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(by Gabriella Sannino)
Before I get jumped on, let me say that I do like a few things about social media. The potential to reach out to people I wouldn’t otherwise meet is a big one. BUT!
Twitter – The Information Network
Evan Williams, Twitter’s CEO, said;
“What we have to do is deliver to people the best and freshest most relevant information possible. We think of Twitter as it's not a social network, but it's an information network. It tells people what they care about as it is happening in the world.”
Does it really, though? I can just hear a resounding, “but what about Iran?” Yes, the way the world is going is something we care about – but how often does that stuff come up? Seriously, take a look at your current Twitter feed and point out five things currently on the page that are as important as Iran, or even close – I’ll wait....
If Twitter was really an information network, and only an information network, would we see things like, “Am currently shaking from the bass produced by Lil Wayne lol”? Now, I’m not knocking Twitter itself, but have you paid attention to your feed lately? Social media platforms, especially ones as popular as Twitter, are only as good as their users… and that’s the crux of the issue.
Twitter – The Social Network
Twitter has helped change the way people pass on important information, but it’s also pointed out exactly how much we’ve forgotten about true social interaction.
For instance, we’ve all made the mistake of following the Self-promoting Tweeter:
- They send you an auto-DM. “Thanks for following! Check out my spamming link and order today!”
- The tweets they post all go back to their own website.
- They never respond to tweets you send them
Or the Narcissistic Tweeter:
- They send you a DM. “Thanks for following! Hope you like my tweets!” (not bad so far)
- They tweet things like, “Drinking hot coffee @ Starbucks! Yumm!” (erm… yeah?) and “I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today! (um…who cares?)
- They take Twitter’s “What’s happening?” question literally.
- They never respond to tweets you send them
- They share their location like it’s big news
These two types of tweeters seem to be the most common, and they have two things in common. They never respond, and they never retweet. They’re stuck in their own little Twitter world, imagining everyone hanging on to everything they send out while ignoring the whole point of social networks. Socializing.
What’s the gig here?
Here’s my question to everyone, no matter what type of tweeter you are. What are you really on Twitter for? Do you really want to talk to people, or are you just there for shameless self-promotion?
We use terms like, “engage” and “connect”, but it really all comes down to communicating with your fellow human beings around the world. Consider that Twitter might do more than just up your website traffic or get one more person to buy a product they really don’t need. If you step into the idea of socializing, you really can connect – but you have to CONNECT with your followers!
About the Author - Gabriella Sannino is the owner/operator of Level343, a copywriting & SEO company. She specializes in depth analysis, hard data, strong copy and tested SEO techniques to bring traffic and conversions to business websites. Her passions in brand building through social media, marketing techniques and writing strong copy that converts are all part of the strategy. You can also catch her on Twitter
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Comments
Consider myspace profiles that the messages are basically, bands, self-promoting glamour sluts (probably S-x-cammers) and an occasioanl personal message gets lost.
Consider the fact that twitter is in fact the only good open network available to find new people through their interests. Connection then is easier than ever before.
Agreed sometimes the content is shabby... but it saves the conversational time between friends when you meet up so you can talk about the more meaningful things.
- For companies/bands etc though the hard thing is scaling up the connection when you have more followers.
Charlie
Since the beginning of time (well the last 10 years anyway) social media always been about shameless self-promotion, as well as networking with others that are receptive to aiding you with more shameless self-promotion.
Personally speaking, if I truly want to socialize I will go over to one of my friends houses and hang out in person.
Its not very realistic to think that because you have tweeted a flood of mumbo jumbo to xxxx of followers, that you are actually socializing with anyone.
And its ok to differ on opinions because it keeps things in balance. But I have to ask you something and please don’t take it personal.
You say you don’t “use” it for self-promotion yet you have a business profile. So that alone says there is promotional intent behind your presence. Am I not interpreting that correctly?
As a matter of fact I do have another profile that's my "business" if you will. But even on that one I don't push our services. I personally like using social media because I am social. You see I am stuck in the swamps of the MS & I miss culture, conversations, and intellectual debates that I would not have unless I was using social media... sad but true. In conclusion interpretation is ones reality therefore we can agree to disagree.
And the caveat for those people is that they are opting in for either being subjected to marketing, or being a foundation for someone’s personal agenda.
Reality is that once you have roped in your share of followers, you will hit a conversion threshold, and after that the ROI dies and secondary stuff follows suite. After that is when substance and quality severely degrades, its happened on every social media application made.
Be honest, is twitter really the extent and depth of ones social DNA? Eventually a new application will come out and twitter will take the way of plurk, and the cycle will start over.
Myspace is now full of too much spam and facebook is getting that way.
However it isnt the platforms that are important, just that you are able to communicate effectively.
When a new platform arrives, uproot and make it known - or - start to branch out and embrace it and maintain the old networks if it is still converting.
No, its a people life cycle when your dealing with social media.
Twitter is social no matter what naysayers may think. It's been fun meeting awesome people. Including my buddy in arms Bonnie
But to avoid being hypocritical and a horse of a different color, spamming is still spamming. And social media is still marketing at some level.
A fun article article with a well thought out point. Not something you read on Twitter everyday. But I do find thought provoking articles like yours. I promote what I do on Twitter, yes. But I also learn from amazing people I never would have found if it weren't for Twitter. And I love to share cool articles like this with my followers.
Thanks!
She took the discussion we had and ran with it, disliking anything that has to do with social media. Well, she might not hate it as much as she used to; she's actually coming around to my way of thinking (sort of). lol - As long as she doesn't have to do it, she's fine with me using Twitter to promote the hell out of our services and build business relationships, etc.
Maybe I'm being delusional, thinking people are actually interested in what I say, but I don't think so. To me, it's the person, the emotional connection people eventually make, that counts in their social networks.
And, like in life, if people don't want to have a conversation with me, they won't follow...they won't reply...they won't participate. That's fine. Don't like my tweets? No one made you follow me. Be gone. I'm sure Ashton Kutcher or Kim Kardashian are tweeting something you'll find inexplicably riveting as we speak.
Twitter gives people a chance to get to know me a bit...to peek through the window and get an idea what I'm about - what I like, what irritates me, what amuses me, what enrages me. And it gives me the opportunity to do the same with them. Most importantly, it helps us identify what we might have in common.
That's the hidden genius and real value of Twitter...a value that is lost on those who tweet stuff like, "I just took the biggest crap ever" and "I'm in class".
Going to qout this on twitter;
"What are you really on Twitter for? Do you really want to talk to people, or are you just there for shameless self-promotion?"
Have a nice day! =D
You made my day =)
I see many follows and they are unrelated. They unfollow if we did not. I just don;t care about those and also I unfollow if I dont get replies for my DM and tweets, may be depends on the account popularity and previous replies :music:
I can see some vaidity to posting what may come across as a trivial post - if it turns into a conversation...which Starbucks blends we like or Starbucks vs. Dunkin' Donuts....that is if Starbucks and Dunkin' Dounts are paying attention...so many brands are not engaging.
I may be one of the few people I know that has gained a tremendous amount of work & connections using Twitter so I am convinced it works.
Social Media is about communicating socially (as the name clearly states).
People relate to people who talk with (not to) them (translate talk to the media).
People buy from people (brands) they can relate to.
It's not any different then any other method of communication. If you would not behave in your community park the way you behave on Twitter, you are missing the point. Completely.
Thanks for sending me this piece on twitter... I spend hours upon hours working each day on the internet, I find myself randomly popping in to check my Twitter account. I often times feel as though I`m talking to myself, it was great to hear that someone else was actually listening. I don`t really promote anything on my Twitter account (yet) but after spending the majority of my time staring at a computer and not at "real people" it was good to connect!
Thanks for making me laugh!
I'm glad people enjoy it so much and I wish you all well.
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