Wed 10 Jun 2009
Why I Tweet
Posted by Norton Lam under Twitter
[5] Comments
I first started tweeting for business. Our company uses social media to turn traditional media ad campaigns into viral ones. Our corporate Twitter account, which has excess of 18,000 followers will be used to help kick start some of those campaigns. A few months ago, I decided to bolster my own Twitter account with followers to help the cause. After all, two accounts with 18,000 followers each is better than just one, right?
I had already been a member of Twitter for a number of months, but the account was more for testing our application’s interface to Twitter more than it was for tweeting. But now it was going to be converted to a second corporate account, from a developer’s point of view.
As I started, I did what most people do. I answered Twitter’s question. I managed to get one or two #followfriday recommendations that first week, which surprised me. I’m not sure if those first few were just randomly choosing people for #followfriday, or truly liked my tweets.
But after a while, I realized, the question isn’t “What are you doing,” but “what are you thinking?” And if you ask your own question at the end of your tweet, it engages people. Fellow tweeters respond. And that’s where the magic happens. After all, it is called “social media.” It’s about learning what others have to say, retweeting things you think others will find interesting, and expressing an opinion.
I don’t care that your sitting on your porch staring at the stars, that your watching Britain’s Got Talent, or that you’re in line to see Star Trek. I do, however, want to know that you found a cool link about the aurora borealis as it looks in space, whether you think Susan Boyle should have won or lost (ok, that one might be overdone a bit), or you have something funny to say about the new Star Trek movie.
What Chris Crum wrote in his article is really true. Twitter is a microblog. If you have something to say about a topic, you might write a blog post (like I am right now), but if you just have a quick comment, you might tweet about it instead.
I don’t forget that I’m using my Twitter account for business and throw in the occasional plug about my company. But I’m also having fun getting people to play #namethattune, retweeting cool links, and being surprised at which of my tweets get retweeted.
Ultimately, it comes down to the interaction with fellow tweeters that make tweeting fun and addictive. That’s why I tweet. Why do you?
5 Responses to “ Why I Tweet ”
Trackbacks & Pingbacks:
-
[...] you read my post about Why I Tweet, you’ll know that I think of Twitter as a microblog. I use Twitter to throw out random [...]
-
[...] I was preparing to write my Why I Tweet post, I had a discussion with my wife about my thoughts on the subject. While she didn’t [...]
Initially I started my business Twitter account to gain local exposure and promote the business. I quickly realized Twitter was about interacting, sharing ideas, jokes, great websites, news and information. I’ll promote my business on occasion but mostly I enjoy the social aspect of Twitter and the day to day banter that takes place. I can always find something to brighten my day. Great post about asking questions in your post. Interaction is key, business promotion is the added bonus.
Ah, the age old question: why indeed?
I tweet to communicate, basically. Be it my own little monologue, or a conversation with a friend or friends. I also use it to promote my blog, share a picture I took or found, anything that says “This is what I think /believe in”. Twitter rules.
I, too, wanted a way to market my work. But very quickly i realized this was a more interesting way to hear what is going on in the world, and in people’s minds and hearts. It is much more interesting to me than watching TV or listening to the radio all the time.It has reaffirmed my faith that there are real, good people on the internet, that it is not just full of scammers and spammers and people out for their own interests. I am surprised at my level of involvement. Don’t know how long it will last, because it takes alot of time, but I am enjoying connecting, and i think that is what it is all about. I am constantly being surprised at the ways little tweets are bringing intriguing and thought-provoking things into my view.