A couple of months back, I signed up for Twitter. Not really knowing what to expect- or anyone who used the service, for that matter- I dove right in and started following some of the web’s most prominent bloggers. From there, I’ve expanded my network and have actually met some really interesting people!

But what has impressed me the most was the use of Twitter by the employees of Zappos. CEO Tony Hsieh has encouraged his employees and friends to start using the service, and has actually set up a page on the Zappos website dedicated to the live tweets of Zappos employees. What’s even better, is that Hsieh has set up a how-to guide to recruit folks into the twitterverse!

Now, in the company I work for, an technology like this wouldn’t really take off, just for the sheer reason that 80% of our employees aren’t desk-dwellers. For an Internet-based company, however (or wherever the majority of folks are at a computer), this is a great idea- especially if the company has several locations based in different cities.

Not only does this promote communication within the company, I have a stong belief that this boosts employee morale, which in turn creates a feeling of ownership and pride in the product (or service), and raises productivity. Most importantly, a tool like Twitter gives customers a chance to personally interact with employees of the company they patronize, thus creating a positive subculture around that brand.

As if this wasn’t cool enough, Zappos has a great set of core values- which any company would be wise to employ:

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

They’ve also got a really interesting blog (which I’ve just spent the last hour reading). So to the folks at Zappos, and to their CEO Tony Hsieh, you’ve got a great company, and are doing great things for your employees and your customers- keep it up!