I follow trends. I’ve seen much about this platform recently that has caused me to think about it. I use it sparingly and don’t post that much as I’ve always maintained that no one cares that much about what I’m doing with my time.
As an Analyst Relations Best Practice, I find that it is good to know what the analyst is doing to be on familiar terms with what they are doing. Additionally, when I can’t reach them, I direct message an analyst as a back channel and it is very reliable.
The first article I noticed though was by Zach Whittaker who wonders “Twitter, is there any point”?
I often wonder this as Twitter follows Sturgeon’s Law. If you look at the comments of this blog, it laments that many talk about lunch, flights and bowel movements.
On the plus side, he notes: “Twitter is what we call an “Enterprise 2.0″ application; not only a web application which tells the world what you’re doing, but is highly influential in the way businesses run, keeping customers and partners informed and gaining feedback on services. ”
On the negative is: “Whilst it may be a next-generation application, I still struggle to see the point it makes, or the impact it has. With the API and development opportunities, it’s certainly made an impact in developing technologies such as Adobe AIR, but besides this I fail to see why I should continue to update mine; something I haven’t done in months.”
The next thread was the Mumbai terrorists following Twitter. I’m not so sure it’s a good thing to tell them where you are if they are trying to kill you. It is not as bad though as CNN ratting out citizens trying to hide.
Recently TPTB declined $500 from Facebook to buy Twitter, so I’m wondering if they know something I don’t about it’s value. The jury is out for me other than as a tool to reach certain people, but I know that the hunter in me instinctually says look for cover, not expose yourself.
Update: Sarah Tobis says Twitter is dominating
1) Blogs and media are one and the same. A lot of blogs can now be categorized as media, and many are forced to post more frequently in order to generate $.
2) Twitter is dominating. Blogs are becoming less relevant as people leverage other media (Twitter, etc.) to get their news more quickly.
3) Blogs have lost their cutting edge. Despite changes in other online content, blogs still use the same format they did when they first started.
And he poses a few ideas around how to make blogging more relevant in a muddled, information-overloaded, fast-paced world:
1) Create better social network connections: Allow comments you post to be tracked by those in your social network, not by the social network of the blog you’re commenting on.
2) Bridge the content gap. Use platforms like Tumblr to make content more flexible, shareable and manageable.
3) Generate re-usable content. To increase your blog’s value, create content that can be shared and repurposed by readers.
Update 2: 10 types of people to unfollow on twitter example…
7) Ideologue - The ideologue is not really on Twitter to discuss anything. His mind is already made up and he’ll show you how wrong you are with copious links to extreme blogs and YouTube “proof.” The Ideologue is usually an extreme hater of one thing or another.
