25 Innovative Ways Companies are Using Twitter (That You May NOT Have Heard of Yet)
A lot of people have been talking about Twitter lately, the social media site that brings users the conversation of right now. We’re even doing a free webinar on Twitter next week. If you’ve spent any time studying Twitter or on the site, you already know about @comcastcares, @jetblue, @zappos, etc. But what are smaller companies doing on Twitter? And what exactly can people and companies use Twitter for? Without further ado, here are 25 companies that are using Twitter in innovative, different, and fun ways:
1) @MarketStreetDFW is a Texas-based gourmet meals-to-go store that tweets daily menu updates.
2) @RedWhiteFood is a lobbying firm of sorts that keeps Tennesseeans updated on wine sales legislation.
3) @DowntownTempe is a Visitor’s Bureau that showcases local events, commerce, and activities.
4) @Encouragement4U is an entrepreneur that creates acronyms for all names (I was Dream And Visualize Excellence).
5) @SourceForge gave away Open Source Tattoos of Tux the Linux Penguin to drive traffic to their site.
6) @StartmySong tweets links and lyrics to new songs to promote their songwriters community.
7) @Edmunds posts requests from journalists re: car issues to help them and to reinforce the Edmunds brand.
@MRinalDesai reposts positive tweets about his company CrossLoop and also tags them through Delicious.
9) @MarquetteTurner is a realtor in Australia who uses Twitter for listings AND to rebroadcast local news.
10) @HolidayWorld is a theme park in Indiana which used Twitter to leak info about a new park ride!
11) @RobbHecht is a marketing consultant who uses Twitter to track his freelance time through TEMPO.
12) @JobNob is a job site with salary info which tweets daily a “Cool Job of the Day.”
13) @ScienceChannel solicits content for its weekly segment, “Geek Out,” on its traditional TV show, Brink.
14) @NWWeddingPlace includes a “Daily Love Tweet” to promote its wedding planning business.
15) @stopafib is a non-profit who tweets the latest research findings for up-to-date info on atrial fibrillation.
16) @PawLuxury uses what they call “The Woof Factor” to provide excellent customer service to pet owners.
17) @Unigo uses Twitter to do polling and research amongst college students in its market.
18) @GracoBaby uses Twitter to share car seat and safety tips as well as customer service.
19) @check_MD allows people to check their doctor’s disciplinary record for free through Twitter.
20) @SpudBros is a quick-serve restaurant in Colorado which tweets unique deals and discounts.
21) @JoannaDolgoffMD is a child-weight-loss doctor who tweets tips and ideas about staying fit.
22) @bazaarvoice tweets relevant info to their reviews service and Twitter is now a top referrer for their business.
23) @RateitAll uses Twitter to follow anyone talking about them, through Twollow.
24) @WTEngage is promoting their conference and making it way more interactive through Twitter.
25) @SafeAuto promotes their car insurance company through a Twitter/online video contest.
So what does your company do on Twitter? Let us – and the world – know by commenting here! Maybe we’ll even follow you! 
(Follow me @davekerpen or our company @thekbuzz)
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@MedifastPR is active on Twitter too! We’re loving the interaction and being able to educate Tweople on our program.
@CacheAdvance tweets daily Newbie Hints, customer service and other news and tips for geocaching, a GPS high tech hide and seek game.
@ParkWestGal Official Twitter of Park West Gallery – continuing 40 years of connecting people to art and artists to people, via tweets!
We Twitter various science events we attend or sponsor including monthly Science Cafes. Last week we used it to Twitter a public lecture and a closed Roundtable by Nobel Prize co-winner Dr.Luc Montagnier.
Twitter postings don’t stick around long so the Twits for both events were compiled and posted on our blog at http://www.genomealberta.ca/blogs
Twitter: mikesgene
I’ve been on Twitter daily now for two weeks and am having trouble creating value in the platform. I’ll keep working it as it certainly has the attention of many but after two weeks I see mostly info. on people’s eating, traveling and social habits than I do for use as a business tool. Hey… maybe it’s just me.
Tweet!
We let our followers pick our job titles.
Brad, @BlueFuego
Chief Explosion Officer
Joe, @BlueFuego
Chief Combustion Officer
I started @oneaccord for a interim executive firm I am helping with social media. I’m currently trying to get all 20 interim marketing executives, who average 20 years marketing experience, to start Tweeting. Wish me luck!
@BestofTexas uses Twitter for many things! We use it to interact with our users, provide links to coupons from businesses around Texas, small promotions (gave away Restaurant Gift Certificates a few weeks ago!), give Texas-related suggestions to followers, link to fun and interesting Squawker blog posts, link and promote other Texas businesses and MUCH more. Twitter works great for us!
@kelseyromo we’re promoting our new promotional products blog at http://promoman.com.
Just starting to understand how to do it.
@PlayOutdoors is on Twitter! We are a local (Bend, OR) kids outdoor clothing, gear and accessories store trying to rev up our social media presence. We love to promote outdoor activities, adventures and tips to get kids and families outdoors and playing together! We have a blog to do just that as well, blog.playoutdoors.com. Please check us out and let us know what you love to do with your kids outdoors! Thanks!
@mzingasupport uses Twitter to support our customers 2 ways:
1. We're available to our customers for Q&A specific to Mzinga products.
2. We supplement formal corporate communications with proactive "reminder" or "status" based tweets. The customers love the informal reminder of say…monthly maintenance.
@Perspectivist (official blogger and twitterer for NewspaperARCHIVE) is using Twitter to post daily historic tidbits, connecting today’s headline news to the historic events which led to them.
I also twit to update my followers on company happenings, today in history stories, and more. Lovin’ the connectivity!
@jobcircle – JobCircle.com uses twitter to tweet out useful career articles, hot jobs from some of our clients, and other general information (i.e. career fairs, etc.) that may be interesting our exciting to our followers. We’re a job board in PA, NJ, DE, MD, NY, and DC, and any help we can provide seems to be well received.
Still trying to find a way to monetize twitter, currently we send out daily sales quotes @1stPlaceSales
@theconcertspot uses Twitter to keep our followers up to date on the latest concerts coming to the Mid-Atlantic. They get alerted to pre-sale passwords and free downloads. We also Tweet exclusive info and photos from backstage at many of the shows!
@tmdwrbs helps our radio show connect with listeners! We let them know when contests are coming, what is on the blog and let them interact with our topics via tweets or email. We also have it tied in to our Facebook pages.
@WorkSafeBC uses Twitter to promote health and safety in the workplace.
@HamiltonCoJFS communicates with clients and the social service community about upcoming events and noteworthy facts
@NTUnityCincy lets people know about its many upcoming activities
Interesting read, @yyztech has been on twitter for the last year, we put out tech book reviews, funny industry quotes and the odd news item our readers hopefully find useful like the warning about the Christmas Sync of Death for Zune users (both of them).
@mygeneimage We tweet about what is going on at our company from new jobs, to recent stories, to blog updates, to specials, promotions, or whatever interests us
@etonbio is a biotech company that tweets about where their reps are gonna be so you can rant/rave/ or just take some free candy at their tables as well as business updates.
@sigtheatre uses Twitter for casting updates, special offers, comps, etc. We were actually just written up in Washington Biz Journal for implementing this kind of messaging.
Marketing services firm PR Newswire makes continuous use of Twitter to announce when journalists and bloggers are looking for expert sources to interview for their stories. The feed is @profnet. The organization uses its @prnewswire feed to tweet news about the news media, too.
@ready2spark / @eventprofs created an organized chat for event professionals every Monday evening from 9-10PM EST. During this 1 hour we discuss topics relevant to our industry, share ideas and challenge one another…all with the intent of elevating our businesses and the industry.
@PetSmartTLC we’re using Twitter to have conversations with pet parents, provide interesting news tidbits about pets, update our followers on special deals, provide customer service and share solutions for pet-related issues. We’re loving it, and appreciate all of our followers!
@slqotd is a basically set up as a Twitter listserv for learning professionals to have a daily topical discussion on social learning topics (slqotd = social learning question of the day). We have over 400 particpants in under 2 months and 600 updates from members. This was the brainchild of @kevindjones.
@Ebuyerdotcom is the official twitter-stream from Ebuyer with over 400 followers in the first 2 weeks.
We’re conscious not to overwhelm followers so keep tweets to “Deals of the Day” (including a daily change to the Twitter Background) as well as interesting Tech related links.
For example, as we sell computer components (amongst other things) we tweeted a very good link about building PC’s.
We also use it as yet another way for our customers to talk us and give feedback.
@VolvoXC60 is keeping fans and followers up to date with our North American release tour, “From Sweden with Löv”, for the new 2010 Volvo XC60.
Don’t forget Kogi, the Korean taco truck in L.A. that lets people know by Twitter where they’re going to be — has gotten so popular they now need two trucks to keep up!
http://www.latimes.com/theguide/restaurants/la-fo-kogi11-2009feb11,0,4560062.story
My company is small so It’s me on here. I try and chime in on things I know about and can assist or help someone on their journey to finding what it is they seek. If I can help as others have helped me then thats great. Twitter is my universal tricorder.
@colmcgunnigle creates inspiring visuals for life coaches and solopreneurs to attract their ideal clients to them through their logos and web sites. I tweet empowering quotes to encourage and inspire.
@StudentRate uses Twitter to inform students of the latest deals on our site as well as to talk to students about what restaurants, stores or salons they want discounts from. We’d also like to talk with small business who want to offer our student community discounts. Lots of great ways to connect via tweet
@dallas_sales from The Dallas Morning News tweets information about deals and discounts in the Dallas area, linking to stories from the newspaper web site and from other sites around the web.
@VisitSanAntonio is the online Visitor Center for the City of San Antonio. In addition to updating travelers on events occurring in town, we’ve been able to help people find rides to Sea World, develop recommendations on the best margarita on the River Walk, and direct folks to the best sites in town. We’ve really enjoyed the interaction that Twitter allows us to have with our visitors.
Two suggestions:
@patsysnyc is a wonderful family owned Italian restaurant on West 56th street in Manhattan. Open since 1944 and one of Sinatra’s favorites, Patsy’s chef Sal regularly tweets about who’s stopped by and what’s cooking.
Another favorite is @hoodlums an independent music and movie retailer in Tempe, AZ. Part of a long list of stores globally celebrating the music, art and culture of local record stores on 4/18 with @recordstoreday.
At @SalonBella we are just starting to tweet! We will have daily specials to fill appointment spots, news of your stylist leaving town (book now!) or new products coming into the salon. If you’ve been putting off that pedicure until you save a little more cash, you may just get a tweet with $10 off if you come at 4pm! We look forward to using twitter to expand the biz!
Trinity Garage Doors & Openers uses twitter to share links to interesting garage door related information, ideas and products, as well as keeping them informed about what Trinity Garage Doors is up to. We also tweet schedule availabilities for service calls and to inform them of new blog posts on wordpress.
i gust want to say some thing “great job”
Update your Twitter randomly according to your intrest Or, from Rss Feed Or, from your own tweet message list Or, Any combination of the above three http://feedmytwitter.com
@Downtownpitt The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership markets Downtown as the regional business and cultural center, and the premier location to live, work, shop, dine, play, and visit. We tweet about Downtown events,traffic impacts, new retail and more. We just started tweeting and we are addicted!
I don’t use tweeter but I was thinking about it because more and more I hear people about how they benefit from it.
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