For Businesses, Twitter Is More Than Just An Online Coffee Shop

Coffee businesses are finding different and creative ways to use Twitter, and the recently available Twitter list function has sparked a new one. Earlier this month, 21st Street Coffee and Tea (@21streetcoffee) sent the following tweet:

Need to create some twitter lists… if you are a customer of ours, reply to this via mention or direct message.

Since November 2nd, 37 people have joined this public list. I haven’t been to this coffee shop, but I would add myself to it if I was a regular. And while I’m not sure how 21 Street Coffee will be using this list, it’s obvious that they can more easily connect with their online customers with it.

Some coffee businesses are making themselves more accessible by having each staff member tweet about their work along with maintaining a general business account. Dillanos Coffee Roasters has more than 30 staff on Twitter; I’m following all of them. I asked David J. Morris, the CEO (@coffeemaverick) about this, and he responded with a tweet, telling me that he has studied Zappos a lot, “we did a tour of their Las Vegas facility and it was totally cool, their people tweet a lot too.” David also created a staff list on Twitter where 39 are listed.

Twitter lists are getting popular. A new website called Listorious (@listorious) allows you to discover and add lists; a few coffee ones have already been submitted. I added my list of caffeinated conversation friendly places last night. If you’re not already on it, send me (@coffeeshopchat) a tweet.

Every coffee business has their own approach to using Twitter. Melissa Allison (@CoffeeCity) who writes the Coffee City column for the Seattle Times recently wrote about Starbucks’ use of Twitter. The following are a few insights she gathered from Brad Nelson (@bradnelson) who tweets for Starbucks (@starbucks):

“If it’s not discussed on Twitter, it probably doesn’t matter.”

In the corporate world, people will try to write your tweets for you. Don’t let them.

Use your real name, not the company’s.

Be real/human and conversational, not preachy

Twitter is about customer service (and is replacing service phone calls), marketing and public relations.

The future could include sites like foursquare (@foursquare), Gowalla (@gowalla), and Brightkite (@brightkite).

How do you think coffee businesses can leverage Twitter? Join the conversation and share some of your tips and tricks.