Twitter may be best known as a way to keep up with friends, celebs, and brands.  Yes, businesses are now keeping in touch with loyal customers via Tweets. Many savvy entrepreneurs and small business owners are turning to Twitter as an effective way to reach out to customers, vendors, and new customers too. From small home based business to big brands, and from brick-and-mortar to Web-based enterprises, business owners are finding great value in the connections they make with businesses on Twitter.

Twitter is introducing a new live-updating search tool and business guide especially for businesses.  Twitter 101 for business features a downloadable slide presentation, case studies and features on how entrepreneurs can use the popular micro-blogging site for business. There is also a new widget on Twitter to allow users to create a continuous update box on a search topic.  The search update box can be customized and included on a business Website.

Twitter is working on plans to introduce a suite of fee based business services to allow users to analyze traffic and verify accounts. Twitter’s blog describes the process underway with business students and writers to enhance the business reach of Twitter.    Follow me on Twitter to learn more about small business issues and events to give you a competitive edge.  Just go to http://twitter.com/danitablackwood