Twitter and the retail industry

Social Media has opened doors for every industry to improve communication with consumers. The growth of Twitter has developers, brand managers, retailers, and the average joe finding ways to use 140 characters for business. It’s an evolution of open communication with our business partners and customers.

Express advertises on the bottom of customer’s receipts to follow their CMO @ExpresslisaG on Twitter. Zappos, potentially the kind of retail Twitter, has successful used social media to stay connected with consumers on everything from busineess operations, team members, and customer service. @DellOutlet offers deals to Twitter followers, and @Comcastcares is a consumer’s direct channel to voice concerns.

The retail industry can use Twitter for product promotions, customer experience management, and brand appeal. There is virtually endless possibilities to how a retailer or brand could use open communication with consumers to better their customer experience.

One individual is testing a device to link RFID tags to Twitter. Mediapost reported digital agency R/GA’s Richard Ting has successfully linked RFID tags to Twitter. When the tag is scanned, a preconditioned Tweet is sent out. There is potential for the same technology to be used by merchandisers or mystery shoppers in store. A real time feedback of a display with missing product, products not properly set up, or real time customer experience feeback. The opportunities to for all levels of an organization to connect with consumers using social media is unlimited.

How are you using Twitter in your business?