Why you NEED Twitter.

08Feb09

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Filed under: Creating connections, Creative thinking, Opportunity generation, Spotting opportunities   |  12 Comments

12 Responses to “Why you NEED Twitter.”  

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  1. 1 Jason Finch on February 8, 2009 said:

    Twitter is ‘business as usual’ – the way people were 50 years ago, communities of like-minded people talking to people, knowing each other, doing business… the baker knowing the butcher, drinking with the guy who runs the art shop, chatting in the park to the woman who owns the real estate company.

    Everything you say in this piece is accurate and spot on – but really it’s what’s been going on all over the internet for, well, decades. I was on IRC in the early 90s, spent hours each day on Monochrome, the sophisticated – for its day – talker, forum, profile-based chat system… they are the ancestors of Twitter, Facebook and everything else that’s purporting to be “new” – it’s not a new concept, it’s what humans have been doing for centuries, just the technology gives us a new medium in which to conduct our relationships and discussions.. I’ve been running online people-centric businesses for over a decade online, profitable ones blending the online and real offline worlds, just now there’s a buzzword for them – social media!

    There will always be luddites – I’m sure some people thought the telephone would never catch on!

  2. 2 simonelli on February 9, 2009 said:

    What a wonderful, detailed summary of the benefits of Twitter. You ought to film yourself talking this to camera and put it on Youtube.

  3. 3 penelopeelse on February 9, 2009 said:

    Thank you Simon, but I don’t think the world is ready for the sight of me stuttering and drooling as I attempt to be clever…

  4. 4 penelopeelse on February 9, 2009 said:

    Oh, I agree absolutely, Jason! It’s like being on Uni Campus for me, lots of casual chats, deep conversations, cheery hallos.

    I wonder if Luddites are only so because they’re floored by the features and don’t understand the benefits. At least, I know that’s me when faced with a lot of technology!

  5. 5 Simon Stapleton on February 10, 2009 said:

    Hi Penelope = following your tweets, nobody could accuse you of not having a laugh!

  6. 6 penelopeelse on February 10, 2009 said:

    Hah, so true! I have an extremely childish sense of humour! Easily pleased…

  7. 7 Tim Matcham on February 10, 2009 said:

    Hi Penelope – well said, I’m finding more benefits to being on Twitter every day and as you say it operates in a way that no other network can (or at least hasn’t yet).
    I have been introduced to strangers and referred by friends and even asked to be an ambassador for garden design in the few weeks since I signed up. It has significantly increased traffic to my website & my blog and helped boost my Google rankings, not bad for a string of one liners!

  8. 8 penelopeelse on February 10, 2009 said:

    Hi Tim

    Yes, I’ve had business just falling into my lap in the last few months, just as you say! It suits me particularly because my laptop and internet are as attached to me as a paintbrush is to an artist.

    I’m really glad you’re finding the same benefits as I do. I’ve tried out SO many online networking methods and this leaves them all standing.

    bests

    Pen

  9. 9 John Clay on February 10, 2009 said:

    I love the analogy of a party. I signed up to Twitter in October last year and I have to be honest I didn’t get it! I was at the party and saw all these people communicating and connecting and I just didn’t get it! Maybe it was the brand of wine I brought? Maybe it was the way I stood in a corner of the room and didn’t join in.
    Anyway I ignored it, but about seven days ago something or someone, I can’t even remember what or whom, prompted me to look again. I logged in and observed, did some research (that’s what I do) and within about an hour I started to “get” it . The fog lifted and the light came on. Suddenly I was at the party and enjoying it. I was communicating and building my contacts through Twitter and through Linkedin.

    Even though some might argue that Twitter has reached its tipping point, its critical mass from which its momentum becomes unstoppable, I sense that my peers in the world of freelance market research are still at the window looking in and wondering what all the fuss is about.

    Twitter is now very much at the hub of my social media system and therefore marketing strategy. The system is in need of fine tuning and some discipline on my part, but I am very glad I went to the party.
    http://twitter.com/John_Research4

  10. 10 penelopeelse on February 11, 2009 said:

    Hi John

    Ahhh, excellent, thank you for illustrating my point! I hope you’re gaining some momentum on it now – see you online!

    Pen

  11. 11 Douglas on March 3, 2009 said:

    Penelope, I am just joining the cyber world after scoffing at it somewhere in the 1990’s. So, well, here I am. I have been learning how to build a site, leave good content, use an aggregator — that’s how I found your site. And now, you’ve convinced me to use Twitter. Good golly miss molly, how things do change. Thank you for your well penned article. I will be back… and eventually… I may just find you in twitter space. Cheers.

  12. 12 penelopeelse on March 4, 2009 said:

    Hi Douglas

    Wahay! That’s very good – and you know where to find me. I’m happy to offer guidance on how to get the best out of Twitter, but by your style I suspect you’ll do it instinctively!

    Pen


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