"Why are you even USING twitter?" 29.9.08

I ask because because the twits on twitter I wrote about a few post ago had a few comments and obviously I wasn't the only one thinking this way, is that a good or bad thing?

Then a commenter said on the last post below and I quote,

"Oh, by the way - my Twitter grade is a lousy 37, and I'm proud of that. If you're above a 90, you're spending too much time online, becoming a hamster on a wheel.

PROVE to me it improved your bottom line measurably, I might rethink that - but I need proof. Not a grade from a bot."

The bot was twitter grader which tweeters know about. ;o)
I replied and quote below,

"As for your twitter grade.

Look at it this way, your comment made me think..
"Is ALL you think of the bottom line being in monetary terms?"

Well look at this blog here, revamped with help of twitters, is that not helping my bottom line in one way or another?

Without twitter I wouldn't have got it right.

With twitter it's about the QUALITY of those you follow and interact with, rather than what time you spend there.
Relationship building IS what builds your bottom line. ;o)

Use twitter as a way of connecting to the right people for your business and see what it does to your business? ;o)

I think you miss out by NOT using it. :O)

Regardless, it's whatever you feel best for you and your business and I won't say it WILL help as I have no idea if it will.
I think it depends alot on your relationship with those on there more than anything.

That grader bot is a good example of social proof in action. ;o) regardless of whether we see it as worthless or not.

It's tapping into it the right way ;o) "

My short blunt answer to this is...

Twitter is NOT THERE to make YOU money.
It's a TOOL for CONNECTING, nothing more nothing less.

The web is NOT THERE to make YOU money, its a TOOL too.

You can USE them to generate something of value to swap with money, but how you do that is the key ;o)

So the real question is WHY are you using twitter?

As I said above I got this blog revamped with help of a few tweeters on twitter (thanks guys) and have made some good "friends" on there, i say friends as in online friends, nevertheless nice and helpful , fun, interesting people.

I get to find links to blogs and sites of interest from twitter, get news on twitter at times faster than I could otherwise.

I find that twitter is something pretty amazing in that where else can you get an INSTANT response to a problem just by "tweeting" about it?

I have now over 560 followers and I follow over 650 people, therefor there is ALWAYS someone on there to respond and there is always someone there I can respond to, help, advise, whatever.

Where else can you do that?
Where else can you have a "live personal feed" like that?

What I mean by that is it's a LIVE feed, you get the tweet as soon as the other person wrote it, and vice versa, if using devices like a phone they can ANYWHERE!

Imagine you have 5000 followers, think you could get a response to a problem anytime?
Think there is someone who has that knowledge you are seeking on whatever it is? :O)

I do, I bet on it too.

So I use twitter as it should be used.

So what are YOU using twitter for?


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posted by Rob Sellen @ 1:24 AM, , links to this post



"Twits on twitter" 15.9.08

There are a few.... ;o)

They obviously don't know it themselves, else they wouldn't carry on being twits!
Maybe they will soon ;o)

Twitter, a great idea which I don't think is going to die out anytime soon with devices capabilities so you can use your phone with it etc will most likely help it grow massively as more people hear about it, try it and like it.

Why use twitter?

For the same reason we live...to build relationships, be connected, to share, to talk, to help, to teach, to laugh, to support and to be there for.

If you doubt that, you don't grasp it as you should.

People who use twitter often get "news" online fast, like the current IKE issue, people posting updates on twitter were doing so in REAL time.

There is a lady who is in LABOUR, giving birth, keeping everyone updated on twitter...in REAL time. Best of luck there to you too. ;o)

It's like a mini RRS feed of someones going on's as it happens. :o)

Where else do you see that? See the potential with that?

Yet so many who should know better get it wrong.

Here is the dilemma with the twits, they see it as ONLY a marketing tool, inevitably be to be abused like other things that go the same way.

Marketing IS a part of life, we all do it, but not all the correct way, or in the most beneficial way.

Unintentional marketing is usually the best marketing.

Hard to do when all you intend is to market and IMO end up spamming the place with links in almost every "tweat" (each 140 character response made) you make.
If that is YOU, you don't "get it at all" IMO...you are a twit!

Don't get me wrong there are some marketers who do use it well.

Tweaters on the other hand, "get it" ;o)

It's a connection tool first, they follow who they like, while others who like them follow them. :o)

One good advantage with twitter is you can add the RSS feed to a blog, website, lens which means freshly updated content each time you tweat.

Your biggest advantage on twitter is to be YOURSELF.

Just as it is in life.

If twitter is ONE part of your social networking efforts, be careful not to ruin it with a dirty great footprint which could be counter productive, as Lynn terry elaborated on too.

It's not all bad though as Lynn shared with us a good port on doing it successfully.

I point you to them as it means I need not explain it myself, and also I am doing what we should be doing.

Sharing good content which will help others, and freely.

I am not taking away from my own success doing this, as others would have you believe when they say, "you may LOSE readers, as they may prefer the blogs you share over yours".

Well, if that is the case, it means I need to DO better with my content rather than STOP sharing great content of others... does it not?

But hang on, I AM sharing content here, but improving it by linking to great content elsewhere because I feel MY readers deserve it. ;o)

That IS the essence of the web after all.

Lynn will be pleased lol.... don't take Lynn's or my word for it, read the what those who use twitter say.

Who better to read than those who say what makes you "get it", than those who say it ON twitter.


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posted by Rob Sellen @ 2:31 PM, , links to this post