Micro-blogging is just as the word sounds; it's blogging on the Internet, but in a much smaller scale and breadth than the traditional method. However, using the service requires your company to employ a micro-blogging website, such as Twitter or Jaiku. There are content limits on most every micro-blogging site of 140 characters. Some companies don't micro-blog on a site, but they monitor these sites for any mention of their name. That way, they can respond to micro-blogs almost immediately.

Micro-blogging information can provide an excellent marketing tool for your company. For example, if your company is having a sale on a certain product or service that may appeal to micro-bloggers, you can submit the details via the micro-blogging website to announce it. Other micro-bloggers may notice it and post it on their micro-blogs and then others may notice it and so on. However, before your company attempts to find micro-blogging websites, there are a few items to consider, such as:

1. Understand the basic process of micro-blogging.

2. Learn how to use micro-blogging to benefit your company.

3. Register for a micro-blogger account.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Incorporate the basics of micro-blogging into your business marketing and service plan

Anytime there's new technology, it seems that businesses are slow to adapt. Blogging is still something that most companies fail to utilize properly in their marketing and promotion campaigns. If your company can use micro-blogging to help encourage good word of mouth about your business, this can give you a significant advantage over competitors. Before successfully employing the technology, you'll need to understand its uses and how it works.

I recommend: Review the micro-blogging guide from PBS for the basics of the service. This guide also provides links to sign up for the popular micro-blogging services. Integrate the applicable business uses of micro-blogging from BusinessWeek into your marketing plan.

Use micro-blogging tips and tricks to maximize its utility

There's no need to reinvent the wheel as there are others out there that can provide business tips on how to use micro-blogging to your company's advantage. It's always best to integrate the best practices of others into your business model when applicable to save you time and money trying to figure out how best to utilize this service.

I recommend: Use the micro-blogging tips from Blogging Tips and MetaSpring to make your business' micro-blogging plan much more effective from the start. Not all these tips will apply to your business, but it will give you a clearer perspective on the uses of the technology. You can also sign up for the RSS Feeds at both sites to follow responses on the topic and get current information sent directly to you.

Register with a micro-blogging service

As of today, two main companies specialize in micro-blogging. However, as the practice spreads, expect the technology to improve and the websites that offer the service to expand. Currently, Twitter and Jaiku are competing to be the main micro-blogging site, with Twitter having the most name recognition.

I recommend: Sign-up for the micro-blogging service at Twitter or Jaiku. You'll need a valid email address to use either service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When anyone in your company uses a micro-blogging website, it's important that they treat it like a public conversation. In other words, employees shouldn't say anything on the micro-blog that they wouldn't be comfortable saying in the office in front of their boss.