I have a confession to make: not long ago, I was anti-Twitter. But now I’ve grown so attached that it feels like an insult to admit I was ever against it. Currently, I tweet daily and follow more than 400 people. So what happened? At the risk of being corny, I woke up and smelled the Twitter.

We’ve all heard it before: “Twitter … what’s the point?” While the site has been rapidly expanding since it began in 2006, there have always been people skeptical of what its true purpose is. Time and time again I’ve heard the argument that Twitter is just another ad campaign for businesses or organizations to reach more customers. As a former ‘anti-tweeter,’ I was amongst those who argued that Twitter is just a collection of Facebook status updates, and who really cares that much about other random people’s thoughts and opinions? Most of these ‘anti-tweeters’ simply don’t understand how to use Twitter, or where to even begin. It’s been called the new online fad, and as with most fads, some people are slow to catch on. In fact, as with many social media aspects, those in marketing and public relations were some of the first to understand and reap the benefits of Twitter.

Twitter is much more than a 15 minutes of fame online social fad, and when used correctly, it has serious benefits for individuals, businesses and organizations. Because it’s the first site of its kind, starting a Twitter account can be like taking a leap of faith – you’re not really sure where to begin, what to do with it or where it will lead you. But rest assured you will hit the ground running if you’re willing to learn, and ready to spend the time necessary to see the benefits. Like it or not, Twitter’s not going away any time soon; so you can choose to understand and embrace it, or be like my grandma and wait 10 years to make sure cell phones aren’t just a passing fad. Here’s a quick list of 10 reasons why you should welcome Twitter with open arms:

10. Connecting with people you know. I’ve learned quite a bit about some of my professors, co-workers, friends and even family through Twitter.

9. Customer service. If you’re a business, this one’s obvious. Connect with customers on a whole new level, and show them you care. I recently had an issue with my cable and direct messaged @Comcastcares with my problem. I got a response almost immediately, and it’s the only time I have ever felt remotely satisfied with a cable company.

8. Thought leaders and influencers. Follow the current thought leaders in whatever you’re interested in. They’re loaded with information that will only add fuel to the fire of whatever you’re passionate about.

7. Personalized news. Twitter is news with a heartbeat, and if you follow the right people, your finger’s right on the pulse. Not only did I hear about Michael Jackson’s death via Twitter, I saw a ton of the different reactions to it at the same time.

6. Exposure. Have a blog? Twitter is the perfect place to share it with the world. Own a business? Show people what it’s all about, and why it’s great.

5. Connecting with people you don’t know. It’s so easy to find interesting people to follow, or people who have similar interests as you on Twitter. If you’re tweeting for a business, it’s a great way to reach your target audiences and customers effectively.

4. Sharing your passion. Love sports? Tweet about it. Politics junkie? Tweet about it. Fashionista? Tweet about it. It’s all out there already, but the more voices on any topic the better. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a niche topic to talk about and become the top tweeter in that area.

3. Expanding your knowledge. Twitter is so much more than just status updates. With the constant sharing of knowledge and information, learning more about the world around you is only a click away. A great way to help spread information on Twitter is to share links to things you find interesting or intriguing.

2. Networking. Getting a job through Twitter may seem like a stretch, but showing potential employers your interests, expertise and personality in a professional manner can only help. Additionally, connecting with other professionals in your field is easily done on Twitter, and can be very beneficial.

1. The world awaits you. The world is at your doorstep, listening to you on your soapbox. Take advantage of it.

Brooke Brown, Account Supervisor