About Social Media Today
My Confession…
Hi, my name is Jeff, and I'm a Twitterholic!
So exactly what is
Twitter?
Twitter is a free online social networking service used to
send/receive short messages within a specified group. Very much like sending an
email to a distribution list, a Twitter post conveys a message to a
predetermined list. However, the message must be a short, concise thought; 140
characters or less, to be precise.
Twitter's homepage self defines Twitter as: “… a service for friends,
family, and co—workers to communicate and stay connected through the
exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are
you doing?” Twitter offers the option
of viewing content on your Twitter homepage or receiving notifications on your
mobile device.
Why I tried Twitter…
Although friends had told me about Twitter, I ended up
venturing to the site only after reading a blog about it. My argument against Twitter was blogging was
sufficient…why would anyone need to microblog? However, my curiosity had been
piqued, and I had to know why people were raving about it.
I found that Twitter is extremely contagious. Before long I
was checking out Obama's Twitter account, reading Social Media Club's postings,
and following CNN's account with notifications to my phone so I could stay up
on the latest breaking news. It had me
hooked! I wanted to know what people
were doing. I was craving the communication.
But Twitter for
Business? How Twitter can Move Your Business…
How could my business benefit by sharing (sending/receiving)
concise information with a group of people?
Currently, most Twitterers seem to use it for personal socializing, for
communicating their life with their friends.
However, Twitter does provide new tools that can help move your
business. Here are five examples:
- Transmit Instantaneous Messages and Log Information: The other day I spoke with someone that is part of a team that goes into businesses to work on networks. While working they send out Twitters to each other announcing what they are doing. Everyone who is a part of the team can see the same information and respond if needed. In addition, the messages are logged on the Twitter site. All communication is retrievable for future references.
- Drive Traffic to a Blog and/or Website: When this article goes live, I'll let my friends and associates know -- and hear their feedback -- by Twitter. I also drive traffic to other articles, sites, and information that might be useful to people in my Twitter network, knowing they will do the same for me.
- Discover New and Developing Ideas: By using Twitter to follow thought
leaders in your industry you can stay in touch with new and emerging
ideas. Short ideas and thoughts will be broadcast in an attempt to solicit
feedback. Many bloggers will list
their Twitter accounts on their blogs -- by following the person in
Twitter you can gather new information even before it hits the blog. Look at this Twitter from rickklau
announcing a new wiki and asking for help developing it: Need help with a high-visibility
political site - not candidate-centric - in the next couple days. E-mail
me rick@rklau.com if interested.
- Fuel New Ideas: Often as I read the Twitters of thought
leaders I will begin to develop new ideas.
In other words, the Twitters can be springboards for your own
creative thinking. Here's a Tweet
from gapingvoid in reflection of the Microsoft/Yahoo takeover: Still not convinced that a MSFT+Yahoo
merger is enough to get in Google's way, long-term.
- Discover Breaking News: Since I communicate for a living I find
it helpful to learn of breaking news.
These news events often provide a catalyst for initiating
conversation with people that I'm meeting.
Here's a sample from newsmediajim while at the White House: budget
chairman Spratt has just received the President's budget. at cursory
glance, he didnt seem impressed
The Formula: No matter how you use Twitter in your business the basic formula remains the same:
1. Build/join a network
2. Read/send relevant messages
Not a definitive solution set, this list provides a catalyst for discovering ways that Twitter can move business. Businesses need effective communication, and Twitter can offer ways to communicate small messages to an emerging distribution list.
So, What are you doing?
