There was hesitation in starting a Twitter account for Truebridge. Was our industry using this new social networking tool? Would anyone follow us?
It turns out a lot of banks, credit unions and financial professionals are on Twitter. The more I research and learn how to use this tool the more it makes sense.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/truebridge
Those who know how to use the social media platform are using it to spread a message. They’re using it to create stronger bonds within their industries. Whether that be the music industry, tech industry or the banking industry.
For example, a credit union, TDECU, linked to an article on the concept of the “Bill Creep”. It states that more and more consumers are being blindsided by small fees for services they sign up for such as Netflix, Rhapsody and even major items like the cell phone when you factor in the text messages and media charges. It’s a great read for anyone concerned about their finances in these tough economic times. The fact that their credit union was the one who pointed out the article will increase the trust factor of their brand.
This is a great way for institutions to directly communicate with their audience in real time. Some of their followers may even receive text messages to their phones every time they post a message (a “tweet” in Twitter language). Of course, I don’t think TDECU is advocating this kind of Twitter following. Otherwise, they’d be supporting the “Bill Creep” movement.
If you’re just getting started, a quick tip is to download one of the many desktop applications. You can use these applications to both send and receive messages. A key to keeping your message within the 140 word maximum is the “shorten link” feature. Every time you post a link, use this feature to condense the link to avoid exceeding your word count.
The maximum word count of 140 is great training for those who have trouble keeping it short and sweet. I must admit, I fit into this category.
Download Applications Here: http://twitter.com/downloads
Here are some banks and credit unions on Twitter that I’m following: