Tweet It!

There have been loads of posts about Twitter, writing another post about it would almost be unnecessary – but I thought: why not share my 2 cents?
Especially when I noticed Sak van den Boom – Dutch Customer Media pioneer – was particulary excited about it during the introduction of my Customer Media class at UvA.

So, what’s Twitter anyway?

You’ve probably heard about it, maybe even read about it and even used it. The short & sweet video by Howcast explains what Twitter is all about. You might need to refresh the page if the player isn’t loading or simple go here to watch the video on Howcast.

Since there all sorts of people using Twitter there are also all sorts of Tweets (messages). Some people really share things such as ‘drinking a cup of coffee’, while others share news, interesting links and even hold competitions!

About using Twitter

Before using Twitter you should really ask yourself what you want to do with this service. Some important questions are…

How much time do you want to spend on Twitter?

Using Twitter means you need to invest time in it. How much time depends on the level of use. If you just want to post a Tweet from time to time and check up on friends it’s not that time consuming. But if you want to find more people to follow and want others to follow you, you will need to invest some serious time in Twitter. Time is limited and always precious so be sure if you want to ‘waste’ your time on Twitter.

Will you Tweet from your PC / videogame console or from a mobile device e.g. iPhone?

If you’re only posting Tweets from your computer it can limit your Tweet opportunities in a way. Sometimes the action takes place outside and away from the computer. Tweeting from a mobile device with 3G connection gives you the possibility to post richer Tweets. Not only are those Tweets more ‘in the moment’, including photo’s taken with your phone and sharing it with your Tweet is just brilliant!

I’ve been Tweeting for music . first during various events and acted like a mini reporter on the scene. This is one of my Tweets posted during my visit to EVOLUTION a big electronic dance music event:

@music_first We got the best view at #EVOLUTION with DJ TIESTO live on the decks http://twitpic.com/idt4u !

I’m not able to take my computer with me to an event like EVOLUTION. Carrying my iPhone with 3G and the Twitterrific application has not only given me the possibility to Tweet about events without using my computer to make an update. It really makes me look for fun things to Tweet about and enjoy using Twitter. I truly believe that if I didn’t have the ability to use Twitter on my iPhone I would never sticked to using Twitter.

Do you want to simply follow other people or do you also want to engage in conversations?

The fun thing about Twitter is that you don’t have to post Tweets to actually use it. You can use Twitter to keep yourself updated about interesting discounts, news bits or what your friends are doing – without posting Tweets yourself.

This is exactly what I’m doing most of the time with my @RENOVATIO_lucis account. I use it to follow some videogame, social media and Second Life® related Tweeters. I occassionaly post Tweets or re-tweet a post from those I’m following. Twitter recently introduced the ‘list’ feature. You can group Tweeters, put them on a list and follow them with one single click of your mouse. But since RENOVATIO lucis has it’s own purpose I like to use the Twitter account to follow Tweeters I do not follow with @elocutio. It’s also handy in case I want to reply or re-tweet from time to time.

Do you want to post personal or business related tweets?

This can be a tricky question. Especially since I view elocutio.nu and my Twitter account as semi personal, writing a mix between personal and ‘general information’ posts. Still it’s good to think about what you want to share on Twitter.

If you want to promote a professional project you are working on you’re credibility drops down to zero when you brawl about being cheated on by your ex. Of course, life can be difficult at times and sometimes people are not able to find other ways to express themselves. Using the ‘anonimity’ of the worldwide web can give you a way to get things of your chest. But mixing personal with business Tweets can get complicated.

You can always opt for using two Twitter accounts one (protected) account for your friends and family and a second (public) account for business related Tweets. Always be careful what you’re posting on the worldwide web!

[please note] Since using Twitter for your business, organization, marketing purposes is a whole other ballgame I might write a seperate post about that in the near future. [/please note]

What do you expect from Twitter?

Do NOT use Twitter because you simply think you have to Tweet! Twitter is definitely not for everyone especially if you’re totally not into keeping your eyes on fresh updates or post updates yourself. Only use Twitter if you actually think it has a purpose e.g. “I think Twitter is a fun way to stay in touch with my friends without using SMS or calling them all the time.” or “I use Twitter because it supports my activities and helps drive visitors to my website.” Twitter is a means not an end!

Have fun with Twitter

Don’t let this “you gotta know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it!” post scare you. In the end it comes down on what YOU want to do with Twitter. If you already have a Twitter account you probably already know what your preferences are, if it fits into your daily life and why you decided to quit or still use Twitter. If you do not have a Twitter account yet you can go and register one and just see where it will lead to. Explore all the features of Twitter, have fun with it !