Question mark with cartoon figure
A good friend said to me: “Why would anyone be on Twitter?”
Mind you, he’s never been on Twitter and he doesn’t know a thing about it. But he’s a successful lawyer and thinks he knows what’s what.
In reply, I’ve decided to come up with a list of answers for when someone asks you this question:
1. Getting news updates before the news media
2. Asking technical software/hardware questions and getting answers
3. Asking for referrals for a plumber in your hometown area
4. Getting book recommendations in 140 characters instead of rambling book reviews
5. Connecting with people you’ve met on LinkedIn or Facebook and want a quicker way to message them
6. Getting links to specific industry news
7. Sharing valuable blog posts
8. Sharing information about your own projects
9. Giving testimonials
10. Getting tips in all kinds of subjects
11. Getting help when you have a problem with, for example, your Sprint account
12. Connecting with higher-level people than you could through other communication channels
Perhaps the reason I like best is that I use my Twitter contacts as information filters. I certainly don’t have time to read everything I’d like to read. Thus when someone whose opinion I really trust tweets that this is a good article and includes the link, I’ll click through to take a quick look. More often than not, I’m glad I was alerted to the information.
Of course, it’s important when being on Twitter to be a giver and not just a taker. In other words, you have to share good info also – and not just info that you’ve written. For example, when I’ve read a particularly informative article in that day’s Wall Street Journal, I’ll tweet the link if there’s a public link available for that story.
Also, Twitter offers the ability to widen your own world – and to do this from the convenience of your computer. Most of us tend to stick to the people we know. But on Twitter we can have conversations with people all over the country (and globe if they tweet in English) – people we would never otherwise have the opportunity to meet.
For my part, I’m going to come up with a good “put down” line for when people say: “Why would anyone be on Twitter?” Something like: “You don’t know what you’re missing.” Or: “Try it, you’ll like.” Or finally: “If you try it and become a Twitter addict, don’t blame me.” (Follow me at http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller)
And if you want to learn more about using social media effectively for Internet marketing, check out the just-launched Miller Mosaic Internet Marketing Program and Twitter tutoring.
Check out the roundup of my Twitter advice articles on Examiner.com.
(c) 2009 Miller Mosaic, LLC
For more information, read these posts:
Even Betty Crocker is into online marketing
Create a personal About page to which Web site visitors can relate
Internet business: You can now put the cart before the horse
Comments
Brilliant Phyllis! I was just defending twitter this week. Your arguments will come in handy. For me, the biggest benefit has been #12 - Twitter has opened a whole new world of people, information, insight and resources. In fact, it's how I found your article. And I'm so glad I did : )
Deborah Stewart
follow me on twitter: twitter.com/deborahstewart
Deborah --
Thanks so much for this enthusiastic comment! I really appreciate it.
Phyllis
i like watching sheep fall over
I LOVE it! Exactly why I'm addicted to Twitter. I love the reasons... you hit the nail on the head! Off to RT this now...:)
Karen --
Thanks for this comment! I'm glad you feel I hit the nail on the head.
Phyllis
With Twitter you learn about people and about their country ... you find anything you want on Twitter...
You can find the best crazy in Twitter...kkkk
? *-* ?
Follow me ...//twitter.com/Drica_Driade
Phyllis, how can you write about Twitter when you don't even have an account there?
Drica -- Thanks for the comment.
Kevin -- I have an account on Twitter; I've had it for over a year. I'm very active on Twitter and I read everything I can about it to continually increase my knowledge. You can follow me at @ZimblerMiller
Thanks for the insights, Phyllis! I'm a Twitter neophyte (and a fellow Examiner!), so I'm still stumbling my way through it ...
twitter.com/TracyA101
Terrific article. I too, find myself attempting to defend twitter to folks who are absolutely clueless as to the benefits/value it offers. When I complete a web design and tweet about it, I generally have 3-4 new design inquiries in my inbox the next day - I wouldn't have that just by publishing on my web design blog.
Follow me on twitter: twitter.com/simplyamusing
Hi Phyllis, I have a question: How many of your 4, 952 followers on Twitter are human? There is a huge downside and problem with Twitter that in reality overrides allot of your article. Very few humans. Also, less than 6% of the U,S, is on Twitter.
Also, most news don't come from Twitter or Facebook they get "filtered" through Twitter & Facebook from search engines, news groups etc.
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