Published: June 20, 2009 in articles » management by Thomas Baekdal
There is a bazillion articles and videos, trying to explain what Twitter is all about. There is also a ton of surveys, most noticeable a recent one telling you that only 10% of all Twitter users actually post tweets on their own. But here is the thing... They are all giving people the wrong ideas!
Twitter has changed tremendously since it was first invented. At first it was merely a place where you could tell people "what you are doing", like when you told people that you were "sitting at Starbucks having coffee". But that is not what Twitter is about anymore.
Twitter is not a traditional social network. Twitter is not a community. Twitter is not a place where everyone has to say something. Twitter is not anything like Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace. It's not even close.
So what the heck is Twitter?
Well, Twitter is...
You can follow business leaders, trendsetters, people who invent stuff, or create things. People with brilliant ideas. People with a passion. Famous people like Lance Armstrong. Astronauts in space. ...or just some of your friends.
You follow what they think, what they do, what they find, what they like you to see, and how life is working out for them.
You can follow companies you care about, follow how things are going while something is made. You can follow what groups are trying to accomplish, taking part in the journey towards their goals.
You can see what people think about the election in Iran. Get live reactions from any sporting event. What they think about the new iPhone, or you can see if you are the only one having problems with a new product.
You can literally get instant feedback about anything, anywhere - from real people like you and me.
BTW: This is the single most important reason why companies should use Twitter
So, Twitter is is not anything like Facebook. It is not a place where you setup your social profile, and then become friends with people you knew in high school.
Twitter is really a social news channel, where you can get news from anyone - big or small. Unfiltered, directly from the source, and in real-time.
And you get to decide who is important to you. You get to decide who you want to be influenced by. You don't follow people who only talks about when they are having coffee, or whose main activity is to see what kind of fish they are.
That is why, on Twitter, only 10% produce tweets, and 90% listen. Because this is not a social gathering, where everyone is talking. It is a place where you come to listen, contribute and connect to people that matters to you.
But this is only half the story. Twitter is a social news channel. That means that you are a part of the experience. In fact, you (and people like you) are the ones who make it all work.
This means that...
If you are passionate about something, if you have something interesting to say, or if you are doing something special, then you can be the one that other people follow. You can be the person that other people care about, and want to connect to. You can be the leader.
It doesn't matter if it is a small personal project, that is only relevant to a few enthusiasts, or a big idea that you are trying to explain to the world.
Twitter is not a celebrity contest. It doesn't matter how many people who follow you. What matters is, that you do something that other people might be interesting in knowing.
Twitter is an active real-time media. Which means that it is not about something that happened yesterday. It is about what is happening now. What do you care about - now? What do other people think - now!
When somebody tweets about a topic, you can respond by saying "I know what you should do, and here is why". You can reach out to people you follow (or anyone else for that matter), and help them, share something with them or provide feedback about how you feel about it.
You can help them by spreading the word, pointing other people to places that are meaningful to them. And, you can say "thank you, what you did was just amazing", and motivate them to move forward.
You can also reach out to other people. Ask them if anyone got any ideas how to solve a problem or what people feel about a topic? You can ask a person directly what she would do or think.
If you do these things, then other people will respond to you. If you ask a question or reach out to someone, then you are very likely to get a reply. And by that, you are connected to the people you care about.
...or to put it really simple.
Twitter is about all the interesting things in life, from interesting people - including you. And it is the conversation, that emerges because of it, that makes it so exciting.
Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer
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Thanks :)
Hi Thomas, as always, clairvoyant and to the point.
Thanks
Creative Director, design junky, and all around media addict. More please.
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Way to boil it down. I don't know how many times a day I get asked what the value of twitter is. Great insight.
I'm agree with you, suddenly I remember a song called The Best Things In Life Are.
Twitter is one of those, and it's free :D
Well said! Nice job of summing it all up. Do you think that twitter is better suited for one generation over another? Twitter seems like it would be particularly appropriate for reaching out to the generation y crowd. What do you think? Thanks for the post Thomas!
Digital Marketing Geek & Wannabe Race Car Driver (SEO, social, interactive marketing, automobiles, racing, karate)
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Great updated definition of Twitter, worthy of an RT
Very good update with insight beyond the recent Time article. Most certainly RT worthy.
A worthy post about how to use Twitter usefully.
So many articles about 'What is Twitter' emphasize the 'what are you doing' aspect only. [ ...perhaps such articles are not written by users of Twitter (?) ]
The Twitter app community has enhanced the utility of the Twitter experience. Without Tweetdeck and Search.Twitter, Twitter alone would not as useful as it is today.
Nice article seems to get really to the point of twitt and just how I found its use has grown for me.
the Ted videos lets this piece down though, can't say I've seen something so massively self involved outside of Apple but I guess that's how these things go.
Technophile, econ student, recovering veg, teacher, terrible comedienne, math geek, MUNer, traveler, occasional blogger. Rapidly redefining my web presence.
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THANK YOU for this great article! It's rare to see a piece that emphasizes the things that make Twitter truly useful, rather than simply stating that it's a great way for lazy bloggers to let the world know what they ate for lunch today (or stating that it is just like Facebook but more hip).
I will definitely be passing this article around (as previously stated, certainly RT-worthy).
Online marketing optimization, web analytics consultant, educator, speaker, evangelist. Helps business and tech sync and soar online.
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Retweeted http://tr.im/qGrt
Founder of TWiki.org, CTO of TWIKI.NET, inventor of Structured Wikis, co-author of Wikis for Dummies, speaker
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Thank you for this well written article! I got some positive response on Facebook (via RT)
One of the best articles yet on twitter. Well done. I agree with Martin: this is one for the media!
A chameleon, fan of sarcasm, web/graphic designer, wine junkie, Jack Reacher groupie, coolest mom, best wife ever, keeper of many secrets
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Great post.
performance marketing specialist with a passion for food preparation and consumption
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Clearest summary up to this point in time. I look forward to un update in a year because the use, meaning and essence of Twitter will keep on changing.
Awesome, you clearly stated all the reasons why I use Twitter. I am looking forward for your writing on Twitter.
Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer
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Thanks everyone! :)
You're so right, thanks a lot Baekdak. I like your saying that Twitter is not a celebrity contest :)
Nice take and different comments on Twitter - makes for a refreshing read from 'Yet another Twitter guide...'
Excellent article. Really nailed the purpose of twitter better than anyone else I've heard explain it.
Silicon Valley marketer, product innovator, consultant, start-up advisor; fmr Apple, AOL, Netscape exec.; ex-smokejumper
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well put - despite 1 year and a bit of active twitter usage, I still sometimes struggle to 'xplain it to others. now can point to this post.
Twitter is extremely basic or raw material akin to stem cells which can be differentiated from the most moralistic purpose of saving human race and the planet from demise to the spamming of XXX material. Defining Twitter therefore is a mistake and misleading because it gives the impression that the potentials of twitter is open to being defined and limited. There is an archival function that goes beyond the instant nature emphasized here. One can build a history of any event by posting tweets diligently and compiling them into an archival function as can be seen at http://cuddlendance.com/art.aspx
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Jun 21
2009
Martin Söderlund
Web professional with communications firm Hallvarsson & Halvarsson, focusing on ASP.NET, EPiServer and front-end development. Also a Manchester United fan.
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Excellent explanation and summary. This one should be sent to the media.