Many businesses are carrying the new tagline “Follow us on Twitter” in their marketing messages. While you may be hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, or feel overwhelmed by the seemingly alien language of the posts or “tweets,” chances are pretty great that you should be there, too. Check out the following arguments for getting in on the conversation.

1. Twitter is today’s information superhighway for your industry.
If you’re impressed by the magic of “Googling” any topic, person, or headline to instantly get answers, you’ll be blown away by Twitter’s real-time linkup to what’s happening in your industry, often directly from key sources. Stay in the loop and one step ahead for your customers.

2. You can keep an eye on your competition.
Do you know what your competitors are talking about? Do you know what they’re offering their customers today? Where are they getting their information, and who’s listening to them? With a click of the “Follow” button, you’ll have the answers.

3. When you ask your customers to follow you on Twitter, you’re inviting them to cultivate their relationship with you.
Unlike traditional marketing and advertising, social networking is a two-way conversation, and this will generate customer loyalty much more quickly than your other communications efforts.

4. Twitter is word-of-mouth promotion x 100.
Word-of-mouth about your brand is priceless, and with Twitter the phenomenon can ignite like wildfire. When you have valuable information to share, whether about the industry at large or about an exclusive opportunity for your followers, word will spread fast with re-tweets.

5. If your business isn’t on Twitter, you’ll soon be scrambling to prove you’re here.
Just like having a web site, any company worth its salt will soon have a hard time finding its audience without social networking presence. And unlike other popular sites, Twitter is fast becoming your customers’ go-to venue for their information. Let’s hope you’re there to give it to them–your competitors certainly will be!