Want holiday deals? Keep an eye on Twitter

Catalogs, email newsletters, coupon code websites, Sunday circulars... there's no shortage of methods that die-hard bargain hunters can use to keep tabs on where the bargains can be found when the holidays approach.

Now you can add one more to that list: Twitter.

DMNews is reporting that now that the social news site has hit a critical mass, Twitter is likely to become a major outlet for retail marketing efforts this year. Just don't expect the world: Most retailers are just now familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs of tweeting, so marketing efforts are likely to be limited to regional tests, unpromoted special offers, and other tentative steps into the Twitterverse.

To be sure, some retailers have already embraced Twitter in a big way. Dell, for example, has a flotilla of Twitter accounts promoting all manner of deals and discounts, some with a regional focus. And, as the linked story notes, Best Buy has been busily experimenting with an ambitious Twitter project to aid customer service and help guide shoppers' buying decisions.

There's no telling what kind of promotions you'll find online this season -- or, in fact, whether your favorite retailers have Twitter accounts at all. (Here's a tip: Try a general web search for "retailername twitter" to turn up Twitter handles -- it's actually more reliable than searching the Twitter site directly.)

And don't forget the golden rule of Twitter: Just because someone tweets it, it doesn't mean it's true. In the case of retail special offers, this means you might be able to find even better deals online even though an "exclusive offer" is being promoted on Twitter. Don't let your guard down, power shopper -- the bargains await you!