goodroi - 1:16 pm on Sep 7, 2009 (gmt 0)

From my pov Twitter can theoretically deliver great results for all but for most people it will not be profitable. Please read further before assuming I am a just hating on Twitter.

Lack of creativity - Most users of twitter lack creativity needed to make them interesting to others. What do I mean? If you are trying to sell blenders would you have been creative to think about dropping iphones into a blender and create the social successful story of "Will It Blend" video series. Twitter might not be video but it does need creative and interesting 140 character messages. If you twitter boring stuff expect it to be ignored. If you twitter entertaining stuff expect it to be more likely to catch on.

Lack of effort - Posting a twitter message once a day is like sticking your head out your store window and telling people to come inside once a day. It probably wont bring in alot of traffic. It is much more effective to have someone with a walking billboard stand on the street corner outside your store and steer people in. In other words twitter all the time and interact with other twitter accounts.

Over Commercialization - Consumers are not looking to be sold to. Avoid the sales pitch. Think about what is valuable to your consumers - be a free live help desk, offer weird uses of your product, provide news that is relevant to your consumers & industry not necessarily to your company.

Can you make a profit from Twitter - YES. Is money falling from the sky - NO. I would encourage people to use twitter personally and intereact with other companies on Twitter to learn what works and what doesnt work. Once you learn the basics then launch your company on Twitter. You may find that Twitter is not as profitable as other channels. You may also find that Twitter opens up a new channel of uptapped profit.