I’m not what you’d call an early adopter. I got my first cell phone as a safety precaution on my grad school commute through the sketchier parts of SE Washington DC. I joined Facebook in 2007, but deactivated my account shortly afterward and only recently reactivated it. I don’t own an iPhone or a Blackberry. I have accounts with BrightKite and Plurk, but I don’t use them.
I finally jumped on board with Twitter after reading secondhand the JnJ Camp Baby tweets about pelvic floors and vaginal prolapse and hair braiding. More than any other social media platform (besides blogging, of course), I’ve embraced Twitter. It’s so simple, and yet it’s so powerful.
Here’s how I use Twitter – and why everyone (even moms) ought to be using it too:
To get news first
I was literally writing this post when I first heard about Michael Jackson’s death via Twitter at 2:45pm PDT yesterday while MSNBC was still reporting only that he had been rushed to the hospital. It was nearly 20 minutes later that MSNBC first mentioned the TMZ report. At 3:21pm PDT, MSNBC reported that according to the LA Times, Jackson had died. His official time of death was 2:26pm PDT. Social media scoops old school journalism.
More importantly, the news I get via Twitter is the news that’s most interesting to me. That’s because I follow people who interest me, and the articles they tweet are almost always ones that I want to read. Sure, I’d probably find most of them on my own, but Twitter helps distill the glut of news into a manageable stream.
Sometimes the news is personally useful. When I tweeted last Friday that I was making homemade chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, I received a reply alerting me to the Nestle’s recall. My own tweet was on the frivolous side, but if I hadn’t overshared we might have spent Sunday’s triathlon camped out in the port-a-johns.
To get news that’s otherwise unavailable
The recent events in Iran have been documented in far greater detail by demonstrators inside the country than by any news organization, and the protesters are getting the word out via social media – primarily Twitter. The role of Twitter in the dissemination of information has been both vital and unprecedented, publicizing protest organization sites (including Where Is My Vote?, Why We Protest – IRAN, and Green Revolution) and video footage from the streets of Iran. What’s being accomplished via Twitter – where cable news outlets have failed – is truly amazing.
To make connections
While many of us on Twitter have a blog or business that’s the basis of our online interaction, a website certainly isn’t a prerequisite for using Twitter productively. Nor is it necessary to immediately have legions of followers. Start by following people who interest you – news sources, journalists, politicians, even celebrities – and they’ll lead you to people who share your views and interests. There’s a big world out there beyond your geographic boundaries; explore it, if only virtually.
To send a message
I wasn’t yet on Twitter when I posted about the Camp Baby invitation/dis-invitation debacle, but in the wake of the subsequent and similar Fishful Thinking backlash and the Motrin Moms outpouring, I realized the power inherent in Twitter. We’ve faced backlash against us for our responses in these situations, but the fact remains that an outlet exists where more immediate attention can be gained than by calling the customer service line or writing an angry letter. But as with all forms of social media (adolescent MySpace users, I’m looking at you), it’s important to wield that power wisely and consider carefully before hitting Enter.
Twitter is also an ideal way to spread the word about what you love. Granted, warm and fuzzy tweets can be suspect – “was she paid to say that?” – but just like with personal blog posts, it’s fairly easy to tell when someone is sincere. Alice.com, Bing.com, and each new iteration of the iPhone have all been tweeted prominently. I’ve tweeted about Hautelook.com and RueLaLa.com, in particular the Born shoes that I’d been eyeing at retail and got on RueLaLa for half-price, generating several replies from others who love Born.
To be entertained
Celeb gossip is rarely my thing, but I have to admit it’s hilarious to see what kind of damage a celebrity can do with a Twitter account. I follow a couple colorful personalities (Penn Jillette and Meghan McCain), but for really good trainwreck-watching, check out Kirstie Alley and Miley Cyrus. Plenty of regular joes are entertaining too. Aimee turned me on to @badbanana, who’s got a dry sense of humor that I love. Watch for #FollowFriday recommendations too; it’s a great way to find new people to follow.
It takes talent to make people laugh, but it really takes talent to do it in 140 characters. Some of the best tweets still crack me up, and I’ve got them saved in my favorites. Some of the exchanges on Twitter that made me laugh the hardest are the ones that I merely witnessed after the fact, like #cathyandersonandherwhiteteeth. With others, I jump into the fray and later find it documented in a post. It’s like having a group chat where nobody ever gets interrupted and everybody gets a chance to chime in.
Of course Twitter has its share of “what I ate for breakfast” tweets (interestingly, it’s the celebs who’ve cornered the market on these inanities), but the solution is easy: Don’t follow people who don’t interest you. Instead, focus on the people and news sources that enrich your day. They’re out there.
How long have you been on Twitter? What do you like best about it? If you’re not on Twitter yet, did I change your mind about it?
I’ve been on Twitter since 2006, which is pretty much the Stone Age of Twitter, and was part of that Baby Camp “Your Vagina is a House” group, which is when I think it really took off. To me, it’s like passing notes in class with your funniest friends, a news source, and an outlet for the inane voices in my head. I think you nailed it, as always.
@glennia
2006? Wow!
Thinking about those JnJ tweets still cracks me up.
I’ve been on Twitter for more than one year now. I don’t blog for a number of reasons so this gives me a chance to connect with some of my favorite bloggers. It’s also a great source of breaking news.
I couldn’t get cable, phone and internet set up for more than 2 weeks after I moved into my new home despite my calling for over one month prior trying to set an appointment only to be told they couldn’t make me an appt. until the prior tennant had disconnected. I tweeted my problems and was contacted by Comcast and was granted an install date for the day that I moved in. Had it not been for Twitter, I’d have been without tv, internet and phone for way too long.
It’s also a good place for me to vent when I need to.
Yes! You’re a great example of a non-blogger who enjoys the Twitter community.
Love how Twitter got you resolution with Comcast.
Oh, and when we had a power outage 2 weeks ago from tornados and just crazy weather, the power company was tweeting restore progress despite their website being down.
I have a couple twitter accounts. The one I use in conjunction with blogging is the only one still active – and I don’t even use it properly. I think maybe one day I might start it up again, but we’ll see.
The others, well, I don’t use them at all. I like the slower pace of life without twitter, the waiting for news and the having to dig for the news that’s not immediately available, etc.
It does move fast, especially if you follow lots of people. That’s why I giggle at my friends who complain that Facebook moves fast.
I learned of Twitter early, but didn’t actually do until after Camp Baby — turns out people *thought* they were already following me on Twitter, so of course I had to jump on to actually be myself.
I feel so much more in the loop now with just glances throughout the day. No more time-consuming than reading blog feeds, and yet much more information faster. And – as you note with breaking news – the breadth of my information (from local to world, serious to silly) is much wider than without Twitter. I could go on, but you’ve essentially already said it above.
I’m surprised you weren’t on earlier, considering what an early adopter you are!
I joined twitter this time last year, mostly to hear about what was happening at BlogHer. Silly reason, yes. But there it is.
I adore Twitter. There is always someone there to entertain you, someone to listen to you and someone to give you advice on pretty much anything you could ask.
Mostly, I love the community feel to it. It’s talking to my friends all day, without having to wait hours for an email response.
There really is a community feel to it. And like divrchk, you don’t have to necessarily be a blogger to enjoy that aspect of Twitter.
I have been on Twitter for several years now and do enjoy it as entertainment, mostly.
I do think a comparison between Twitter and MSNBC is not fair, though. MSNBC is a real news organization verifies (you would hope!) the news that it reports. Twitter? Is akin to a gossip site where things are not necessarily verified.
That said, I do like its take on world events – pop culture or otherwise. I often go out to Twitter when things are happening to get the viewpoint of folks I “know” and trust.
For sure, 9/11 would have been a completely different experience had Twitter been around.
Definitely not an apples-to-apples comparison (and didn’t mean it as such). TMZ (the MJ source) isn’t on par with MSNBC either, of course. It was just an illustration of how quickly information travels, even if that info is flawed.
Re 9/11: I was working/living in Manhattan at the time, and I stayed at work to get emails out to friends/family because I know our dial-up at home would be totally shot. Likewise my cell service was quite spotty that day. Twitter would have allowed for more play-by-play assuming connections could handle it (T1, DSL, cable), but given the infrastructure constraints, I expect the mobile networks would have been even more overwhelmed.
Twitter ID @Birth_Lactation …
Big name i know but can’t really change it now without much trouble.
I joined because of Ellen quite frankly. In March of this year. For me it started as entertainment and quickly turned professional.
I knew nothing of Twitter, blogging, BlogHer and there’s so much out there i still don’t know.
So now I think I have done something very very good for myself…. hooking up with like minded people has stimulated my energy, my intellect and i now have a blog. I work full time as an OB/ L&D/ Neonatal nurse. I find out WAY more about recent research on Twitter than I do in the hospital! I am a staunch supporter of informed choice. I find out more about the variety of things women wish to choose in relation to childbirth/ breastfeeding on Twitter and from other blogs. I am happy that I can have a broader knowledge base during discussions with some of the mothers who enter in to my care.
Love that you are getting professional development info via Twitter!
I resisted Twitter mightily (even wrote a post about why I wasn’t on Twitter) but finally joined last August, and now I love it. My little Twhirl window keeps me company when I am working alone (sometimes too much company), I find tons of interesting links to follow, and it’s been good for me professionally as well. I get a fair number of referrals to my site through it and I also find sources and ideas for articles I’m writing.
It really is a good professional resource, both for publicizing your own stuff and reaching out to others for info.
Great post! I’ll add that I experimented with linking to blog posts on Twitter and ended up getting significant traffic that way, straight from my Twitter followers. I think it’s a really effective way to promote your stuff, as long as that’s not ALL you’re doing with your Twitter account.
I love using Twitter for those moments that are too short to blog, too. It’s been a great way to record some of the HILARIOUS stuff my five-year-old says throughout the day.
And then there’s Cathy Anderson. And by the way, you wouldn’t BELIEVE how many searches I get every day now for “Cathy Anderson, White Teeth”, “What does Cathy Anderson use for white teeth”, “Are Cathy Anderson’s teeth real”, etc. PEOPLE, PLEASE!
I’ll second that – perfect way to document those funnies that alone aren’t sufficient blog post fodder.
Cathy Anderson – I still crack up when I read that series of tweets!
I do not remember when I joined Twitter, but it was a while ago. At first I posted very few updates.About a year ago I started posting more.
For better or for worse, Twitter is a time-suck and also a wonderful thing. I have increased sales in my etsy shop, stayed up waaaay too late at night and met some people in real life that I probably wouldn’t have previously.
It is a great way to meet more people, especially without the commitment of adding them to your feed reader.
I”m not on yet…you’ve got me thinking, but I feel like it might be best for me to not have another distraction. I get sucked in to easily and I think I’m already plugged in enough as it is. But you do have me considering it….:)
Just like your feed reader, you control how many people you follow, which in turn limits how crazy your timeline gets. If you don’t want to get sucked in to the social aspects, then stick with the news sources (CNN, MSNBC, Fox – if that’s your bag…).
No one in my real life has an opinion to weigh in re: the Morrissey vs. Smiths debate. Most of them don’t even know what the Morrissey vs. Smiths debate IS. Reason #36565 why I love Twitter.
How Soon Is Now – end of discussion.
Twitter is the new feed reader.
Web MD
You name it.
It is! Considering how many of us tweet our latest posts, I often see them via Twitter before I get to them in Bloglines.
Awesome post.
Twitter is the Google of conversation and that is where ultimately it will make its biggest impact in the world.
Me? I love it to record my son’s funny one-liners, amongst the other dozen reasons.
Those kid quotes – Twitter fits the bill perfectly.
I have been on since my friends all joined up, and I really like it. It must be close to a year. It has given me new readers, it makes me laugh all the time, and I get to communicate with bloggers I love that I’m sure aren’t reading my wee blog.
It is great for advice, for commiseration. you name it. I only wish my husband got it.
I read more people now whom I follow on Twitter. It’s a great way to “sell” yourself, as long as (like Lindsay said) that’s not all you’re doing.
I love your article! I enjoy the ease in which I can obtain info so quickly. I love that everyone else is doing all the leg-work for me in a way. I just don’t have the time to scour the internet for RED HOT tips for Moms, so this has been an amazing venue for sharing. Twitter ID @momslifesavers
Definitely a means of collaboration – good point!
I need to bookmark this and send to every person who still asks, “why do I need that tweeter thing again?”
Then again, maybe the tweeter thing doesn’t need them.
Ah yes. But then, we don’t have to follow them.
I think you should correct that to read: I joined Twitter after Aimee yelled in my ear one too many times.
You are always yelling in my ear. Good thing you take such amazing photos and serve such delicious sangria.