April 2nd, 2009
by Amy Dunn
I don’t know if it is just me, but I am noticing a bit of backlash against Twitter from various sources these days. Yesterday, I received this message in a newsletter from BootsnAll, one of my favorite sources of travel information:
We’ve got a confession to make: We Hate Twitter. Yes, we know, Twitter is all the rage. The creators of the insidious micro-blogging tool have wormed their way into the hearts of millions and even gotten highly-regarded news icons like Anderson Cooper and Geraldo Rivera to take the bait. We’re all using the ridiculous language of Twitter and see nothing wrong with saying, ‘Did you see what I tweeted yesterday?’ Come on, people, where’s your dignity?
Last Sunday, I watched Nancy Giles, a very popular and intelligent commentator on CBS News Sunday Morning rant about her dislike of this growing social media trend. She even asks in her usual tongue and cheek manner if people like myself, who use Twitter on a regular basis, are to be considered “Twits”? Perhaps we are, but guess what? We are a growing community millions of “Twits” if you will- and if that is what we are called these days, then so be it!
Twitter bashing is everywhere and I am sure you have come across some Twitter bashers yourself! I suppose whenever there is a shift in a conventional approach, it is always to be met with much skepticism and doubt. I have numerous friends, family members and even clients who tell me, “I have tried Twitter- I just don’t get it!”
I can’t say that I blame anyone for not appreciating Twitter. When I first began using it almost a year ago (seems like yesterday)- I did not like it either. I did not understand how it worked, I did not know how I could communicate with people, I could not grasp the concept of following people that I did not know. The system seemed to crash often, it felt clunky, awkward and a complete waste of my time and energy.
I put my Twitter account aside and focused more on Facebook and some of the other social media channels. I was pretty certain Twitter would not get anywhere. I mean- who cares what I am doing? Right? Well, I was surprised to learn that a lot of people cared about what I was doing, and as I found myself logging in once or twice a month- then once or twice a week…and I began to care what people were doing too.
I began to notice some Twitters users were asking questions- and suddenly I felt obliged to respond and weigh in. Next thing I know- I am meeting other people who specialize in social media marketing and they benefiting from their recommendations on various blog posts and webinars to help me learn more and grow more in this field. I have grown to respect my network in Twitter- and appreciate what they teach me and the information they share with me.
Twitter does not- I repeat- DOES NOT- take the place of real friendships and personal exchanged with your co-workers, friends and family. But it opens the door for new relationships and experiences. The goal of using social media is to build authentic and valuable relationships. So be patient with yourself if you find yourself on the “I Hate Twitter” bandwagon. I hear ya- I really do. But stick with it- and see what happens. If it is not for you, it is not for you. But don’t discredit others who are building these connections and collecting information on the topics that interest them. That is all I ask.
And (shameless plug)- if you want to learn more, but don’t know where to start, check out the “Twitorial” for tips and information for Twitter beginners!
Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:
- Gather Round the Water Cooler – Twitter
- Your Twitter Questions Answered: What Are Follow Fridays & Hashtags?
- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: LinkedIn’s Integration with Twitter
- My Little Twitter Tricks
