Recently, sources have revealed investors are dumping large amounts of money into Twitter.  There has been much speculation and rumors that Twitter.com could be prepping for an IPO.  Why else would companies dump $100 million into a company with zero revenue?

According to Bloomberg.com, the company is believed to be valued at $1 billion.  The only rationale for valuing the company this high is if they are ready to unleash a massive revenue plan or if they are going public.  Either strategy would require some type of plan to make some money for this social media company.  The traffic is there to form unbelievable potential to investors.

Currently, Nielsen states that there are over 25 million “Tweeple” throughout the world.  Businesses, celebrities and entrepreneurs really are beginning to take advantage of this unique site.  Ashton Kutcher is followed by 3.7 million.  He capitalizes on this to help raise awareness for his television productions and charitable causes.  Businesses keep customers up to speed on new products and events.  Entrepreneurs are sharing marketing and business tips with their followers.  Even pastors and motivational speakers are able to share quotes and inspiration.

Twitter really gained worldwide recognition because of the media and recent events in Iran.  When no reporters could get firsthand information during the election protests and ensuing violence this summer, they relied on Tweeple.  The value of its communication power became evident and had everyone asking, “What is this Twitter-thing?”  How could they possibly turn this traffic into money, though?

Almost every financial website covering Twitter agrees on two main ways revenue can be generated.  One is to create business applications, such as calenders and private messaging.  These business packages would open the lines of communication to employees worldwide.  The business possibilities are expansive.  The other main way for income is for them to go with the advertising route.

No matter what they do, they are poising for major profit generation.  Keep your eyes posted for the IPO and let me know.  I’m on Twitter at (www.twitter.com/joeylaw) and so is Wasabi Media Group (http://twitter.com/WasabiMedia).

What other ways can Twitter generate profits for its investors?

Four letters will sail you past all fear…P.R.E.P. This acrostic stands for Plan, Research, Examples, and Practice.  The Planning stage is the toughest for me.  This is where you need to determine who your audience is and the route you want to lead them down.  I like to create an outline from introduction to conclusion and all the points in between.

Next, it is time to Research each point and find information to support your outline.  This is getting down and dirty to find the meat of the lecture.  Dig deep, because simply stating what everyone already knows wastes everyone’s time.  However, doing a good outline will make research much easier and faster.

Planning and research are the two most vital components of any presentation.  Finding Examples is going to add vibrance.  Nobody wants to get slapped with statistics and mere facts.  Look for interesting stories or even jokes that lighten the mood while keeping everyone on topic.  We all have been to the death by PowerPoint meetings but still are tempted to do the same thing.  Look for other visual aids such as videos, equipment, handouts, etc. to keep their attention.  An example of this is if you are pitching a new business venture for a hotel, let everyone feel the extra soft towels you want to purchase instead of just putting the costs on the board.

Finally, Practice your speech or presentation.  The more experienced you get, the less time you will have to spend here.  Regardless, you need to ensure that all of your slides are working properly and follow your outline.  Do the links actually take you to the site?  Nothing is more embarrassing and stressful than having your visual aids sabotage your presentation.  Make sure everything works.

The morale to this posting is PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!

One of the biggest things that entrepreneurs struggle with is  raising money.  In the late 90′s (The Bubble Times), everyone was crazed about the process of raising money from a venture capitalist (VC).  As the bubble burst and the world returned to business as normal, the frenzy went away. What did not go away was the need for entrepreneurs to understand the nuances of raising money from a VC. Recently, the guys over at Wasabi Ventures put out an excellent primer for entrepreneurs and their dealings with venture capitalists.

It is worth checking out in full.