Twitter - Useful or Useless?
Submitted by Jeremy Palmer on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 09:35.
I originally signed up for Twitter back in May of 2007. I created a profile, posted an update, and let it sit for a few months. I didn't login, post updates, or follow anybody.
My initial impressions of Twitter was that it was just another social networking site to waste time on. I couldn't see any value in answering the question "What are you doing right now?". I viewed the public timeline and people were posting the most random things about their day. For example, "at home watching movies", or "Eating pasta with red sauce."
My opinions about Twitter started to change after attending the last Affiliate Summit. People were using it to coordinate schedules, real-time blogging, and to stay connected at the conference. It seemed like I was the only one at the show not tweeting. So I thought I would give it another shot.
I've been part of the Twitterverse now for just over a month, and my perception about it's utility and value has 180'd. I'm learning things about people, networking, getting information in real time, and making friends. I don't consider myself a hardcore tweet - I don't have messages sent to my phone or IM client, but I do check it a dozen times throughout the day on my laptop and mobile. I estimate that I spend about 20-30 minutes a day (in increments of 1-2 minutes) twittering.
Spending 20-30 minutes a day on Twitter may seem like a big time suck, but I typically twitter when I'm waiting in line, stuck in traffic, holding on the phone, checking e-mail, or just need a break. It's not just a fun diversion, it's also a great way to network and stay updated.
I highly recommend checking it out. If you're already a member you can follow me here - http://www.twitter.com/quityourdayjob. If you're not a member and you're wondering what all the fuss is about, watch this video - Twitter in Plain English.
See you in Twitterland.
Exactly my thoughts and
Exactly my thoughts and experience Jeremy. It has matured since we signed up way back when.
Good post, Jeremy and can't
Good post, Jeremy and can't agree more. Twitter's evolution (and the evolution of how people use it) has been fun to watch over the past year or so. I wonder what it will look like in a couple of years?
Excellent summary. It is a
Excellent summary. It is a way to feel connected, get quick info from your peers, vent to people that understand, get to know people you wouldn't normally have access to, and at events, find the 50 people there that are following you without having to make a dozen phone calls :) And I use m.twitter.com when away from home to check, and only web updates when at the computer, so no distractions by text messages or IM alerts. It's there when I want or need it and it isn't a distraction when I need to get things accomplished.
Hi Jeremy, yeah...i kind
Hi Jeremy,
yeah...i kind like exploring into social network like facebook and now twitter, i get to know a lot of new people and network with them. It's fun and great.
Since i am all the way at Singapore and most of you guys are in US.
I saw the uberaffiliate post about twitter and went to signup for one and see around, not a bad idea.
See you around!
Thomas
Great post! I couldn't agree
Great post! I couldn't agree more. And I use it exactly the way Deborah does. I'm in the music business and plan to start using it to report on the goings on at events and conferences.
i don't think the service
i don't think the service has matured-- i think the increased # of users just contribute to its functionality. like the fax machine thing... when you don't now anyone else that uses it, it's useless. when everyone has it, it's essential.
I don't use Twitter and as
I don't use Twitter and as such I can't understand its values. I can hardly keep up with my RSS feeds, why would I want to add this to my list of things to check? So far this has been my opinion, but considering the amount of press that it is getting and considering your experience well maybe it is time that I actually check it out. Who knows, maybe I will even find it beneficial.
I'm seeing some trends
I'm seeing some trends emerge from my own twittering.
It goes to depth and originality and most importantly insight of content.
If you're twittering while standing in a grocery line and you're putting some original stuff out, that could help you use some downtime to build branding and a following - which is probably one of the better uses of twittering.
if you're solely pointing at aff links or actively selling stuff all the time, even if you sit down and brainstorm something creative, it's going to fall flat out on it's face once the buzz peters out.
-
personally the twittering could be helpful or disruptive, depending on how you do it.
if you take a 5 min break after every 1-2 hours of work to give yourself a mental break, it could be good.
but if you're checking twitter every 5-10 mins like a crack addict, it could be kinda bad....
Awesome Twitter Guide
I found a great guide to Twitter - http://www.lostartofblogging.com/twitter-guide
To tweet or not to tweet
Hi Jeremy, thanks for sharing...I've found twittering can be useful as part of a micro-blogging strategy, when used diligently can quickly connect you to target market...the best part is your messages by pass email, etc, so you're in front of your market. Tip: Don't buddy up too much or you'll lose your edge to sell effectively, lol...
Twitter, and my total lack of experience
Jeremy, I currently earn a living buying, refurbishing, and reselling riding lawn mowers. I also repair equipment for others. I write ads, and answer the phone, or the email 7 days a week. But, I consider myself to be introverted. I will do my best to keep up with the socialization, because I know that it is necessary, in order to be successful. But, if I start off slow, it is for the stated self perception.
On Twitter!
Hay Jeremy, just signed up for twitter and messing with it. I guess I'll start throwing messages to it and see how it works. I'm thniking about putting my comments on my web site that I use for my computer business.
Can't wait to get theblackinkproject going.
In touch!
bryan
The following and followers....
I think once you establish a decent list of followers and you are following a bunch of interesting people is when twitter really becomes a very interesting place.
Dan
Jeremy, I was absolutely
Jeremy, I was absolutely twitterpated before reading
the "www.lostartofblogging.com/twitter-guide" Thank
you so much for that link.
A long time ago (in computer years), I joined a number
of different social networking sites. My fingers had hardly left
the "submit" key before my mailbox became flooded with junque offers. Each
one I joined was the same. So, when I heard about twitter, I assumed that it
would be the same kind of thing and I ignored it for several months.
I was finally persuaded to sign up. Didn't see the value of it so didn't do anything
with it right away. After reading the posts on quityourdayjob.com blog and the
lost art blog, I'm a little less twitterpated. http://twitter.com/kstavert Thanks Karen
****************************************
"The essence of being truly alive comes with falling in love
with the pursuit of your dreams, always stretching, always
in momentum, always expecting the best" Richard Brooke
Twitter is Great!
I had bookmarked twitter some time ago and never used it ....never really "got it". Then I started to follow Black Ink and now I get it and love it!
Twitter is something you have to just sign up for and use and then the light bulb goes off. Don't think about or over analyze, just sign up and use it, it will all be clear after some use.
Also I am not one for social sites, I have enough to do with my AM campaigns, BUT what I love about Twitter is that it is VERY SIMPLE and EASY to use and completely unconvoluted!! That makes it fun!
genuwine in Crestline, CA
Hi Everyone! ...
Hi,
I have a question ...
I just joined The Black Ink program and I
don't know what to do or where to go next!
PLz help!
jimfurr ><>
Welcome Jim!
Hi Jim,
Welcome! Click the *Learning* tab at the top of this page on the right. It will take you to a page of links to download and start reading. *High performance Affiliate Marketing* is Jeremy Palmer's eBook that is required reading for the Black Ink Project. There are other links to material you will want to read.
Then just click around this website ... familiarize yourself with the Home, Community and Blog tags. Get comfortable navigating this site. Meet the people who introduced themselves; get a feel for things.
Join http://twitter.com. It's free. Joining is easy. Click and *follow* http://twitter.com/quityourdayjob and http://twitter.com/blackinkproject. Click these links and then click the photo with *Follow* under it. When you get a chance, you'll want to follow as many class members as you can.
Classes start on Monday, May 5 at 3pm PST. See you then!
Regards,
Judith
Judith ... Jim ...
Hi Judith!
Thank You for the great instructions!
I was a bit lost but you shined
a light for me to follow :)
See ya later,
jimfurr ><>