Twitter has emerged as a powerful and inexpensive advertising alternative for many companies.

Some businesses have found to their chagrin, however, that others have already taken their name for a Twitter or other social networking account. 
There are a plethora of sites on the web, such as flickr and YouTube, that allow users to obtain accounts and publish various things. 

Companies that use these tools include Ford, for example, which has more than 19,000 Twitter followers. This free method of advertising can prove extremely effective. When users opt in to receive these messages, advertisers have a captive audience. 

Coca-Cola has experienced similar success. It has accumulated almost 12,000 Twitter followers who receive messages on a wide variety of Coke-related topics ranging from efforts to increase recycling to a link to a Coca-Cola themed wedding. This advertising increases brand awareness and loyalty. 

A recent article in Advertising Age magazine pointed out that some companies have not been as proactive in securing their Twitter domain name. 

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