There is hardly a day that goes by without the mention of Twitter.
Twitter has seemingly sprung up overnight and is taking the web world by storm. Everyone is ‘Twittering’ each other, sharing short tales of what they are up to with friends and the world, creating an online social networking phenomenon unlike anything ever seen before.

Why is Twitter so popular?

The answer is simple. Very ‘simple’. Twitter is so simple to use and readily accessible. You can Twitter from your computer, Twitter on the bus with your iPhone using one of the many Twitter Apps now readily available.

So what is Twittering?

“Twittering’ is the terminology used by members of the Twitter social network when they communicate. To Twitter you simply log in to your free Twitter account and type a few short lines of what you are up to, and share it with your Twitter buddies. You can become online friends with other Twitter members, read their updates, send them messages and even share photos using TwitPic. If your posts are interesting enough people will want to become your Twitter friend as well and request to be added to your network. Simple!

Making an income from Twitter

So here is the part that you’re interested in! Making money from Twitter!
You can use Twitter as a money-making business networking and advertising tool as well.
MAny of the largest companies such as Virgin, Billabong, Flight Centre regularly post their latest specials, with a link back to that promotion page of their website for readers to follow. By offering ‘Twitter Only’ promotions, they can track the readers that take up the offer. Very simple, effective and free form of online marketing, and the best thing about it is that you are targeting people who are already in your own social network so you know they are already interested in your products or services.
Now, when you post your twitter message to your friends it will show up on their message board, and if their friends are interested in your messages they will also want to become your friend, and your online marketing network snowballs rapidly. It really is free marketing in the simplest form!

But what if you don’t yet have a product or service to sell?

If I told you that you can earn an income from selling a product you don’t even have, would you believe me?
I will tell you how. This is not a con and it’s no big secret. It is very simple!
I will use a case study for an online lingerie store called Dream Lingerie in Australia.
The entire Dream Lingerie online store is a templated site provided freely by Fantasy Lingerie and you simply sign up with them as an affiliate. To do this search the site and find the ‘Affiliate’ link. It costs nothing to sign up and all you need is a domain name and they will set you up your own online store. The current commission for selling their products through your online store in 20%, so a tidy profit if you make a sale. You don’t need to purchase any products or hard sell. You simply have to drive visitors to your website and when they make an online purchase, Fantasy Lingerie ship the products to the customer and you earn your commission, which is paid monthly. Very simple concept and many companies including Flight Centre, British Airways & HotelClub have similar revenue-earning affiliate programs.

Now, you set up your Twitter account to work it’s magic!….

Firstly, customize your Twitter settings to promote your website. You can change the background image, colours etc very easily in Twitter. Make sure your background image has your web address, product images or specials in the design for instant attraction. Professional looking branding is critical.

Once you have done this, start sending Twitter messages to your network promoting the products.
As Lingerie is a product that needs to be visualized, and Twitter can’t directly upload images, use TwitPic and log in using your same Twitter account details and you can upload products and add a product description, which is automatically sent to your Twitter page. Make sure with every product description you mention your web address so people will know where they can view and purchase that product.
Like any marketing, you must do this regularly, so set yourself a goal. Post 4 new products every day, and find 20 new Twitter friends each day to follow you. For people that request to join your network, make sure you send them back a response thanking them, including your website address in that response encouraging them to visit your website.
You will quickly find the number of visitors to your site will triple and sales will soar!
This principle also works with other social networks such as Myspace and Facebook.

Article by Chris Bourke of Devision.com.au