Twitter seems to be getting all the attention these days, from its use in organizing and spreading information about the recent election in Iran to its role in crashing sites after the death of Michael Jackson.
While many people first think the service is nothing but a way to broadcast what you’re having for breakfast, there are actually a number of ways you can use it to save some serious money.
Here are a few ways to save money using Twitter.
Follow Companies Who Offer Deals
If you’re in the market for a new gadget (or any other item), it’s worth checking to see if the manufacturer or retailer who sells it are on Twitter.
A number of companies have started Twitter accounts with the sole purpose of providing links to some of the deals that they’re offering. Computer manufacturer Dell, using its @DellOutlet account, says it has made more than $2 million in revenue directly attributed to Twitter.
As of this writing, more than 775,000 people follow @DellOutlet on Twitter — so something is working right.
Also worth following: @amazondeals, @BestBuy_Outlet
Customer Service on Twitter Works
When you publicly complain about a company or service — and a passionate crowd is watching — that company almost needs to respond in a positive fashion.
I’ve documented this with my experience complaining to Comcast, the company that really revolutionized customer service on Twitter. They can single-handedly thank Frank Eliason, @comcastcares, for developing this communication tool.
Thanks to Twitter, I was able to reach out to Comcast and let them know I was annoyed that I couldn’t transfer my deal when we moved. Not only did they rectify the situation, but they extended the deal for another year.
Also worth following: @southwestair, @jetblue, @starbucks
Follow a Deal Aggregator
Easily, some of the most popular sites for frugal folks and people watching their budgets are deal sites, like FatWallet and SlickDeals.
While many of the deals are user-generated, the sites offer Twitter feeds to aggregate some of the best offers they have. And since they’re not just for individual companies, you can find bargains on a ton of products from different sites.
My favorite deal aggregator? Hands down, it’s @daves_deals, which brings together offers from the most sites I’ve seen.
Also worth following: @slickdeals, @cheaptweet
How are you saving money on Twitter? Let me know in a comment.
