#PitchTweet
Aspiring entrepreneurs pitch via Twitter.
The use of social media platforms like Twitter helps demonstrate that geography need not be a hindrance to developing a new business in areas that could be viewed as being somewhat isolated, Cam Gordon says.
Gordon, the head of communications for Twitter Canada, was in Sydney on Tuesday to take part in #PitchTweet, a chance for those who may have products, companies or ideas they want to promote to practice their marketing skills using Twitter.
Gordon said Twitter gets invited to take part in many different events but the creative nature of #PitchTweet intrigued them.
“Part of our mandate is really celebrating how people are using Twitter across Canada,” he said in an interview. “The concept is really unique because Twitter I think for small business is a really great tool, just because it is so versatile, it’s a great way to connect, especially in a country the size of Canada.”
The immediacy that it can offer can help bring businesses closer to their customers, Gordon said
“Less and less, in my opinion, where people are based is relevant, as long as you have a good Internet connection,” Gordon said. “In terms of where you are based, I would say it’s sort of secondary to the skill and the talent and the creativity.”
Momentum, a hub for entrepreneurs that was announced earlier this year, and Twitter Canada worked together to hold the #PitchTweet competition in Cape Breton. This event is the first of its kind in Canada. The competition was open to the world with two winners to be awarded — one globally and one locally.
“I’m really excited to see what people come up with, and be sort of dazzled by the creativity, and also learning about the small businesses that want to tap into the people that are on Twitter,” Gordon said.
#PitchTweet was billed as a chance for those who may have products, companies or ideas they want to promote to practice their marketing skills. Competitors write a pitch in the form of a tweet using the hashtag #PitchTweet.
Twitter, which is now 11 years old, has had a presence in Canada — its offices are in Toronto — since 2015.
There were 12.6 million Canadians who used Twitter in January, representing 41 per cent of Canada’s digital audience. While there may be a feeling that its use has begun to plateau, Gordon said the number of daily active Twitter users continues to grow, with its 2016 global user base up by 14 per cent.
Gordon said he sees the platform’s two biggest advantages being velocity and brevity. Twitter has played around with embracing other use of media in tweets, for example by not counting the use of photos or gifs against the 140-character limit.
Twitter offers a large potential audience but the challenge is funding the audience with the right mindset.
Gordon noted some of the ways corporations have made use of Twitter include a major pizza chain that allows customers to place orders via a direct message bot.
He also provided some tips on how to make the most of your presence on Twitter, noting the use of photo or video results in 60 per cent more engagement. He also encouraged them to anticipate times when people will be on Twitter and noted it is increasingly used as a customer service tool offering real-time responsiveness.
Andrea Telfer, master’s of business administration student in community economic development at Cape Breton University, was one of the approximately two dozen to attend the session. A Vancouver native, her idea is for a social enterprise smartphone app called ChipIn that connects volunteers with community organizations “in a fun, easy and social way.”
“I thought that becoming more family with Twitter as a social media platform for advertising and developing our business would be a great idea,” Telfer said in an interview.
Telfer said she hoped to come away from the session with Gordon with more knowledge about some of the creative ways that Twitter and other social media can be used to increase brand awareness.
It’s hoped they will be able to launch a pilot program in the next couple of weeks.
“It would be great t get to practice the pitch a little bit, especially use the brevity that he was talking about that Twitter really banks on,” Telfer said. “I’m trying to think of creative ways to engage with people on social media and I think I will ask him some more information about what can small businesses and startups do because we talked a lot about big corporations … it would be interesting to hear some examples of small companies that have seen some really big jumps in revenue, let’s say, from using Twitter.”
Permjot Valia, Cape Breton University entrepreneur-inresidence, also led a session on value proposition and pitching tactics. A panel of judges comprised of entrepreneurs and business professionals offered their feedback on the top 10 local tweets at the event.