Fast follow is Twitter’s new free SMS update service. Users without Twitter accounts are now able to follow your company, brand or person with a simple Twitter text message sent to 40404.

This is a huge game changer

Twitter just released this new feature for texting that will literally change the game for your business. It’s called Fast Follow and it’s a way for non Twitter users (like teenagers for example) to get SMS text updates directly to their phone each time you make a Tweet.

Followers don’t need a Twitter account and all they need to do is text ‘follow your-username’ to 40404. They instantly start getting texts from your company Twitter account.

Many people don’t want to sign up for a Twitter accounts. Many young people don’t like Twitter and prefer Facebook instead. BUT – text messaging is popular among all ages and personality types. By giving people the option to subscribe to a Twitter feed via text message – you’ve increased your potential audience by tenfold.

How to follow using SMS text messaging

For example, let’s say you want to get Tweets from Folk Media (@FolkMedia). Just  text ‘follow FolkMedia’ to 40404 in the US. (Twitter has said they are trying to add more countries as they go).

Today’s Action Steps

First, you need to let every business owner you know about this post. This is something that can really impact their business. Please leave a comment below and then share this with your networks.

Second, try it yourself. Start putting messaging out on all your marketing channels that say:

Get instant alerts and updates from us via text
Text ‘follow your-username’ to 40404

Now go take action.

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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, speaker and social media marketing coach who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter or Google Buzz.

*Photo by San Diego Shooter

Why Use A Mobile Device

You will be untethered from your desktop

The game changer for most Twitter users is when they discover the power of using Twitter away from their computer. It is really the first application that works better from a mobile device than it does from a desktop.

Twitter is about life and relationships. Most of that happens away from your monitor.

Twitter asks one simple question, “what are you doing?” It begs for you to share what you are doing. The “doing” part of life happens away from our computer screens. So a mobile device is perfect for truly updating people on our lives.

What Is Mobile Tweeting?

Simple: Reading and updating your Twitter account from your mobile device.
It isn’t rocket science. Mobile Tweeting can be done from most phones with internet access. And now some Tweeting can be done through text messaging. For the sake of getting you up and running quickly we will focus on phones that have internet access.

How To Tweet From A Mobile Device

Use the mobile site

Visit the mobile Twitter site www.m.twitter.com and login to your account.

Tweet as normal (sort of)

On the mobile Twitter site you can update your status just like you do on your computer. The big difference is in using @mentions, retweets or direct messages. You must use the manual characters in order to do these from your mobile device.

For example use the following to perform these functions:

• By putting a lowercase “d,” a space and then the username of the person will send them a direct message. (Sample: d joelmarkwitt how do you get to Rome?)
• Place an @ symbol in front of a person’s username to send them a public message. (Sample: @joelmarkwitt how do you get to Rome?)
• Place an RT, space and then the persons @name to RT their message. You will need to manually retype the message since you cannot copy and paste in most mobile phones. (Sample: RT @joelmarkwitt I am in Rome)

iPhone users

If you are an iPhone user you have a ton of options for applications to download through the app store. We recommend using EchoFon to get started.

Mobile Tweeting can open a whole new world to you on Twitter. It can be used to drive immediate attention to events happening in real time and frees you from the chains of your desktop. Additionally, once you get Twitter, you can tweet from almost anywhere in the world. Even the small networks in other countries like Afghanistan’s Afghan Wireless Ehsan Bayat network can support the data access necessary to post onto Twitter.

Go grab your mobile device, log onto Twitter mobile and take action.

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Joel Mark Witt is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. He is also the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership Send him an eMail: joelmarkwitt (at) folkmedia.org or follow him on Twitter.

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Get the book “21 Days To Twitter Leadership” The Step-By-Step Guide On How To Twitter, Get Twitter Followers And Position Yourself As The Leader In Your Industry In Less Than 10 Minutes Per Day.

*Photo by laihiu