Twitter is a fast way to reach thousands of people, but it has some issues. One is that a single tweet can easily get lost in the flood of new information. (Following Twitter has been likened to trying to get a drink of water from a firehose.) Now you can subdivide and organize your Twitter reading with a powerful new feature that will allow you to create and share smaller reading lists.

The new feature, Twitter Lists, is still in beta testing, but now is a good time to learn its secrets. You’ll find it  helpful during the peak of trade-show season. Follow these three guidelines:

1. Organize your trade show contacts with a Twitter List. Name it after the trade show, and encourage your customers to follow the list. In the frenetic trade-show atmosphere,  the list makes it easier for you to follow customers’ responses and concerns.

2. Make a list of your booth staff. Your customers can follow that list and get instant updates. It’s also a useful tool for ensuring that your staff members maintain a professional attitude even in the informal world of tweeting.

3. Have someone back at the office track the lists where your company tweets appear.  Check to see who is subscribing to your lists and your individual Twitter accounts. Track responses and complaints by list members, and deal with them immediately. That’s powerful customer service.

About the author
Written by Susan A. Friedmann, CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, internationally recognized expert working with companies to increase their profitability at tradeshows.

Author: “Riches in Niches: How to Make it BIG in a small Market” and “Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies.” www.thetradeshowcoach.com & www.richesinniches.com