A Simple Case of Twitter Sniffing

Businesses like Smokey Bones are monitoring Twitter to find out who's saying what about them (what I call Twitter Sniffing). And, developing a consumer community in order to open communication up between them and their customers using Twitter, as I have personally experienced for myself.

A Simple Case of Twitter Sniffing

: Image by masamunecyrus via Flickr

I didn’t want to write another Twitter post, but @SmokeyBonesBar made me! The other night, my wife and I went to Smokey Bones to have dinner. It’s one of my favorites. And, to my surprise there was a piece of paper on my table with something handwritten on it in marker. Oddly it wasn’t on any other table that I saw. It was definitely speaking to me in particular. It basically talked about a beer that they had called Vanilla Java Porter, which is basically beer that tastes like coffee. And, as I soon found out, is AWESOME! It turns out that beer and coffee are also my favorites. So, what did I do next? I tweeted it:

“Having a vanilla java porter at smokey bones. Coffee and beer in one! My two favorites!”

Not an inspired tweet, but accurate and descriptive nonetheless. Not to mention deeply personal.

The next day I got on Twitter and, to my surprise, that was retweeted by @SmokeyBonesBar themselves (who also started following me…a favor which I returned). The following conversation ensued:

Me: @smokeybonesbar I’m really impressed that you found my tweet about you, re-tweeted it, and followed me. That’s quite proactive, and adept.

Me: @smokeybonesbar Oh, and one more thing, do you still have blazin’ shrimp? I couldn’t find them on the menu.

Them: @PureCognition Thanks for the compliment. Smokey Bones has a bit of an ego, and loves to hear what people say about us.

Them: @PureCognition The Blazin’ Shrimp is still there – just has a new name. “Who You Callin’ Shrimp?”

Me: @SmokeyBonesBar The previous name (“Blazin’ Shrimp”) was slightly more descriptive, but nevertheless I’ll know what to order now. Thanks.

Me: @SmokeyBonesBar I really enjoy seeing how businesses use the collaborative web, so your story is very interesting to me.

Do you know how restaurants have waiters and waitresses circle URLs on receipts where you can go and fill out a survey and win stuff? Most people probably forget to do it…I do. However, tweeting can be done on the spot and is simple. Businesses like Smokey Bones know figured that out. Also, tweets are probably a bit more upfront and honest…Mine are.

It’s nice to know that businesses like Smokey Bones are Twitter Sniffing to not only find out what their customers are saying, but to also meet them and answer their questions.

Recently, my wife won a 700 dollar grill from Texas Roadhouse through a raffle. We appreciated it (we were looking for a grill). But, as strategies go, I like Twitter Sniffing better.

Recently I posted Seven Types of Web Communities. I forgot an eighth:

Consumer Communities: Communites of consumers for a particular business that give feedback and get questions answered.

Also, this is yet another example of one of the faces of twitter.

Smokey Bones New Localized Website (bizzia.com)
Twtbase (tagedge.com)
TwtPoll 2: What Local Search Directories Do You Use to Locate Products and Services? (growmap.com)
The Best Beer In The World! (manolith.com)

Share and Enjoy:

Tags: Beer, Business, FaceBook, On the Web, Online Communities, Restaurant, Shrimp, Smokey Bones, Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill, Social network, Texas Roadhouse, Twitter, Uniform Resource Locator, web

Semantic Web, Web 2.0 | Nathan | March 26, 2009 9:05 pm

7 Comments

By will, March 27, 2009 @ 11:08 am

I work at smokey bones im a server and i love the new stuff they are doing its really cool

ps “twitter sniffing” sniffing sounds so wrong
By Nathan, March 27, 2009 @ 12:16 pm

Thanks for the comment. I’m always interested in how businesses harness technology, particular in the Web 2.0 space.

Concerning the term “Twitter Sniffing.” I think it is probably more appealing to more hardcore computer nerds, because it’s sorta related to the term “Packet Sniffing”, which is the practice of monitoring the data packets that enter and leave a computer.
By Max from Beer, July 9, 2009 @ 1:24 pm

This is so cool to me. Restaurants and other businesses that learn the power of Twitter will get much more business in the future. The potential of twitter marketing is so vast now.

Cool post, thanks for sharing. Vanilla Java Porter sounds delicious, I’m going to have to try that.
By Tracy from medifast.com, October 28, 2009 @ 6:58 pm

There is actually a small brewery that makes a coffee beer. I conned my local liquour store to carry it.
Tracy@medifast.com´s last blog ..Medifast Coupons
By San Jose Amy, January 24, 2010 @ 12:53 am

This was interesting.
By Josiah from Tumblr Themes, January 26, 2010 @ 6:05 pm

I love that companies are doing this. The only problem i have with your post is that now i’ve got the strange urge to eat some shrimp!
Josiah@Tumblr Themes´s last blog ..Reflect