User Comments

1. 

   4/19/09

   LGramlich

   A waste of time.

   [reply]
2. 

   4/19/09

   Floormodel

   it means you have a cult now and can get them to hang out in the airports and make you some spare change.

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   1. 

      4/19/09

      peterjcrowley

      Just what I always wanted LOL. enjoy pjc
3. 

   4/19/09

   greencurmudgeon

   It's an alternative to talking to yourself. The fact that it's on a website will also mean fewer people will think you're in need of psychiatric help.

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   1. 

      4/19/09

      EntrepreneurNovice

      That's why I didn't feel at ease there
4. 

   4/19/09

   Norski

   I've recently joined twitter - the 'random people' are, I suspect not all people - strictly speaking. I ignore accounts that are chiefly interested in writing sales pitches for the cool new whatever they just bought - allegedly.
   
   The rest - I'm there partly for the 140-character pitches and announcements by news and advocacy groups.
   
   And, I've picked up a few new acquaintances/friends whose interests and lifestyle are similar to mine.
   
   It's like most other communities: if you put something in, you'll get something out. My opinion.

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   1. 

      4/19/09

      EntrepreneurNovice

      But how do people discover you on twitter ?
   2. 

      4/19/09

      Norski

      EntrepreneurNovice,
      
      Twitter has a search function. And, there are sub-communities (twibes, I think - that name wasn't my idea). Or you can drop links, like this:
      
      On Twitter, I'm Aluwir - twitter.com/Aluwir
      
      I think it helps to post 'twitters' that are coherent and relevant to your target demographic's interests - just like every other sort of communication with a marketing angle to it.
   3. 

      4/20/09

      HollytheHousewife

      @entrepreneur
      It's more about discovering other people,rather than being discovered
5. 

   4/19/09

   dotartdude

   Select people to follow that interest you.
   
   
   What made it valuable to me:
   
   • People who link interesting articles/photos/sites/etc - not necessarily ones they posted.
   • People in my area - which was especially helpful after Hurricane Gustav came through - or when events are taking place locally
   • People who have something clever/funny/inspirational to say every day.
   • Friends I want to keep up with
   • In general - the folks I'm following alerting me to some event that is taking place that I am not aware of via tweets
   
   
   You have to follow others to get followed.

   [reply]
6. 

   4/19/09

   JarOfEyeballs

   It's essentially a microblogging platform, and your posts (known as "Tweets") can't be longer than 140 characters.

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7. 

   4/19/09

   libdrone

   imho, Twitter is whatever you decide to make it. Some people use it pretty strictly for promotion and sales, some people attempt to gain huge numbers of followers. Other people, like me mostly use it to chat and talk with people we already know. But since you only see the tweets of people you Choose to follow, you really can use it any way you want to and make your experience with it whatever you like.

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8. 

   4/20/09

   timethief

   @comedienx
   What is twitter?
   Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow anybody to access them. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. The service is free to use over the Internet, but using SMS may incur phone service provider fees. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter
   
   Some bloggers are able to use twitter very effectively to drive traffic to their blogs. I believe you will find some good tips in a post published by another BC member. In VisionaryBlogging Easton Ellsworth presents 50 simple blogging tips to mix your blog and your Twitter account to achieve 10 purposes:
   
   * Use Your Twitter Account to Increase Your Blog Traffic
   * Use Your Blog to Increase Your Twitter Traffic
   * Use Your Twitter Account to Improve Your Blog Content
   * Use Your Blog to Improve Your Twitter Content
   * Use Your Twitter Account to Improve Your Blog Community
   * Use Your Blog to Improve Your Twitter Community
   * Use Your Twitter Account to Improve Your Blog Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
   * Use Your Blog to Improve Your Twitter SEO
   * Use Your Twitter Account to Improve Your Blog Value/Return on Investment (ROI)
   * Use Your Blog to Improve Your Twitter Value/ROI
   
   50 Ways to Mix Your Blog and Twitter
   www.visionaryblogging.com/blog-twitter/
   
   I hope this helps you - happy tweeting!

   [reply]
9. 

   4/20/09

   lettershome

   Twitter is exactly like blogging, only the posts are shorter and more pointless.

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10. 

    4/20/09

    salomey5

    A quick and effective way to kill whatever social life I had left.
    
    Bah, who needs friends anyway...!

    [reply]
11. 

    4/20/09

    dsriharsha

    EntrepreneurNovice
    But how do people discover you on twitter ?
    
    lots of ways..
    through @replies.. hashtags.. through followfridays.. through browsing others following lists..
    
    my friends on twitter are mostly my friends from real life

    [reply]
    1. 

       4/20/09

       salomey5

       OK, someone, please...
       
       What the hell is followfriday?
    2. 

       4/20/09

       dsriharsha

       you recommend people worth following by tweeting their usernames with a #followfriday tag..
       hash tags are searchable.. and if people find the person interesting enough.. they follow
       it is done on fridays by most tweeters
    3. 

       4/20/09

       salomey5

       I see. Thank you.
12. 

    4/20/09

    thingys

    It's an Ashton Kutcher conspiracy -- plain and simple

    [reply]
    1. 

       4/20/09

       dsriharsha

       yeah.. that too
13. 

    4/20/09

    comedianx

    hahah yea i heard about that on the news how he got 1 million subricbers

    [reply]
14. 

    4/20/09

    SnackosaurusRex

    i just signed up for twitter today, seems pretty cool to me. i'm just treating it like mass-text messaging from my computer.

    [reply]
15. 

    4/20/09

    crpitt

    A waste of time.

    [reply]
16. 

    4/20/09

    filmasia

    Twitter does not increase my blog's traffic, unfortunately.
    
    It is only good for social networking purpose.

    [reply]
17. 

    4/20/09

    comedianx

    yea i have to agree with the people that say twitter is a waste of time there really is no point i mean oooh i got 1k followers im so cool what does that really do

    [reply]
    1. 

       4/20/09

       HollytheHousewife

       to me it's not about getting followers,it's about following and finding out about others. Just today I made friends with a dr,skater dude,a lesbian couple,and a dudeman. You can't just walk out the front door of ur house and do that.
18. 

    4/20/09

    HollytheHousewife

    I think I only have like 11 or 12 followers,but I'm following like 40 and it's fun!

    [reply]
19. 

    4/20/09

    becthomasphotograp

    Think of twitter as a marketing machine and then you'll get it. I get the majority of my blog hits from twitter and I only follow poeple, business', places that are of an interest and benefit to me. I have had local people find me via Twitter and inquire about my photography and I have expanded my photography industry contacts.

    [reply]
    1. 

       4/20/09

       HollytheHousewife

       yea,I know what u mean. I just started really using twitter. my blog traffic literally tripled in one day. I think sir almo had something to do with it though.