Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Brianna — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:20:40 -0000

I agree that if brands are to get involved there must be personality. But then, I think it's really hard to keep in mind your brand and staying aligned with that brand when pursuing that persona.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Rich — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:18:17 -0000

Your bio snippet should read...

Dr. Mark Drapeau is a biological scientist, government consultant, arrogant know it all hippy liberal douche, and regular contributor to Mashable.com and other venues. These views are his own and do not represent the official views of any organization.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Brian — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:59:13 -0000

Personally I don't see anything wrong with brands on Twitter. However the point is that if you are going to try to promote your brand on Twitter you should be attempting to add value to community, not just spam it with links for your offers.

Maybe if brands took a more interesting approach to Twitter such as talking about their history or posting interesting trivia, more people would be open to having them on the site.

But what most companies have failed to realize is that people who use social networking sites don't want to be sold to 24/7.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

gabriel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:38:32 -0000

EVEN A PERSON CAN HAVE A PERSONAL BRAND - OBAMA IS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE...

BRANDS CAN BE ON TWITTER, IN THE END TWITTER IS A SORT OF NEWSLETTER WITH NEWS ON (PRIMARILY PERSONS) THAT INTEREST YOU. BRANDS CAN BE ON TWITTER, AND WHOEVER WANTS SOME NEWS ON THEN ARE FREE TO FOLLOW

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Kyle F. Reinson — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:23:00 -0000

I am concerned about the Twitter Twits.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Mr.Jade CADELINA — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:53:37 -0000

I think its innovative and smart for a brand to in Twitter. Every business needs a customer. Twitter is another way to connect with your loyal and new customers. Use Twitter to improve your brand..

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

B Dolan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:18:00 -0000

I think the big push is towards massive corporate transparency, and Twitter is one way to make that happen, if it is used the right way.

Ford's social media director,@ScottMonty is a good example of showing how the nuts and bolts of a corporation work. While I'm sure that there is much that he cannot talk about, what he does share on Twitter is engaging and informative. Considering that his brand is under a considerable amount of scrutiny (both public and private), those small Tweets make me feel as though I have at least a partial line of communication with a very large brand.

@wholefoods is trying to do some of the same thing. While sometimes lapsing into spam-eqsue ads, they do try to show a reasonable amount of interaction with their customers.

My corporation (a government agency) is wrestling with the "how much do we say" question. Transparency is essential, but there is a *lot* of old-school thinking that I am trying to change. I think interacting with the public is essential to further our brand, and increase our positive perception with everyone.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

free medical videos — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:01:57 -0000

good efforts

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Ricky Paredes — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:51:32 -0000

My twitter page is basically just about me and my random tweeting life.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

John Moore — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:40:34 -0000

Twitter is 100% opt-in, so who cares if there are brands and corporations there. If you are offended by a brand - don't follow it.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Elana Centor — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:36:42 -0000

The whole concept of banning brands on Twitter reminds me of a conversation I had in 1995 with my then technical team. We were hired to create websites for clients but when we proposed using these websites for marketing purposes, the tech guys balked ...saying it was not an "elegant" use of the internet. They felt using websites for marketing would destroy the spirit of the internet.
I'm confident that having brands on Twitter will only be a plus-- Pay and play or don't play nice and get kicked out of the sandbox.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Thorren Koopmans — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:49:57 -0000

The beauty of twitter is that you choose who you follow. There is no rule that says you must follow everyone who follows you, this means that if you believe brands do not belong on Twitter, brands will not be on Twitter (at least not in your stream).

In my personal view, some brands are doing this right (I follow some) others may not be. It doesn't really matter, I am empowered to do my own thing, I get to choose.

I say to each their own!

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Walter Schwabe — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:34:04 -0000

Isn't the issue beyond simple transparency are more about a willingness to engage? There are brands on Twitter and elsewhere that still cling to the "push broadcaster" model. They're mandate is not to respond to commentary. Thereby bringing Seth Godin's "interruption marketing" approach to the twitterverse. I use my corporate name on twitter @fusedlogic, if you want to know more about me you can click on the profile, go to my site or better yet ask me flat out. Having said all of this, every time we follow one of these brands (just like the 8% who buy viagra from spam emails) we promote the activity. Ban by unfollowing. Unfortunately a hundred years of broadcasting may has us all brainwashed...

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Jeff — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:08:49 -0000

Banning just about anything on Twitter goes against what Twitter is about. Don't want to receive clutter from a "brand" on Twitter? Don't follow.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Michelle BB — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:56:43 -0000

I respectfully disagree. I believe brands do have an important place on Twitter and can be tremendous resources for their followers. As a victim of the recent ice storm in New England, I looked to @psnh and @homedepot for information, tips and guidance as my family made decisions about where to stay and what to do to protect our house (as I write, we're still without power and at a hotel). Twitter provided more information and Twitter representatives responded quickly to my requests.

I think your post should serve as a warning to brands: Twitter doesn't suffer fools lightly. Brands must recognize that the beauty of Twitter is the personal connection made with every Tweet. Look at a few exemplar brands (@comcastcares, of course) and model your Twitter accounts after them. And always remember, Twitter is about the conversation, so engage, don't just talk.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Jon Henshaw — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:03:11 -0000

I this is really over-thinking it. People will either follow or not follow branded Twitter accounts. If they do follow them, it's probably because they offer something to users. That could be anything from good conversation to coupons. Either way, the vote is in the "follow" and why anyone would charge the "user" for user-generated content (regardless of whether or not it's a brand) is beyond me.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Len Kendall — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:57:09 -0000

Here's my own collection of brands on twitter and how they score in terms of engagement:

http://snurl.com/8fqwi

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

David Berkowitz — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:17:46 -0000

If you really don't like brands on Twitter, don't follow them.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Maria Lavis — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:24:11 -0000

Seems we were on same wavelength on the weekend Mark as I wrote my take in my blog on how to merge corporate interests into Twitter without making a mess of things:

http://tinyurl.com/5vj6uk

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Queen of the Click — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:44:05 -0000

I don't mind brands being on Twitter, but I agree they need to be transparent. Asking a group of women to talk because they are being compensated harms the authentic conversations that are happening on twitter. As long as people disclose who are are working for or even designate the talk with a symbol (like a plus or pound symbol), I think that's enough disclosure.

We choose to follow or unfollow various accounts. In the past two weeks, Twitter has had a surge of porn accounts. Some people follow these accounts not realizing that they are a porn site until they start tweeting up the porn. So we can we ban the porn brand if we don't ban all brands?

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Arsen Yeremin — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:39:37 -0000

"When I follow a media outlet on Twitter, I donâ€™t want to hear personal noise. When I follow a friend, I do." --Dave Kresta (@Ontier)
I agree. @garyvee also nails it on brand vs person in his video post http://garyvaynerchuk.com/2...

Twitter should be looked at a platform that hosts brands, bots, individuals, organizations, schools, neighborhoods, blogs, etc... It's simplicity, flexibiity and opennes is why it's so successful. We should not be figuring out what type of entities we need to discriminate against. Instead let's find ways to use the system in innovative ways.

Example: Maybe even my car can tweet from time to time.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Nathan Rice — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:05:48 -0000

Completely agree with you. Banning brands would be a poor decision. If you don't want to follow them - don't but personally for those brands I am passionate about I want to hear from them. I want them to interact with me and I want to interact with them. I love the fact that the co-op (www.wedge.coop) can now live outside of its walls. I want to hear what is happening between publications of my favorite magazines. Let'm Tweet!

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Mark Drapeau — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:01:51 -0000

"Members of social networks want to spend time with friends, not brands." (http://is.gd/bDBH) (RT @jayrosen_nyu @nytimes)

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Miguel — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:07:49 -0000

I disagree about businesses being banned from Twitter. Twitter is about connection, and there is NOTHING wrong with a brand wanting to connect with customers. Are brands doing it wrong? Yes. But Twitter is a technology that is still in an exploration phase. Some credit should be given to businesses joining Twitter and trying to actually join a conversation. But, we also have to keep in mind, like so much social media, there is a learning curve. There are no absolutes when businesses attempt to use social media because there is no manual that says do this versus that. There may be guidelines, sure, but those guidelines a constantly evolving and growing also.

People need to get off their high horse, and stop bitching at businesses and instead offer some advice. Help them get on board. I know this because I have many clients that are trying to figure this stuff out. They don't know what is right or wrong. Instead, our business does our best guide them, and more importantly teach them what to do. That will provide better results and allow businesses to create a social media personality.

Re: Do Brands Belong on Twitter?

Michelle BB — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:30:19 -0000

I think you're post should serve as a warning to brands: Twitter doesn't suffer fools lightly. Brands must recognize that the beauty of Twitter is the personal connection made with every Tweet. Look at a few exemplar brands (@comcastcares, of course) and model your Twitter accounts after them. And always remember, Twitter is about the conversation, so engage, don't just talk.