I was at a social function this week and was chatting with a new friend about social media. He hates it. Says his kids spend too much time online and he can’t be bothered sitting in front of a computer when he can be out playing sports or watching it on TV. To each his own.
He questions the validity and accuracy of stuff you read online. He questions the credibility of people writing blogs and “sounding like experts when they’re not.” That’s definitely true to some degree. There are indeed some people who try to pass themselves off as experts in areas they don’t belong.
But there are so many amazing resources that one discovers online that you more than likely would never encounter if you weren’t connected by the internet and all that it offers. It’s worth the price of having to sift through the rough to find the diamonds.
I have resisted signing onto Twitter as I know it will absorb my precious time just as Facebook, Linked In, other blogs — this blog — and other social media are already doing. But a friend (who is also a follower of this blog) has won me over with her tweets. She posted a list of them on a listserv we both subscribe to and I was amazed at the usefulness in those minute sentences. See:
So I signed onto Twitter.com (@wizardofwords) and am now following her and a number of other amazing people. I’m happy to have you follow me there if you are willing.
I have heard it said that Twitter is a way of connecting to the most brilliant and entertaining minds and I am beginning to see the light. Just 12 hours after signing on, I’m already amazed at the individuals I’ve been able to connect with. Like Michael Hyatt. I found him via another FB friend who had linked to his comments on the “WOW factor.” (More on that in a future post.) As the Wizard of Words (aka WOW), I was attracted to this post. Which led me to Michael’s website and more of his insights.
For Michael’s take on Twitter, see:
I encourage you to visit …
Maybe that will be enough to win you over to the Twitter side — if you’re not already there! And if you are … tell me/us about how Twitter has helped you or your business.
About Doreen PendgracsKnown throughout the Web as the "Wizard of Words", I've been a freelance writer since 1993. I'm currently researching and writing "Chocolatour: A Quest for the World's Best Chocolate". You can follow my travels on "Travel Diversions with Doreen".
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Doreen,
I'm tweeting @ElleAndraWarner.
I don't protect my tweets because, as you say, it defeats the purpose of Twitter. At a TMAC conference in February, the social guru talking about Twitter said as travel journalists, we need to do ''personal branding''. For me, that's what Twitter is — about ''branding'' and developing a following. I look at it as part of my marketing strategy. I tweet information, links, travel news/quirks, etc. (don't have a blog yet, but it is in the plans).
My sister does have a protected Twitter, but her reasons for being on Twitter are different – she has developed a ''friend'' community for personal interest, not business.
Cheers,
Elle.
Welcome to Twitter'ville!' Glad to have you. You note that your concern lies in the amount of time Twitter will take. I've found (and enjoy) a nifty multi-tasking tweeting device. TwitterFox is a little application that is available as an extension to firefox. It allows you to follow tweets and post tweets directly from your FireFox browser. It is pretty cool. TwitterBar is another application that I use that truncates urls and posts them to twitter whenever I see the need. You can also post a tweet directly from your browswer address bar. Give them both a try, you'll enjoy them!
Thanks for both your comments. gals. My house guest has just left, so I'll get back to tweeting and following. So much to learn, but I am loving it! Looking forward to hearing from you again soon and hope you're enjoying the summer.