69 percent of Irish companies use Twitter to build an online community enabling them to develop a greater knowledge of their customers
and also create an audience for them to promote company news too, according to a survey conducted by mobile provider Three Ireland. Managing directors and company founders account for 31 percent of updates, followed by marketing and IT personnel with 14 percent and 11 percent respectively. About 13 percent of companies update their Twitter feed on an hourly basis, with 46.2 percent updating on average more than once a day. Over 80 percent of businesses believe that those following their tweets are potential customers, with 55 percent believing that competitors also subscribed to keep an eye on their business.
Thirty-one percent of Irish businesses suggested that Twitter had delivered a return of less than EUR100 whilst 17 percent indicated a return of between EUR750 -EUR1,000. Five percent detailed a contribution of EUR5,000 or more. The overwhelming majority (97 percent) of businesses believed in the growing importance of Twitter. Those surveyed also ranked a number of social networking tools in order of importance with Twitter coming top, followed by Facebook, LinkedIn, Boards.ie, Igopeople, and Bebo. The survey of 65 businesses was conducted in August, and Three is said to be planning a more detailed analysis of the ways in which Irish businesses use social networking tools later this year.
Members of the Dublin City Enterprise Board Link! Network and Enterprise Network for Women use Linked In! and Twitter to keep in touch. http://www.dceb.ie/networking or join me on Twitter http://twitter.com/EibhlinCurley