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Twitter Handbook (Chapter 2) What’s the use of Twitter?
May 8th, 2008 · Filed Under: Chapter 2 · Twitter Handbook BOOK
Why Use Twitter?
(In Twitspeak, that would be: ‘Y ewes Twitter’ (as suggested by @DavidCarter)
This is the discussion we’ll be having this Friday night!
Join us for the 1st ever Friday night TwitCast with @WarrenWhitlock & @CoachDeb as they battle it out with the Twitterverse to discuss, “What’s the use of Twitter?”
Ok, Ok, Ok, so now you’re asking, “What the heck is a TwitCast?” (Am I right? grinning)
A TwitCast is where 2 or more people get together to discuss a topic on Twitter and broadcast this conversation to the world using Twitter.com inviting their followers to contribute to the discussion.
What is the future use of this TwitCast?
I’m glad you asked!
Warren Whitlock will be writing the Twitter Handbook with Deborah Micek (AKA: @CoachDeb) using this brand new TwitCast method this Friday nite, 7pm ET.
Compare your time zone in your part of the Twitterverse:
We’ll literally be writing the book in 140 character tweets back and forth, conversational style. Then we’ll be asking our followers the question so their contributions can be considered for inclusion in the published book, the Twitter Handbook.
How do you join this TwitCast?
Where do you sign up to participate in this discussion?
That’s the beauty of the TwitCast!
You don’t have to sign up for anything!
You simply just need to be following @WarrenWhitlock and @CoachDeb on Twitter.com in order to hear the conversation and participate in the discussion.
Just tune in at 7pm ET and “eavesdrop” on the text based chat on the following Twitter channels:
Twitter.com/WarrenWhitlock
and
Twitter.com/CoachDeb
TIPS 4 joining in on the discussion for this book:
If you want to get the attention of either Warren or Deborah, you simply write a Tweet (post on Twitter) putting the @ symbol before their Twitter ID’s and you’ll appear in their “replies” tab.
Sample msg:
@WarrenWhitlock you’re uber cool
or
@CoachDeb you’re way cooler than Warren
(guess you know who’s writing this post now don’t ‘cha?
We’ll be using the hashtag #book in order for all conversations in the Twitterverse to be able to be tracked afterwards for possible inclusion in the published book, the “Twitter Handbook“.
Who can participate?
YOU! Everyone! Twitter Newbies & Twitter experts all invited to contribute to this conversation on, “What’s the use of Twitter?”
You may want to share how you use Twitter for business.
Or…
You may want to share how you use Twitter for your personal life.
In short - here’s how you can participate in the 1st TwitCast of the Twitter Handbook.
Join us LIVE for the discussion on Twitter.com and give us your 140 answer of how YOU use Twitter - for business, fun or profit.
Whether you are able to participate live or want to put your $1.40 worth before (or after) this TwitCast conversation, in order for your comment to be a part of the Twitter Handbook, be sure to comment below with your answer to:
“What’s the use of Twitter?”
See ya on the TwitCast & be a part of the book!
@CoachDeb
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Deborah Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. She and her partner John Paul are authors of the 1st book published on New Media Marketing: Secrets Of Online Persuasion. They are creators of the ONLY Web site system to put New Media to work marketing FOR you — BLOG i360™. For media contacts or speaking requests & partnering inquires, contact Deborah at [CoachDeborah@gmail.com]. Or, share your thoughts & comments below. |
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May 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
What’s The Use Of Twitter
Twitter, for me, is a great way to participate in a larger community whilst working on my own at home. It is similar to being in a large office and hearing snippets of conversations happening around you, some of which you may participate in, others you may not.
I learn heaps from Twitter, not just marketing or business and my awareness of a larger community has improved immensely.
Twitter keeps me connected.
Charly Leetham
May 9th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Apologies to @DavidCarter but, as character count is crucial in Twitter, “Why use Twitter?” wouldn’t be ‘Y ewes Twitter’ in Twitspeak.. It would be “Y uz Twttr?” ~_^
As for answering the question tho’, since I’ll sadly be sleeping @ 7pm ET/4pm PT due to being up all night, it’s definitely a source of community as well as news & blog post input but it’s also replaced my feed aggregator. Although Google Reader still stores things to be read at a later date, Twitter provides links throughout the day that interest me immediately, saving me the time & trouble of seeking them out. In this regard, following the authors of my favorite blogs has proven invaluable. Beyond that & the promotion of my own blog, real friendships are being formed which is a God-send as I’m often housebound. Twitter is the quick e-mail, hoped for chat & top stories list rolled into one with a lot of humor thrown in for fun. ^_^
(|_|*cheers*|_|) @coffeesister
“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee [my other vice], and just as hard to sleep after [much less during].” ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
May 9th, 2008 at 2:11 am
I could plagiarize Charly word for word along with a good amount of Dorian’s post(but I guess that’d be cheating).
My thoughts in my own words:
*It’s great to be surrounded by all the resources that people post (I’ve learned… I’ve shared…).
*Great place for research–It’s often better than Googling your topic of interest (real-time answers with real-time experiences)
*It’s a great source of support (a la James Taylor: “You’ve got a friend”–old and new!)
*FANTASTIC way to network (and happy hour!
*Great way for people to get to know your personality & what you’re up to in biz and in life
Carol
May 9th, 2008 at 4:56 am
@Dorian No need to apologise, I agree
We were actually discussing twitterbonics at the time - and the fact that I needed an interpreter to understand some of the tweets.
It was taken out of context. Or I misspoke. Or I misremembered LOL
I use Twitter to network and to learn from people who have skills and knowledge that I am weak or lacking in myself, while at the same time freely giving them the benefit of skills and knowledge that I have but they don’t.
Twitter is also great for sharing links as Carol said.
One thing I would like to do is to find a way to use Twitter to reach ‘ordinary’ people - although I market on the Internet, I am not in the IM niche.
Hopefully over time Twitter will go more ‘mainstream’.
David
May 9th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Twitter is 4 twacking tweets fwom twits who wike 2 tweet twuckloads of twash. Some tweeters advertwise. Some tweeters twittle awound. If you twink I’m twull of a twot of twhit, then twy not tweeting back an intwelligent tweet during the twitcast on Twitter twoonight! Wait a minute! I twink I twaw a tweeter bird. And that’s the twuth! Now, how many twords can you twist into tweets when tweeting about Twitter? I twink you could tweet better than you twink you can tweet!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Twitter allows me to keep in touch with people on a more personal level than just knowing them from just their blogs. It allows me to keep up with what my friends are doing. It also allows me to learn about what’s happening with all the useful links people post through their tweets.
For businesses it would be great to provide information to customers who are following on a push basis rather than them having to visit the website to pull information. If they choose to receive the updates via SMS then they get the info very quickly. It would also help develop closer business relationships with customers as a result rather than the impersonal websites.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Re: Is twitter really useful for business…
I say heck YES. Most will agree that the basis of any business is to SELL something. Successful entrepreneurs find that the most important thing that they sell is themselves. Twitter has enabled me to make contacts all around the US and other parts of the world. You begin to form trust, by forming grounds of commonality. Plus I’ve learned so much from the various tweets from all the people I’ve followed. It allows me to leverage my time with the help from other tweeters who find interesting links to articles and useful resources around the web. Mahalo nui @CoachDeb and @WarrenWhitlock for spearheading this thing!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Twitter. I love Twitter.
I can’t imagine another medium that has taught me so much.
I’ve followed links to mines of information, new techniques, blog posts, tools, services and startups, many of which I may never have otherwise been aware of.
I’ve been given beta invites, entered competitions, met interesting people, made new friends and followed seminars - as they happen.
All through Tweets.
Twitter Rocks!
@Riquochet.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Here’s a twitter tip. Feed your tweets into your tumblr mico-blog RSS feed and watch the domino effect occur.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I love Twitter -It is Quick - easy to communicate- Get ton’s of Ideas!!!- Not like Myspace- too much info to deal with
May 9th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Twitter is a fun way to develop relationships for business and become known and familiar to others without pushing your won barrow all the time. Twerfect!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Twitter allows for instant networks, instant focus groups, and instant information. Plus it’s a hub for all my social media.
http://Twitter.com/Dough
May 9th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
use for rapid connection/response w/colleagues, clients; get Qs answered fast, build relationships; push out blog content and other promos for biz; breaks down the wall between people who may not know each other. Expand our network rapidly.
@BlogSquad
May 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Twitter lets you stay in touch with friends and colleagues throughout the day. In between their blog posts, emails, phone calls etc.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I consider it Conversation 2.0 It adds depth to conversation online by allowing you a more intimate view of those you typically interact with…whether via reading their blogs, their editorial or as a consumer of a brand.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Twitter is a way for me to connect and follow all my friends, plus the network of people I have met live or on social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook or Ladies Who Launch. By following their 140 character messages I get to know them, what they like, read and what they do all day long. It is also changing the way I get important business information by directing me to articles, blogs and business opportunities that are of interest to the people I follow and to me. It is also a place where I get to share myself, my comings and goings and what I am up to in my business.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
“What’s the use of Twitter?”
Twitter is a phenomenal medium for communicating ANY idea or information in mass. People can really keep in contact with their “groups” more effectively than many of the other methods available on the web. It’s “real time” applications go far beyond what many have even have scratched the surface of so far.
This “TweE-Book” is an excellent example of the potential that can be implemented on Twitter with just a little imagination. The idea of publishing a work in real time and having the readers be able to input their own additional pieces of “gold” is a visionary concept in itself. Where else but on Twitter could something of this magnitude even be accomplished?
Kudos to Warren and Deb for their unique insights and creative approach to this fantastic Social Networking medium.
Rev.Ted
www.ProMentors.net
May 9th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The use cases for twittered are varied. hence i think they should change the tageline from “what are you doing” to
“it is whatever you want it to be”.
Bottom line is that people can use twitter as they see fit. That is what makes it great.
Just my thoughts. You can see an archive of my twitter related blog posts here: http://facereviews.com/category/twitter
cheers!
Rodney Rumford
May 9th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
It’s a great way to follow what’s going on in the lives of not only your friends, family, and colleagues, but also those folks on the Internet who you “follow.” For example, a piece of tech news will come out and I’ll say to myself “Hey, I wonder what Leo or Scoble think of this!” Before Twitter, you’d find out through their blogs or a podcast. With Twitter, the conversation is instant.
It’s also a great way to share information quickly. You can be stuck in traffic and send out a Tweet letting everyone know what’s up - and they can laugh at you as they take a different route.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Twitter allows me to easily know what’s going on in world in the lives of people I follow. It’s great because I now have the option to keep track of news (both global and local) easily in real-time.
Let’s say my competitor suddenly offers a discount in certain stores in a particular region. My field salespeople can rapidly get the word out to several people following them on Twitter, and decisions can be made (and communicated) quickly.
On the Personal side, Twitter saves me from having to group-SMS text my friends and relatives the old way. Plus, it provides an archive on the web which my friends like to refer to every now and then, because they delete old messages from their cell phone Inbox.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Hi Deb and Warren,
Twitter has become a very important social network for me since beginning about a month ago. What I’ve come to appreciate about Twitter is the interaction that turns strangers into friends. You feel like you’re involved with those you follow, even if they don’t follow you back. It’s a far richer experience than commenting on blogs, for instance. You share in what people are doing at any given time. You know what they’re learning, what they’re reading… It’s a much more personal experience.
I believe that I’ve learned more about web 2.0 since being on twitter than I have in the two years I’ve been involved in other ways. You experience the brilliance of the many, the nuances of their personalities, it’s completely unmatched, imo.
After joining Twitter, I realized that here is where connections can be made. I can know (or find) the right person to contact when I need expertise in almost any area. This definitely helps in my business since I am often asked for referrals for a specialty outside my range of services. My clients (and I) will benefit from the knowledge, resources and connections that I am making on Twitter.
There’s lots more that I could say, but I’ll end it here. Twitter rocks!
Deb (mywebgal)
May 9th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
As per my Tweets:
#book I use Twitter 2 get 2 know people faster. People reveal more of themselves 2 strangers here than on any other media I know.
#book And getting 2 know people is the first step 2 doing great ventures, finding mentors, customers & of course just cool friends
@juicygina
May 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
You can find out what people are like in their soul by following their tweets. Most people on twitter reveal themselves as they have nothing to hide. I like that.
That way if you ask someone a question on twitter you know if you will get a real answer or a bunch of hashed out bullsh*t.
I think from my observations that twitter keeps people real.
Oh and I do find @CoachDeb that more women than men find twitter as a good conversational avenue.
@justhangin
May 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
So sorry I’m missing most of this live… stupid illness.
That said, @kimdushinki summed it up best for me when it comes to Twitter’s business application:
“it’s about building the relationships, not just driving traffic”
Twitter for me is about building relationships - and interacting with others - on a level that wasn’t previously possible for me.
It’s the best cocktail party ever.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
#book Love “snitter”
May 9th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Aloha Twittohana! I sync my twitters with facebook and have fun sometimes creating an attention-getting headline. A recent topic was the fate of the Euro and now I have a banker friend from Italy. Amazing. Twitter is truly humanity’s coolest icebreaker. Attention/Interest/Stream-o-Consciousness.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Why use Twitter?
It’s a community: you step in and out all the day. Work gets done. Friendships happen. It’s an office.
Twitter is far from “just chat”
Unlike phys office it’s global. Last night (about midnight my time) as I was shutting I was saying good morning to DDeeps in Mumbai. CoachDeb was in pm traffic in Hawaii, behind some guy going really slow.
Unlike MySpace and Facebook, both useful but also cluttered, busy, and complex) Twitter is clean and casual.
Twitter is…A box, a button, 140 characters, and the world.
So the use for Twitter is the same as for the community you live in, except (digital divide and connectivity issues aside) it is boundless.
That is not to say Twitter is the same as the community around you, but that the use of Twitter can be and often is the same, amped way up by the power of global diversity.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Someone saw me Twittering and said “What are you, 14?” to which I replied, “You don’t really ‘get’ Twitter till you use it!”
May 9th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
@CoachDeb
I follow anyone who follows me as a rule, good karma.
I follow some of the people that I follow, follow (does that make sense) if the interactions are interesting.
I have yet to unfollow anyone, but would if the information they Tweet about is unsavoury or just too “self markety”.
@charlyjl
May 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Twitter is communication 2.0! Learn, listen, Engage.Building relationships on the go. The rest is all details.
Microblogging that you can put on you blog, can’t beat that, check it out on the left hand side:
http://askamakeupguru.com/blog/
May 9th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I love Twitter because it allows me to get more of a “bird’s eye view” of people I know and people I would like to get to know better. It’s personal…it’s business…but most of all, it’s fun!
My Twitter tip for newbies: Lurk before you tweet! Get an idea of how things work….
May 10th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Hi @coachdeb and @WarrenWhitlock
Twitter is a great tool in that it cuts through the clutter of applications like Facebook, Myspace and other social media platforms.
Twitter offers you what good business principles teach.
It saves you time.
Can save you money.
Can make you money.
Connects you directly with your customer/clients/marketplace.
It’s being used by companies to interact with their customers to deliver timely service and support.
Right here it’s being used to write a book.
Twitter helps to build relationships both business and personal.
It’s fast becoming the communications tool of choice by early adopters and once Twitter hits critical mass it’s use will be as common as the telephone.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Twitter is information in a quick, concise way that is to the point. It is a great way to meet people, network, and develop your online presence.
Josh Anstey
@JoshAnstey
May 11th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
What’s The Use Of Twitter
Twitter is a Micro-Blogging Tool that’s coming
from a land of milk and honey.Parables are used
by some in the 140 Characters of space to build
better relationships and fellowship on-line.
This is a great teaching tool for Social Networking
and the Content can be amazing to say the least about
the Benefits that are bound to become more effective
than email as we know it today. You know You belong
among many that love and respect one another. That’s
a good understanding, God Is Love, God Is Good, and
God Is One. Be Blessed always…Peace!
Kind Regards Everyone,
Jim Legington
@VisionSphere
May 18th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
As a busy sahm running several online sites, twitter has become a new way for me to feel connected to other moms, keep my followers up to date on my sites and support show guests. I would like to find more time to turn it into a more social tool and to get to know my followers and followees better. (It looks like @coachdeb might be a great person to learn from, because she is always on twitter *smile*)I have only been using it a few months so I still consider myself a “newbie”. I have found twitter useful in learning more about many of the site owners I admire and already subscribe to and look forward to getting to know all of them through their tweets. I also look forward to getting to know those who follow me
on a more personal basis.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
1. Connect with people at all different levels of the entrepreneur world—including the gurus you’d usually have to pay to see speak.
2. Build a rapport with people I’ve met elsewhere, learn more about who they are and what they’re doing, and offer helpful suggestions.
3. Snag a last-minute opening to be interviewed on an internet radio show when the scheduled guest has to cancel.
4. Discover what people are really talking about—get great tips and links to check out. (Although you do have to be careful here about not losing track of time…)
5. Drive traffic to my blog by tweeting links to my blog posts. (It has been feeding ezine signups as well.)
6. Set it up to automatically feed into my Facebook account, saving me from going there every day.
7. Find answers to questions I’m not finding elsewhere.
8. “Socialize at the water cooler,” so to speak, so I don’t feel quite so isolated typing away in my home office.
9. Network locally, as was the case for the TriangleTweetup. People also sometimes tweet where they’re going to be, inviting anyone nearby to join them.
10. Get an account and get going in about two minutes, unlike other social applications like Facebook.
@tlneedham
June 12th, 2008 at 12:41 am
[…] month during the 1st TwitCast, we talked about “What’s the use of Twitter?” Including the following […]
June 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Hi Deb.
Here’s a few of my experiences thus far using Twitter…
I manage our company website and all things related to our SEO/SEM/SN activities. Car dealers are typically late adopters w/regards to technology and online opportunitues. Many dealers are just now beginning to ‘contemplate’ launching their own blog…
A couple of months ago (late to the party in my mind) I finally had some ideas in place as to how I would use Twitter…
I started off taking the simple road and began sharing what I considered valuable automotive related content. Car facts, tips, tricks & secrets…stuff like that.
I mixed in random, personal Tweets to let my personality out as well…sure enough, I started getting a few more followers each day.
I also began asking more questions (What type of info are you looking for when shopping for used cars online?) And again, I started getting more responses back. Some really good responses - great feedback from my new followers.
All I needed was my Twhirl application open and I was able to go about my daily activities; a casual glance at the Twhirl window now and then to either sparked a new idea or feed me more valuable web strategy info (from likes of Chris Brogan, Leo Laporte, etc…)
I found that as I asked for more feedback about car shoppers behavior or even feedback on our website - even on new design mock-ups - the information continued to flow in.
I’ve been testing new ways of using Twitter for our business. Every morning, as I’m scanning the new vehicles uploaded to the website, there’s always one nice car or truck that catches my eye. So, I began posting the Kool Whip of the Day. (Testing the feedback when I link to either the vehicle detail page or our video preview.)
Also posting the Kool Whip of the Week on our blog as well. Just another great way for us to build the brand, grab some keywords and have some fun with it at the same time. The result has been excellent.
Twitter has been a valuable tool by helping get quick, real-time feedback; get the Auction Direct USA brand out to another powerful online channel and even let me stay in touch with some of the activities of CARMAX (luckily, their online media person doesn’t follow me)…
Anyone have any other feedback?
Thanks Deb - keep up the great work…
Eric
June 21st, 2008 at 6:48 pm
[…] Eric Miltsch created an interesting post today on Comment on Twitter Handbook (Chapter 2) Whatâ??s the use of Twitter …Here’s a short outlineI also began asking more questions (What type of info are you looking for when shopping for used cars online?) And again, I started getting more responses back. Some really good responses - great feedback from my new followers. … […]