Twitter. It's all over the place - from news stories to commercial advertisements, "tweeting" is the thing to do. But what does it mean for professionals and businesses? Here in the Lowcountry, tweeting is part of a typical business day.

Twitter has over 190 million users worldwide who are tweeting around 65 million times per day. Here in the Charleston area, just under 9,000 people are using Twitter, according to Twello.com.

So, what exactly is Twitter?

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging website that can be used on the Web, mobile phone or through third party applications. The nature of Twitter itself is information sharing - a chance for users to spread and share information to people all over the world. Every message or tweet has a 140-character limit.

This is the way business is changing. The days of one-way communication are over. With the introduction of social media, people expect interaction from the businesses and brands they use. People do business with those they know, like and trust, and the best way to build relationships is through interaction.

Consumers have opinions, and they're sharing them everyday online using sites like Twitter. As a business owner, it's imperative to know what your customers are saying and to engage with them.

For hair and beauty stylist, Carrie McLeod, Twitter has been a great way to bring in new clients. Highlighting her expertise, McLeod tweets daily beauty tips that are often picked up and "re-tweeted" by locals.

For McLeod, who works at Salon Couture on King Street, building a relationship with her clients is top priority. Since she relies heavily on word of mouth and referrals, Twitter is the perfect place for her to market herself and her services.

Every business doesn't belong on Twitter, and that's okay.

Top Five Twitter Tips:

1. Listen to the conversation first. Understanding what people are saying and how they're saying it.

2. Have a strategy. Just because some people take Twitter lightly doesn't mean you should. Know why you should tweet and what you should say.

3. Leave the marketing at the door. Sure there's a reason you're using Twitter, but don't make it obvious.

4. Bring the human aspect of your business to the forefront. Integrate the things that make you unique both personally and professionally.

5. Set boundaries. Know who within your company is using online sites and put a social media policy in place. Anyone who is representing your company needs to take their online presence seriously. Remember, once you tweet it, you can't delete it.

Ashley Thiesen Caldwell is the owner and founder of The Modern Connection, LLC, a Charleston-based online marketing company with a focus on social media for small business. For more information, visit www.TheModernConnection.com or call 843-608-5066.

Caldwell and Cheryl Smithem of Strategic Marketing and Charleston PR will be presenting a workshop at the Center for Women called "Talking Twitter - A Hands On Workshop." The workshop is only $20 and will be held on Wednesday July 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center on Daniel Island.

Attendees should bring personal laptops with wireless Internet capabilities. To register, visit the Center for Women at www.C4Women.org or call 843-763-7333.