To Tweet or not to Tweet?
“Do you Twitter?…”
“No! – I wouldn’t know what to say.”
“It’s a waste of time.”
“I don’t know how it works.”
“What’s the point?”
To Tweet or not to Tweet?
That is the question. Some people take to Twitter like a white bird to a blue background. Others are more hesitant citing confusion, disinterest or even a fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. But Twitter doesn’t have to be scary – and it can be a lot of fun/a great source of information/a superb business tool/a lifesaver.
One step at a time
I hear a lot of people complain that they don’t ‘get’ Twitter, that it’s a waste of time, that it’s pointless.
My response?
How do you know unless you try it?
If we all did the same thing every day, day in day out we would never try any thing new, never learn anything new, never meet anyone new. If I stayed at home in front of my computer each day I wouldn’t know that there are curlews and oyster-catchers a mile from my house, I wouldn’t say hello to the three dog walkers that I greet each day and I wouldn’t listen to the old albums on my iPod and realise that I still know all the words to ‘The Beaten Generation’ by The The. Like most things in life sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and do it. Try it. Give it a whirl. Dip your toe in the water.
After all, what have you got to lose?
The Ever-Changing Landscape of Twitter
A beautiful day
Twitter is a resource, a treasure trove, a forum, a help line and a connection to people all over the world 24 hours a day. Got a problem with your computer? Tweet about it and you’ll get a reply. Want to know the best place to stay in Edinburgh this weekend? Tweet and find the answer in 140 characters or less.
When Japan was hit by the devastating earthquake earlier this year it was Twitter that spread the news first, that sent photographs around the world within minutes and that saved lives as doctors used it to coordinate their aid efforts.
Some days I get carried away in a stream the absolute gems that flood my screen – daily photographs by Terry Richardson or Perou, hysterical quips from Caitlin Moran or Grace Dent, news headlines that make it to Twitter before they hit the BBC news pages, downloads, infograms, links to amazing websites, blogs, rants and things that make you go ‘hmmm’ … and it’s all there for the taking. What’s not to love?
And for businesses, well – businesses of all shapes and sizes are just starting to realise the power of Twitter.
Over to you
If you’ve been brave and dipped your toe into the Twittersphere – what’s the best thing you’ve ever found there? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below.
To Tweet or not to Tweet?
by Katherine on November 26, 2011
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