Many people already know that Twitter is a great way to keep up to date on everything thats going on in the world around you. Whether its finding out about the latest product releases or just knowing what your friends are up to, Twitter is a quick, easy and popular way to keep an eye on the pulse of the modern world. But its also a great way to get traffic to your website. More and more people are expanding their numbers using Twitter and so can you – you just have to know how to do it.

If youve never used Twitter, its pretty simple. It takes about a minute to create an account, then you can type in short messages (less than 140 characters) and theyre sent to everyone who has chosen to be one of your followers. You can also follow people youre interested in and get updated whenever they make a post.

These are a few reasons Twitter is a great tool for getting traffic.

*Its easy. Pretty much anyone who can use a computer can use it. And we all know that the less work people have to do to use something, the more likely theyre going to be to use it.

*Its accessible. People can use Twitter from their computer, phone, or pda. That means theyre always checking it and always getting updates. It becomes a part of their life. And if they follow you, that makes you a part of their life too.

*Its Popular. Millions of people are already using Twitter, and thousands of new users join each day. So you can transfer networks over from other sites, or your email list, and watch your followers grow from there.

The first step to increasing your traffic is to simply gain followers on. If youre tweeting and no one is listening, its not really going to do you or your website any good.

The easiest way is to bring along your network from other sources, like your business contacts, email list, message boards, or even other social networks. If you dont have anyone to add, or you want to expand, simply start following others in your field. Many will follow you in return, and if you use your tweets properly, the word will get out.

Once you have followers, there are many strategic ways to use your tweets wisely. Dont just talk about anything:

*Keeping up relationships. Whether it be clients, potential clients, or business contacts, Twitter can help you update your followers, and following them can help keep you updated. This makes them feel more connected with you and gives you a better relationship. You can even take it a step further and follow-up on their tweets through other communication lines. And remember, happy customers means repeat customers and referrals.

*Product release. If you have a decent number of followers, Twitter is a great way to get the word out about a new product, website, or service offer. You can also use it to build excitement before a new release.

*Website changes. If something changes about your site, even something small like a new article, spread the word. This gets them to come back to your site, even if theyve already been there.

*Become a resource. If there are things going on that interest you and that might interest your followers, spread the word. Theyll be thankful that you shared valuable info with them and be more likely to pass on your name and pay attention to future tweets.