| Twitter, the online social media sensation that only | | | | to see if they have an account and click the follow |
| allows users to post, or "tweet" as it's called, a mere | | | | button. Followers of stores and merchants on Twitter |
| 140 characters at a time, has taken the global online | | | | will then see tweets from companies announcing |
| world by storm. Users may join the site by creating a | | | | specials, some of which only last for a brief period of |
| free account, choosing a user name and password | | | | time. And because Twitter operates in "real time" you |
| and are then able to follow others and begin "tweeting" | | | | will know instantly when a sale begins or ends. |
| themselves about anything and everything. | | | | Instead of simply waiting for the deals and bargains to |
| And now that Twitter has been around for a few | | | | come your way you can also use Twitter to search |
| years and continues to grow in popularity by leaps and | | | | for specific things rather than just sales. |
| bounds, many merchants and retailers are taking | | | | On Twitter's Advanced Search page you can enter |
| advantage of the frequently visited website for | | | | whatever information you're looking for, such as a |
| advertising purposes, attracting new customers and | | | | certain designer or brand of clothing or perhaps the |
| announcing important information like sales or discounts. | | | | latest technological gadget that's on sale. Simply enter |
| For the Christmas season or any special occasion or | | | | what you're trying to find under the "this exact phrase" |
| holiday, using Twitter can help you to find unadvertised | | | | box and the word "sale" in the "any of these words" |
| sales and bargains that you won't be able to find | | | | box and click the search button. |
| anywhere else. And it's now estimated that | | | | Be creative with your searches using words like |
| approximately half of all major retailers around the | | | | "discount," "sale," "free," "promotion" and be prepared to |
| world have a Twitter account. In the UK, retailers such | | | | spend plenty of time looking through your results. |
| as Asda, Asos, Debenhams, Dixons, Smythson, | | | | Remember you can look for the most obscure items |
| Wallace Sacks, Waterstones and Woolworth all have | | | | to those that are expected to be so popular that they |
| Twitter accounts that are updated regularly and even | | | | will be difficult to find near the Christmas season. You |
| grocers like Ocado are tweeting about their wares. | | | | can also look for electronic coupon codes or voucher |
| Many High street stores are also tweeting about | | | | codes to redeem for discounts such as a certain |
| exclusive offers and special discounts to lure | | | | percentage off your order or free shipping. |
| customers in to their establishments or to buy directly | | | | In addition to the stores themselves, there are many |
| from their website online. Some stores tweet about | | | | helpful "Tweeple" to follow on Twitter who will do all of |
| bargain deals of the day while others advertise their | | | | the "legwork" for you, scouring the Internet looking for |
| weekly sales. | | | | the absolute best deals and cheapest prices and then |
| Members can look for their favorite store or merchant | | | | tweeting about their findings. |