What to Twitter for?

I'm a late comer to Twitter. I've been on Twitter for almost a year now. I have to be honest and say that I really didn't see the purpose of getting multiple message during the day about people's different activities. Since I started using it, however, I've begun to understand that it's a great way to get a lot of information quickly.

What's been a problem with Twitter and other Web 2.0 tools is that it's hard to see its application in business. Sure, its a great way for a company to get there message out, but at the end of the day the application has to make money. I doubt that the people who are running Twitter are going to do it for free or near free for ever. They admit that it's free, for now.

A year into it's use, its use by brands and businesses is beginning to become apparent. For brands that want or can interact with their fans, it's a great way to stay in touch. The list of brands is impressive, although I think it's probably over represented by news organizations. In looking at the feeds of many of the other feeds, it showcases new products, promotions, etc.

That's a fine use of the tool. Most marketing vehicles focus on the classic four Ps of marketing (product, price, promotion and place). There are a few companies that are using the tool for what is arguably another dimension of marketing, customer service. The first time I heard about this was with Comcast. Now Dell and even the Home Depot are on twitter providing customer services as well as answering sales questions. Twitters turning out to be a lot more important than I ever thought that it would.

Here's a great post from Mashable on 40 of the Best Twitter Brand and the People Behind Them.

- Paul Herring