Twitter's real value? Seeing people as they truly are.

Some of us Birminghammers recently started up a branch of the Social Media Club, which is really just a good reason to get together on occasion and geek out with no shame. Today, my former colleague Scott Schablow led a great discussion of all things Twitter.

Despite all the good discussion of Twitter's potential for marketing, customer service, etc., it wasn't really until the  last minutes that I was struck by what truly keeps me hooked.

For once, maybe the first time ever, people are networking as real people.

Until now, we've been defined by our jobs, our titles, our responsibilities. "Networking" was about finding people with similar interests, then talking about those interests ad nauseum. You met someone at a conference, held onto the business card, and then maybe talked over drinks at the same conference a year later.

By embracing the small details of life, Twitter changed everything. You can only post a message under 140 characters (about two sentences), and you're encouraged to talk about "what you're doing."

The result is that you get to know people in a much more three-dimensional way than before. I might meet someone through the advertising industry, then find out later that we share a passion for zombie movies.

(If you're new to Twitter, check out this intro video. If you're already using the site, you can connect with me here.)

When most people try out Twitter for the first time, they're often annoyed by how pointless it feels. Why should I write about how I'm stuck in an airport? Why should I complain that my blueberry scone was stale?

Well, if all you do is post little tidbits like this, it's true that you'll probably never get much of a following. But if they're sprinkled in with thoughts from your professional life, the result will be a well-rounded expression of who you are. (You might also find someone else to get coffee with in the same airport, or some suggestions for better places to buy scones.)

I know some people don't want the world to see everything about their lives, and that's fine. But if you're really looking for conversations and new connections, then it's hard to argue that Twitter finally lets "social networking" live up to its name.

Comments

[Alan Wolk]

That has definitely been the case for me-- I've gotten to know many people in a more 3D way than just the occasional phone call or LinkedIn update - yourself included.

Was hoping the "movie" you linked to would be CommonCraft and indeed it was. They do really nice work.

[Ian]

Well said. The biggest hurdle for getting someone to embrace Twitter is getting them past the one week mark. After that it all becomes very clear.

[Lewis Green]

I was one of those who were skeptical about Twitter's value. I still believe there are more downsides than upsides, but that isn't because of Twitter. It's because of the human users. But that's another discussion. I agree that we get to know people when they share themselves with us. And that's a good thing.

[Scott Schablow]

Thanks for the props. You arrived at a great insight. Who you are has always been one-dimensional, until you get to know the person. I don't know what occupation some of my good friends are in because I got to know them from a personal 3-D perspective. Twitter allows us to develop a similar relationship online (or nurture one we already have). When I visit with someone I only see once a year at a conference, I know what's going on in their life and we just pick up the conversation from there. No need to catch up or list a year's worth of personal and professional news.

[Dave Allen]

The best use of Twitter for me has been to set up a feed from my blogs that auto-posts my most recent posts to my Twitter home page. My co-blogger, Nubby, has a nice overview of her plunge into the world of Twitting here www.social-cache.com/2008/07/the-value-of-twitter-in-social-media

[Twitter thought]

As a twitter user, I agree with your observations...but wanted to add that the "best" twitterers, IMHO, are existing bloggers who move their witty blog-voice to twitter, and who are already familiar with the two-edged sword of publishing your life on the Internetz. I am struck by how many people don't realize that all tweets, and all replies, are searchable by anyone...and I'm also (a little) annoyed at Social Media sites that subscribe to people with 'private' accounts for the purpose of using bots to republish 'private' tweets into local 'twitter aggregators', and then calling it "social media".

That is not social media, that is exploitation, IMHO.

[Mintz]

I wouldn't be surprised if people start making multiple Twitters, using one for personal use to give to friends, one for business (and possibly to put on a business card), etc.

One thing I never really of using Twitter for was for conversation. I usually just update with interesting stuff that I'm doing, but now I guess I'll try and branch into the more "social" part of Twitter.

When you get down to it, Twitter is just a way to (unreliably) move 140 characters of data across the internet, and the seamless integration will cell phones makes it pretty sweet. Apps like RememberTheMilk and CNN Breaking News help make it more than a mini-blog; it's also a txt-reminding service and a news delivery pipeline. I also like how the presidential candidates have a feed for when they're making a public appearance or where they're stopping next on the campaign trail. Thanks to motion sensors, it can even update you when your cat is eating, or what the Mars Rover is scooping up (hint: it's not what the cat's eating)!

One of the challenges I have is getting enough people to care about my updates. I figure if I keep updating, they will come. I suppose that's the golden rule for any blog (rules differ based on your popularity). Having a place to update the world on what you're doing is pretty cool though, regardless of who's listening.