Discussions
Twitter... Pro or Con?
Posted by Prongs • 7/07/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: books, discussion, reviews, twitter
So I have been against Twitter for quite awhile. But recently we got one just for our business to keep people updated. I still pretty much hate the idea though.... so maybe someone could help me. What is the real appeal? Why do you like Twitter or why do you hate it? Let's here it folks.
twitter.com/GoodBooksInc
User Comments
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It's a spot light that I can shine on content I want to promote. It's a research tool, I can ask a question and get a quick response. It's access to leading experts, NASA retweeted my AP Stat project. It's scanable, I can read 1,000s of tweets in an hour. I'll follow you, good luck!
After Micheal's funeral which has crashed the internet, again. -
@prongs
- Did you know that on the forum Discussion searchbox in the sidebar -->
there are 40 pages of threads on this topic - no kidding!
As I have already posted into many of those threads providing both my opinions and resource links, I won't be posting all that again in this thread. Instead, I can supply you with the link to the other threads so you can round out your research by reading those threads.
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/search.php?q=twitter
BC has a Search utility with multiple filters you can also use to round out your twitter research. The link is found on every BC page www.blogcatalog.com/search
search term "twitter"
*All results www.blogcatalog.com/topic/twitter/
Lastly, BC is also has a twitter group with 1743 members. In that group you can exchange links and follow people, be followed; tell group members why you twitter; discuss alternatives to twitter; discuss what to expect from twitter; share twitter resources and tools. Anything "twitter" related goes in that group.
Here's the group link www.blogcatalog.com/group/twitter -
- I just spotted an article that may interest you.
Five ways to gain followers on Twitter
latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/07/five-ways-to-gain-followers-on-...-
Thank you for this TT. I am going to read that one.
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Google "guitarblogger" -
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Pros: Brief updates on your personal life, or blog updates.
Cons: 140 character limit. Little chance of social networking. Private messages also limited to 140 characters. People hooked on twitter who use it as chat software often find that sending and receiving private messages a little troublesome.
Frankly speaking, while twitter seems to be the current trend in the internet now, it's flaws and limitations could make it lose it's appeal over a modest period of time. It borrows facebook's idea of personal updates, and uses chat groups in a slightly unique format. I do not like it because it is too simple in it's functions.-
I consider it to be the most powerful SEO RSS tool on the Internet
the only con is the truncating of long tail url's -
The truncating is necessary due to the character limit. I find no flaw with this except that it does not spell out the whole actual hyperlink.
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from a web development point of view it's suicide
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I don't care if no one reads my twitters, I'm only interested in the SEO side of things
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Well it would be nice to be noticed, but I generally assume that twitter is made for internet users who would prefer to be listened to or noticed than to listen to everyone else.
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Most of the Networks are just Link Farms
I built one 7 weeks ago blingat.ning.com it's still in test mode but I'll be bringing in about another 40 people soon and playing with optimisation of sites. It looks and acts like a small Social Network but it's really a link strategy as well
It's possible to pull feeds from one side of the internet to the other in and out of sites, it's really worth exploring, I'm waiting for the next tool. -
What is really a pity is that Twitter could do better in all things simple on the internet.
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You're making assumptions that what you see is what is really going on. Twitter is purely an SEO strategy, I'm confident that the developers would have had ONLY that in mind.
It can be used very well for marketing as well, that's another aspect of it, but I don't believe for one minute that that was the original intention, read Chris Brogan on the Marketing of Twitter
www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business/ -
Well if you want visitors to your site, work out how to use it properly, it's the most powerful text box I've ever seen, in fact it's almost laughable what they have done.
Same as the Flash Player bought by Adobe, that's nothing but a back end web app to dominate multimedia and is no longer a web animation tool -
I think I've not noticed the business side of twitter because I've been using it as a social platform instead.
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I happen to agree with acoustic guitarist. I think it is one of the most powerful advertising tools out there. In terms of SEO, but also, for people who do have tons of followers, they can advertise to great effect whatever they want.-
Isn't it a little too bombastic for individuals to "advertise" themselves over twitter and get crazy over it ? I believe you know what I am getting at, if you don't I will elaborate further.
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I'm not sure if you're getting it. It's about feeds and hyperlinks. I don't mind if you disagree but so long as you understand that I am talking about the hidden technology.
Same as FACEBOOK, that's just one giant link farm -
It looks like I would have to read and find out about SEO now.
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... regarding your @GoodBooksInc twitter account .. the verdict might be a little premature with only 6 tweets.
I would suggest that each link must 100% have a link in it - or you will fail. When I say link, it doesn't always have to be a URL of yours .. it could be @Reply to someone else .. a RT to someone elses site .. reference to those quotes you were tweeting about, etc.
Of course .. that's just i.m.o. of course~ -
For one, Twitter's "customer support" is horrible. Our account got suspended out of the blue and despite 11 appeals, we never got a reply. And then 5 weeks later it got restored as if nothing happened. I would imagine that you would have to uphold some sort of user - maintenance - ratio, but apparently it doesn't apply for Twitter. Anyway, I think Twitter hates me, but that's fine cause I'm not too fond of it either.-
Hm def gave me alot to think about. I was just always against the inane 'tweeds' of my population about the mundane things they were doing... especially when they update every 5 seconds. But as a business tool I am beginning to see the benefits for sure.
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Who's 'Def'? :-)
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The marketing pro's should be pretty evident, but as a channel for updates twitter is invaluable. Since it is so light and doesn't require anything of the user, it is the perfect channel for broadcasting updates about ie. what we're doing, what's being released and general news.
The con's revolve around the actual maintenance and other issues that are always present with rapidly growing internet social medias.
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@TonyBeach
I'm thinking you may have missed reading an important thread because every time a twitter thread comes up you seem to be link dropping into it.
- Link exchanges
The Read Before Posting guidelines clearly state the link exchanges can only take place in groups. The link for locating groups is located on every BC Page. www.blogcatalog.com/groups
Quoting TonyB
"Your post will be removed if you drop your link in these discussions and it is clear that the only reason you are doing it is to get click throughs.
So please do not ask why your post was removed if you left your link."
www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/no-link-dropping-at-the-end-of-posts-in-d... -
This isn't even about link exchanges. This guy uses a bot on twitter to add followers according to keywords in posts.
He's a spammer.
Just to let your know tonyb, I block bots on twitter. All of them. I watch to see who has added themselves as a follower and if it's a spambot of any type, I block. -
- Yes ... sigh ... I know. The fact is that twitter is crawling with unscrupulous spammers and their bots and internet marketers. It's a link farm just like Facebook.
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Yea I mean I started this, I am NOT a bot haha. I really was interested in hearing some of the thoughts, and I don't check this site much so sorry if I am not the first to post this discussion. I really was not looking for hits since a I stated above I am not really pro twitter. It is for our company though, and I am not the one who updates it though.
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Did you see that I posted an update to my comment on your blog? About Order of the Phoenix? I gave it another shot and it wasn't as awful as I initially thought.
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Do you block teh bots individually as they follow you or can you mass block all bots??? I hate the bots. I like twitter for business purpose though. -
- I'd also like some mass bot blocking on twitter too.
So please share what to do with us. -
I don't do anything special.
I rarely have more than 5 people a day adding themselves as followers, so I just check out the profiles of the newbies. It's pretty easy to tell which ones are bots. I just block them one by one.
Sorry, it's not a big special secret.
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if this is the case then i will be removing my twitter updates on my wordpress. that explains the drop on my visits.-
- I didn't have mine posted so that I would have a clearer picture from my stats. However, now I will be taking some time this weekend to do some checking and bot blocking.
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I really enjoy twitter, always have. I like the vastly different folks that use it. -
So a few weeks into having it with the company. not as bad as I thought it would be. have met some interesting 'tweeters' (is that the proper terms)
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There are a lot of spammers on Twitter. And unfortunately Twitter is suspending a lot of valid accounts in their attempt to get rid of the spammers.
I am a perfect example. I opened a Twitter account in mid-January. I worked hard posting good content and grew my following to 925 people by the end of June, just under 6 months. I was excited about winning a contest and posted the same "tweet" 3 times one day.
Tweeter suspended my account.
I find this very frustrating. They won't reply to any of my emails or site postings. It is a little too big brother for me.-
Hm that is a little to big brother for me as well. Esp since they are refusing to respond to a person who is obviously not a bot Jut curious what was the main focus of your tweets?
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My focus was motivation and improving one's self worth, freedom, and independence. I posted quotes, motivational comments, links to blog posts, and I re-tweeted good comments to list a few things.
I had a variety of followers from typical average folks to high profile well known people. Again, I was a Twitter member for nearly 6 months. I won a contest and early in July, I posted the exact same tweet with a link in it, 3 times. Around noon, 4pm, and 8pm. I wanted my followers to know how excited I was. On July 6th Twitter suspended my account due to suspicious activity.
I have sent several Emails to Twitter and filed several requests through their inhouse reporting system. All they do is close my requests. I have not heard one word from them....
Rob -
That is quite strange ...
If I can make a suggestion - I would probably take screen shots and print your activity pages
www.blogcatalog.com/user/SailboaterRob/activity/
They do not look offensive at all. -
HART,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try. -
wow that is frustrating. that is def. something I would have followed as well. Good luck hope they finally listen!
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I gave up. After 3 weeks decided time to move on. Can't live in the past. So I have a NEW user name/account. Just started up again yesterday.
twitter.com/CaptRobLee
So follow my new name if you dare to.
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I like Twitter for being able to say what I think, promote my blog, communicate with old friends and meet new ones. Of course, meeting people still requires some personal effort. Is that what people are objecting to? But I also dislike the commercialization of Twitter and believe it will cause the site's demise as a social networking tool. -
i really like it. it's easy. and not full of annoying fb applications, music, or anything that takes my computer and hour to load. plus, there's so much to be said in 140 characters. -
@natethegreat. i'm with you about the commercialism thing. i liked twitter more before celebrities started tweeting and the news started talking about it all the time. it's gotten out of hand. i miss the tiny twitter.
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my big problem with it is more the completely pointless tweets that seem to dominate the young population. I am eating a sandwich, my dog is staring at me, does any one miss furbies? Pointless. However I have been finding some actual decent accounts to follow that are beginning to make the site ok with me.
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We try to use Twitter to engage and connect on the deeper level, not that it always works
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I admit to becoming more of a regular user...especially over weekends. There seems to be a select crowd now that actually waits for and will email me requesting tweets. Very strange.
That being said, I must say that I was quite taken aback during the whole Iranian election rioting, when it was conveyed that Twitter was powering the revolution.
"yes, quick, give us the details, tell us what's happening in Iran...only in 140 characters or less, please." :-)-
Yes the Iran elections still are quite a phenomenon over the 'twitterspehere' i guess is what you would call it.
And I agree I am starting to see select followers that are becoming habitual readers which is something I am sure every one appreciates.
Oh by the way every one please feel free to leave your twitter links we would love to check them out!
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I really enjoy twitter, the amount of information that is shared is amazing. I'm always finding cool news stories, photos, and fun random internet fun. To me it's a great place to see what others are doing and share everything I can as well.-
Yea good call there is def. a good source of stories and random links to be found. We love when we come across a link that really makes our day and twitter has been a big help in that.
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I have no idea why HATE twitter?! How is that even possible.
It's a great site, the only con to it is that if you want to make something out of your twitter account, you have to put time and effort into building your network and gather people around you who are interested in what you have to offer.
But if you have done that, and you're on a roll.. Twitter is the fastest way to get what ever you have out there fastest!
I personally love twitter, and I use it just for myself and my friends .. but in 9 months it kind of build up to more than just a mere 50 followers, to 700 followers and growing.
Twitter is a powerful tool especially when you're in business.-
i just signed up an hour ago:)
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In one of the websites i tested earlier this year and my current blog stayfitbug.com. Twitter was the BEST source for finding those in my niche and gaining feedback. Other forms of feedback collection methods you generally get a negative or no response. Twitter was instant. So it was a pro for that. It's also a Pro for Public Relations methods. I think those who under estimate its power now will suffer down the line.
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