Eight Business Reasons to Twitter
Confluence In Motion: I’m a pretty big (albeit recent) Twitter advocate. I’m preparing a “Web 2.0 for Entrepreneurs” webcast for the OEN next Wednesday morning. I’m talking to a lot of people who just don’t get Twitter for business.
REAL email exchange today… “[name] said you must have a Twitter tramp stamp… should I believe him?”
Of course, I had to go to Urban Dictionary to find out what a tramp stamp was…
So here are few key reasons to use Twitter for business, and a sneak preview of my presentation…
Compelling Business Reasons to Use Twitter (these examples are just from today):
As a writer, the discipline of making sense in 140 characters is compelling.
I haven’t felt that kind of discipline since 1975 and my honors English class in college. Although my blog posts have not become particularly short as a result - sorry. You want short, follow me on Twitter.
As a reader, I learn, share, ask and reconnect:
1) I get breaking news from Twitter - the Ars Technica purchase by Wired just today - (thanks to @marshallk).
2) I can follow presentations/conferences and events when I’m not able to be there - almost as if you’re in the audience - (with thanks to @thisKat).
3) I can solicit and receive help on technical or business questions, overnight. I asked:
Got four answers when I checked this morning, this is representative, with thanks @dtboyd.
5) I have extended my network quickly and effectively - I was invited to have my blogs posted on the Content Management Connection site via @georgedearing:
6) I have been able to publicize my blog posts and reconnect with colleagues because I’m on Twitter.
Using the # convention to signify a “meme” on Twitter, I alerted those who followed the Collaboration 2.0 conference (#c20) on Twitter that I had posted about it. A former customer from my Marqui days reconnected, and I’m not following him again, after a two-year disconnect.
7) I can follow (in one easy place) and stay in touch with my friends at Attensa, OEN, current and former colleagues as they experience their lives, tackle problems and express joy.
So get your Twitter “tramp stamp” or whatever you want to call it, stick it in your email signature, put it on your blog, and participate in (and benefit from) the global cocktail party. See you out there.
Great points about the value of Twitter! Thanks for using me as one of your examples. I’m glad that we reconnected through Twitter.
Thank you, Warren, for reaching out as a result!
Janet, thank you for the business perspective! I’ve been coming at things from an education 2.0 perspective, so it’s a treat to see another side.
I’m forwarding your url to a friend in career coaching. http://everycareercounts.com/Home.html. You two should meet
Hi Alicia - that’s the thing - people have a hard time translating, don’t we?
Thank you for the connection. I’ll go check out your friend’s site!
For those not interested in a tattoo, clothing options abound: Twitter Tees
Nice suggestion, Craig, thank you!
That’s the phrase I’ve been looking for: “the global cocktail party.” I think that captures what is the essence of Twitter for me: it is both business and pleasure. If you go to conferences but don’t look forward to the parties, Twitter is probably not for you.
Twitter is like that fable about the elephant and the blind men: Everyone has a different take on it because your experience of Twitter is by definition unique.
Excellent stuff, as always, Janet.
Much has been said about the importance of Twitter as a reputation monitoring tool for BigCo’s - using TweetScan, Summize, Twemes, or one of the other meta-search engines that seem to be popping up like bluebells this Spring. Your list adds a lovely extra layer of personal/business perspective.
Hi Michael, thanks for the reminder of reputation monitoring for BigCo’s. So important to add one of the tools you’ve mentioned to the arsenal. PR is a very, very cool place to be these days, for a change.
I have to admit that just a few short weeks ago Twitter seemed like an odd society. But now I’m totally sold as a method to communicate and learn from others. Great blog post about Twitter.