Social media is a great networking tool for all types of businesses, including non-profits and volunteer organizations. Twitter can be a very useful tool for disseminating information about the organization, talk about upcoming events and act as a call to action. Of course, there are a few key points to be considered in order for Twitter to be an effective product.

The first rule of using Twitter is to make sure that the target audience is aware that the organization is tweeting. Without having the right followers, tweeting is like shouting into outer space. No one will hear or pay attention to the information that one is trying to share. Therefore it is important to let people know about the Twitter account. This can be done in a number of ways including: making a special announcement via a regular newsletter or email, putting the Twitter icon on the organization's website, or having employees share the news with all people they speak with. It is also a good idea to include the Twitter account name on all promotional items going forward to keep the information fresh for people and inform new customers.

It is also key to have followers actually pay attention to what is being said on Twitter. Try holding a giveaway by announcing the prize on the feed and have users re-tweet in order to enter. This will get people excited about the organization and spread the word very quickly to a large number of people.

Many people use Twitter to follow things that are happening around them, especially events that are happening or shortly upcoming. By making an announcement that there is a need for volunteers, people may be moved to immediately show up and help out. An organization could also let people know when upcoming events will be so people can plan to volunteer. Twitter can even be used to simply advertise the exact skill sets that are needed and ask followers if they know of someone who would be the right fit.

When it is well advertised and used regularly, Twitter is a great way to reach out to volunteers, customers and others in the community. People will enjoy following the organization and getting news updates as quickly as checking their Twitter feed.