This article first appeared in the business pages of the Nottingham Post. Read it online here.

Kate Tyler, from social media agency Shake Social, explains why Twitter is a must-have tool for business.

Social media is here to stay. Fact. And the choice of networks just keeps growing. From Facebook to Instagram, Pinterest to Snapchat, it seems every business is under pressure to devote more and more time to social media. You’d be forgiven for wanting to bury your head in the sand and ignore them, but you really would be missing a trick if you did. So, here’s seven good reasons why if you only choose one network for your business, you should make it Twitter!

1. Small is beautiful

With only 140 characters per tweet, there’s no room for fluff or waffle or unnecessary anything. You have to cut to the chase with twitter and this makes it so much easier to digest as a result. Short and sweet wins the day!

2. It’s in real time

You may have noticed when looking at your Facebook newsfeed that it appears jumbled up sometimes. Posts from the last few days appear next to photos from that very moment, and some stuff just doesn’t get seen at all. Facebook has its own peculiar algorithm that decides what you see and what you don’t, making it frustrating for business owners and personal users alike. Not so Twitter where everything is published in real time and every follower sees every tweet. This makes it invaluable for small businesses – powerful stuff!

3. It’s a two way street

Twitter encourages you to follow others – and many of those tweeters will want to follow you too. It’s definitely a two way street when it comes to communication. People can see that you’re listening to them, customers can have their voices heard, and brands can engage with potential customers anywhere and at any time. Great for feedback, brand reputation and simple communication.

4. Make it visual

Twitter have made plenty of changes this year to encourage users to share more photos and videos than ever before, and it is now a much more visual network. This makes it great for sharing news as it happens. At an event? Share a pic. Attending a trade show? Multiple pictures work well. Promoting your own party? Shoot some video. Showing – and telling – people what’s happening makes Twitter fresh and fun to use.

5. Enhance your PR

Social media wears many hats, and PR is definitely one of its most powerful. Especially when you look at how many journalists use Twitter. It can be a great tool for sharing stories as they happen with the right people. Your brand, your reputation and your news spread like wildfire. Just make sure you’re getting the right messages out there!

6. Your customers are already tweeting

Twitter use is growing – all the time. Your customers are already having conversations about your products and your services online, it’s just a question of whether you’re involved in the conversation. The real ROI of social media? Still being in business in five years’ time.

7. And finally…

It’s fun. There is no other platform that allows you to connect with people you would never normally have met, follow an event without actually being there, share tips and advice, smile at photos, share video and ask for recommendations. Using Twitter for business won’t feel like a chore because you’ll enjoy generating leads though it. It doesn’t get much better!

Still not convinced? Call Shake Social on 0115 901 7357 for an informal chat.