April 9th, 2009
Eight days ago I plunged into the world of Twitter. I didn't know a thing about it, but I trusted the advice of multiple friends and colleagues that this phenomenon was worth checking out.
So far so good.
My "handle" is @Juliemorganizer. I have 600+ followers (a minuscule number in Twitter-terms), but we're growing. As far as I can tell, Twitter is something you have to actually do to understand. It's fast, spirited and fun. But it's also easy to see how quickly Twitter could become the world's new favorite procrastination tool. A bunch of people have already told me they want me to help organizer their Twitter management!
Here's what I've learned so far:
Twitter is like a 12-lane highway with zillions of hovercraft moving at hyper-speed, and flashing other drivers little flags with messages. Got that? "Hey Joe! What's going on?" or "Hey, cool tip over here!" or "Chin up - eyes on the prize!" Celebrities bop around, giving you a peek into their personal lives, while executives and entrepreneurs serve up tidbits of wisdom. There's even stand-up comedy. My favorite is @M_Sommerville - that guy can always crack me up in 140 words or less.
WHO'S ON TWITTER? You'd think it was a bunch of young people, but the average Twitter user is 39-49, a business professional, using it for business purposes. In fact, most 20-somethings I've asked snarl at the concept. They say the last thing they need is another social media distraction.
WHAT IS TWITTER? Twitter is a kind of personal/professional ticker tape. It's a way to have an on-going converstaion with the world about your ideas, dreams or every day life. It's a chance to be entertained and to learn.
HOW DO YOU KEEP IT FROM TAKING OVER YOUR LIFE?
Ah, the million dollar question. In so many ways, it IS the new addiction. It's so quick and so fun you might never get anything else done. Here are three ways to organize your Twitter life:
1 - Decide how many times a day you want to tweet and schedule it into your day. Treat Twitter like you treat email - never, ever begin your day tweeting (way too disruptive and reactive). Lunch, however, is a fine time to tweet.
2 - Once you've built a list of followers, organize your folders of Twitter contacts. I have a groups of professional organizers in one folder, tech people in another folder, etc. Organizing Tweets as they come in gives you access to who you're following, and who's following you.
3 - Twitter is a great way to get to know people, but don't rely on it as the only way to communicate. Use this online vehicle to expand business contacts and meet people you wouldn't necessarily have access to. Then, develop those relationships offline.
So what about you? Are you interested in exploring Twitter? Do you already use Twitter? What's your favorite part - to follow or be followed? What challenges have you encountered in managing Twitter - and what strategies have you used to take control and maximize its potential?
And, if you are following me on Twitter - let me know what you'd like me to Tweet about! I'd love to hear from you...let's use this blog to talk!
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