You’ve heard of Twitter, but you don’t get it, do you? That’s okay. Twitter is really something that you only “get” by doing. So, for the next few SAMMs, I’m going to discuss the value of Twitter and see if you can’t “get it” and more importantly, use it for your solar business—or any business. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

First some basics:

What is Twitter? ::continue::

  • It’s the modern equivalent of a Western Union Telegram. You must write a sentence in 140 typed characters or less. This explanation is 140
  • Im talking 140 characters, here, not 140 words. Every space counts. Thats why peple often frgo spelling & punctuation. U can use sounds 2.
  • Keep in mind I’m a writer and lover of language, but for Twitter, the grammar police must look the other way.
  • Within that 140 character space, U can include a link to anything on the net. The link is often shortened by a service called tinyurl.com.
  • For example: http://tinyurl.com/kuyocm

What’s a Tweet?

  • Each of the above bullet points could have been a single “Tweet.” Each was 140 characters or less, including in the between     spaces.
  • To send a Tweet to specific person, you type the @ symbol followed by their name. For example, I’m @SolarFred.
  • To receive a Tweet, you just have to follow someone. Their tweets will run across your home page in real time.
  • If you’re not there to see that Tweet, that info is gone unless you click on that person's @person and see their Tweets for the day.
  • Think of your home page like the news ticker in New York’s Time’s Square, a constant stream of solar (or whatever) headlines.
  • Often, people repeat their Tweets at different times of the day. There are free services to do this as well, but don't spam.

What and Who are Followers?

  • Followers can be anyone with a Twitter account. It may be a person, a business, or a person representing a business.
  • Followers may be “Twitter Ho’s.” They follow anyone, regardless of interest, in hopes that you’ll also follow them. Don’t be a Twitter Ho.
  • If you follow Tweeters you don’t care about, you will get useless BS info.
  • It's okay for Twitter Ho's to follow you. You won't get their stream of BS. They will, however, receive your hopefully nutritious Tweets.
  • Think quality, not quantity when following people.

Who should you follow as a solar company?

  • Why, @SolarFred, naturally. If you want to follow tweets from Renewable Energy World (not me or my Tweets, BTW), follow @REWorld.
  • You’ll notice that on Fridays, both of us will recommend particular Tweeters we like. This is called #FollowFriday or #FF.
  • Who should you follow if you’re a widget company? Follow your bliss. Whatever your interests, you will find Tweeters, with common interests.
  • I have my own favorites for consistently good solar info.

What should you Tweet? Who will listen? Why should you care? What is the meaning of Twitter, life, solar, business, and solar success?

The answer to these and other Twitter related questions will be answered in the next few posts. In the meantime, follow @SolarFred and @REWorld on Twitter.

Thanks. Unthink Solar.

Tor Valenza aka “Solar Fred” is a solar consultant and partner at solar referral service, SolarPowerRocks.com.