I have a very good business friend, Ife Ekpenuma that I met on Twitter about a year or so ago that is a mastermind and borderline genius when it comes to networking. He is the CEO of Audacrease Entertainment Group, an up-and-coming indie music label and company based in Columbia, SC that provides independent entertainers in the Carolinas and abroad. He truly has a natural knack and ability for connecting people via his social networks. Ever since I have know him he has been doing things like this to connect the people in his steadily growing business network of over 7,300 Twitter followers:

This example is just barely touching the iceberg of what Ife aka @ThatGoToGuy does for his business connections via Twitter. He has secured clothing sponsors for his indie artists via his tweets and built countless invaluable connections simply by putting others before himself and his own needs and connecting those in his social networks. Because he does it so naturally I have decided to debut his first post about the do’s and don’ts of Twitter right here on Small Biz Diamonds because he really does know what he’s doing. Although this post is focused on helping indie artists and labels within his niche become successful on Twitter, the information is applicable to small business owners as well. 

I have been on Twitter and actively using it since December 4th, 2010. At first, I was opposed to Twitter, a month later, it was part of my daily routine. I have gone from an artist looking to get exposure and find opportunities, to a manager/executive of artists on my own indie record label. During my close to two years on Twitter, I have built solid relationships and been able to convert followers into business partners and valued friends both inside and outside of the entertainment industry. This article sums up what I have seen and how I have approached the use of Twitter as a networking tool to build and maintain solid relationships.

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When you tweet about your business or your website content on Twitter, how often does it get retweeted by one of your followers? Twitter is a social media “micro-blogging” platform which allows you to write short and snappy 140 character updates, reply to others and send messages. It can sometimes feel like being at a huge cocktail party with a bunch of strangers jabbering about themselves without really listening to each other. However, when it is used correctly it can be an effective social media tool for promoting your business and making quality networking connections.

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(Source: smallbizdiamonds.com)

                   Twitter Advertising for Small Business

Back in February Twitter and American Express announced their partnership, providing advertising for small business.

The great part about this:

• Twitter now provides promoted tweets and promoted accounts products for small businesses.
• Watch the video it sums everything up very well, I promise :)

The not so great part about this:

• Small business advertising on Twitter is only available to a select group of businesses  U.S.-based American Express Cardmembers and merchants. (That leaves out a large number of small business owners out of the equation! ~ But hey, I did mention it was a partnership so of course AMEX had to get something out of the deal! Which really isn’t so bad for the small business owners that have an account with them).

BUT:

• They will be steadily increasing  the number of small business participants in the weeks to come.
• SO perhaps if those of us that don’t have an AMEX account can just tweet them (@TwitterSmallBiz) like crazy about how we want promoted tweets and promoted accounts too ASAP!  (I’m thinking the good ole’ supply and demand manuever).