Not only is this a good business opportunity, he's also a good dude. So there's a trans-oceanic friendship developing too.
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Enjoy writing the book, Nick. And I hope my examples offer you some concrete for it.
My illustrations for the first client are available for you to use. And @iannarino would be cool for you to use the icons too.
Lemme know if that'll be useful to you.
Blue skies
love
Roy
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As a result of twitter monitoring the CEO of Return Path contacted me after I tweeted requesting feedback from anyone on there service. I'm now in discussions with them and hold them in a good light because of the way the contact was made.
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We do our recruiting via Twitter and have been very successful finding rock stars...we're still looking, and using Twitter!
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