I signed up for Twitter last October on the advice of an online colleague, but it took me a while to see any value in it. My opinion has changed since then, after some trial and error along with a bit of research.
Twitter is one of those things that you really don’t “get” just by looking at someone’s profile or signing up for your own account, so I realize that simply urging you to check it out will probably not be helpful. Instead, this will be the first in a series of blog posts where I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned so far, so you can start benefiting from it right away. Today I will answer the question, “What is Twitter?”
The Twitter homepage states the following:
Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?
What an inadequate description! My reaction when I read it was “who cares?” and I’m sure that is very common. Don’t most of us have more important things to do than keep track of what our friends, family and co-workers are doing at any given moment?
Fortunately, Twitter is much more than that! Some people do actually answer the question “What are you doing?” but it’s usually done in a way that promotes
their expertise or services:@MonicaRicci Preparing to do a series of six podcast interviews for Small Business TV today,
an event: @leesabarnes talking personal branding @ 6pm in toronto. meet me there? http://is.gd/k15Y,
or another business: @elaineshannon Meeting with my new accountant John Webber. I love a great accountant!
It’s also used frequently
to announce a new blog post: @tinaforsyth New blog post: for all the mompreneurs in the crowd… http://www.onlinebusinessmanager.com/blog/archives/291
or to initiate a discussion: @copywriting What percentage of content do you outsource? (if any)
There are many more uses than I’ve mentioned here, but hopefully I’ve opened your eyes to the fact that Twitter is NOT about telling the world what you’re having for lunch. Be sure to bookmark or subscribe to this blog for more Twitter basics. If you’re already on Twitter, simply follow me to find out when I post the next entry in this series.
What about the posts asking for help with a project?
“Can anybody help me with Wordpress plug-ins?” or “Where in [town] can I buy good [gadget]?”
There are always a ton of responses from people with great information.
Oh, and someone asked “If X is the #2 chef in the world, who is #1?” and someone else answered “Chef-boy-ar-dee”
Someone is also out there making me smile!
You’re right, Jacki – the possibilities are endless! I was afraid to include too many examples in case people got overwhelmed and scared off!
I really like your last name so I had to comment on your blog. I am also getting familiar with twitter, so I will be following your blog.
Thanks, Barclay! I hope you’ll find lots of valuable information here.
hey Janet,
love the post, with so many people already on twitter those who aren’t are hesitant to start because they are afraid of feeling stupid…I am still learning stuff, just recently someone asked why I did not have anything in my twitter favourites….I said “favourites”!
Needless to say I am know in the know!
Elaine, you’re right, there’s so much to learn! It’s taken me this long to even be comfortable blogging about the basics.
Favourites… well, I use them but probably not the way it was intended. Will discuss that later too.
Whoa… this site is pretty awesome
your layout is really well designed, and your blogs are (judging from what i’ve read) very interesting. heehee… consider yourself favorited. 
Thanks, Justin!
Good site. It had been pleasant to me.