Paul Dunay’s list of brands that tweet is long but not misses some critical Tweeters.

Image by luc legay via Flickr

The Best Buy account (http://www.twitter.com/bestbuy) should actual point to http://twitter.com/BestBuyRemix.  And they aren’t just posting about new locations, responding to customer feedback (positive or negative), or even promoting a sale.  They have provided a mashup with their product lookup API.  Initially the Twitter community can utilize but why not send the same query to an SMS short code?  The response can have a link to open a mobile web browser, a Best Buy phone application, or respond with a limited time discount code.  They offer CPA payouts through their affiliate program on purchases but someone has to click.  Wonder how many folks are purchasing.

Another retailer using Twitter is Dell.  They have more then one.  They have been quoted saying:

Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) says Twitter has produced $1 million in revenue over the past year and a half through sale alerts.

I’m sure there will be more retailers doing the same.  Question becomes if Twitter starts charging for corporate accounts or maybe does an affiliate model with retailers.  Think about that:  1% of $1 million is $10,000 coming from 3,381 followers (as of 1/5/09).  No it does not pay for much but that is one retailer with less then 1% of their email subscriber base.  SMS deliver of the sales alerts could carry a different price structure.  And what if you could track off-line transactions (click-to-call or Revtrax type of solution)?  Could off-line transaction tracking be beneficial for BestBuyRemix?  I’m waiting for the Social Media Service Providers (SMSP) to emerge just like Email Service Providers (ESP’s are Datran Media, Exact Target, Responsys, etc.).  Datran already offers a Facebook communications solution.  If a SMSP can also support off-line metrics, they would be in an excellent position.  One is getting started down in Austin with some heavy weight behind it.

What are the Twitter business models for commercial entities?  Let’s ask Kevin Thau the new partnership manager but they are still looking for a product manager to help develop commercial (aka making money) products.

Related posts:

1. Social Media Gurus 2009 Predictions

A gathering of social media folks put together their predictions for 2009. From Charlene Li, Pete Blackshaw, Jason Falls, Jeremiah Owyang, and Andy Sernovitz, Peter Kim put together the predictions using a Scribd document (very cool).  I’ve embedded here:Social Media 2009

Community Guy, Jack McKee, has two simple ones to consider as well.  I think social media for 2009 boils down to one thing:  Attention. Why attention?  That is what my 6, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old sons constantly want from me and their mother.  Each son represents a different type of Customer wanting attention.  They don’t want not another ad selling a product/service/brand.  Maybe if I had more sons (not likely) I would have more Customers to describe but these three will cover it for now.  Besides it’s something I see everyday (at home and work) and try to learn from everyday.  Here are three types of Customers who need your social media attention:

Connor – 6 year old

• Directly ask for attention (voice and visual) and what type of attention he needs (help with a word, wrestling, juice, etc.).
• Capable of communicating to two levels as necessary:  Customer Service (Dad) and Executive Level (Mom).
• Can influence others (his brothers) to help his cause (actually starting to figure that out).

Who is this Customer:  A brand advocate who could help and/or hurt the brand if not treated correctly.  Don’t ask me how to treat him because I’m still working on it.

Ethan – 4 1/2 year old

• Gets attention by picking on his brothers so they get frustrated with him.
• Communication method:  screaming and yelling at the brother (bring Mom and Dad into the picture).
• He does not want to play nice in our community.  Constantly looking to stir the pot.

Who is this Customer:  Advocate for their personal brand which requires the community to police either in taking action or watching (and right now I can’t get Connor to help with Ethan but working on it).

Parker – 2 1/2 year old

• Does not listen and has his own agenda.
• Participates in the community when he feels it appropriate (either to play nice or to stir the pot like Ethan).
• Difficulty integrating with the community and it’s activities (6 and 4 activities are very different from the 2 year old).

Who is this Customer:  Your future Customer so you should continually test new methods, content, and tools to have them participate.

Yes my sons are very different not just by age but their individual traits, tendencies, and values.  How we (Mom and Dad) communicate with each as well as then physically interact is critical for maintaining a balanced family system.  Too much attention to any one type of Customer impacts the other Customers.  This impact can slow down or stop the system from operating properly.

What are the critical components for keeping the social media system operating properly?

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1. Twitter, Brands, E-Commerce