We’ve all heard of word of mouth marketing, but have you ever stopped to consider the value of your words? Today I noticed the phrase “Worth of Mouth”, which I assume was a Freudian translation. Twitter is used as part of our web presence solutions and being in the world of social media on a daily basis, I see many providing social media advice, specifically for Twitter as of late. Although the service has been in existence since 2006, there is a steady stream of people from all over the world joining the network. Twitter asks users the question “What are you doing?” and “Responses must be less than 140 characters and can be sent via mobile text messages, instant messages, or the web.” This is an opportunity to use word of mouth marketing in a whole new way through technology.

But at a time when information can be obtained in seconds, if not instantly, it is important to think about the value of your updates. Is your update something your connections would be interested in or could relate to? Is it useful in any way?

It’s also important to remember that people use Twitter for many different reasons, whether it’s to stay in touch with friends, family, the media, make business connections, or spread information about a worthy product, service, event, or organization. Not everyone is there for the same reason, and that’s also true in the world of social media. If you have a product or service and all you do is link to that product or service in your updates, you may be ignored by many. I think if you are using social media tools for business, it is critical to balance your updates with a good mix of personal greetings and communications, as well as informational and promotional updates. Your followers will appreciate the fact that your brand is friendly, approachable, and personable.

My personal advice from Twitter is this: If you are new to Twitter and have a business, you should have a public profile. Private profiles are an option in the service, but are best used for those who only want to communicate with those they know personally. If you want to get the word out about your business, you need to participate in the public broadcast. Always take the time to preview the profiles of your new followers and make sure they are legitimate; This includes previewing your photo history, bio, and tweets. If something doesn’t seem right to you, you have the power to block it. Be courteous to legitimate followers and follow them. Keep in mind that they won’t be able to send you a “DM” (direct message) unless you are following them in return, and this simple reciprocation may one day be of great help to you. Make sure you acknowledge your connections, what your interests are, and why you are connected. Try to provide them with valuable updates, share interesting thoughts, and enjoy the fact that you are connected to each other, fostering those connections, as you would with any friend, in the best possible way.