Why I Use Twitter – Increase Infosumption without a Headache

By on March 6, 2008 in Conversations, Social Media with 7 Comments

Twitterlogo
Twitter has quickly become on of my favorite tools. It allows me to do several things at once — and any tool that can synchronize my efforts is a winner.

I use Twitter for three reasons (listed n my order of importance):

  1. Keep my finger on the pulse. Lots of valuable information flies across Twitterati in the form of tinyurls as people share new blog posts, results from their own feed reading, and new stories.
  2. Brainstorming and white boarding. Questions asked on Twitter are often the genesis for richer blog posts,  solutions to problems and sometimes value-additives for current business plans. I call them "Twideas"
  3. Chit-chat, eatin’ pizza & gettin’ fat. Sometimes – it’s great just to vent, or listen to a vent, share funny goings on and such.

But who has time for it all?  I don’t. Not in the normal fashion — so with a few tools and tweaks, I’ve been able to synchronize things so I don’t miss too much (Twitter or work).

Incoming Twitter
I use Google Talk IMs to skim, scan, and save. As I’m working on other things, I’ll notice a pop-up (like an email notice). If the message has a URL or question mark (see the first two reasons above), I’ll pay close attention.

Outgoing Twitter
I have a Twitter button on my bookmark toolbar, but sometimes I keep an extra browser window open just for Twitter. When I run across a web page or blog post, or a problem needing some brain power — I go to my Twitter community with a quick 140 character message.

All those TinyURLs
I hate missing them. The web pages shared on Twitter are the number one reason I follow.  I found out how to subscribe to just Twitter entries that share an URL by using Yahoo Pipes, and this has been a real plus for me.

Twign-up. It’s Free!
In the next two or three posts, I’ll explain how to set up Twitter for your Google Talk, and also how to set-up Yahoo Pipes and a feed for your Twitters.

If you’re not on Twitter – you should be. It’s become a traffic-generating, reach-extending, knowledge-sharing bonanza. It’s free. And if you do it right, it will synchronize your communications. You can catch me on Twitter @mikesansone

Related:

For a video on how to use Twitter (more on the social side than business…but use your imagination), check out Common Craft’s Twitter in Plain English

Other Posts Here:
 – Twitter as a Business App?  Create a Plugin Panel
– Twitter Search: Still Missing One Key Component

About Mike Sansone:

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  • http://helcat.org Elizabeth Helfant

    Can you share how tos on Yahoo Pipes? Your reasons are right on target. Twitter filters information and searches for answers effectively for me.

  • http://masterful-marketing.com/mmblog Debra Murphy

    Mike – Twitter must be in the air. I too, just signed up and started following a few folks to see what this is all about. One thing to note – if you think you are going to watch from the background for awhile before becoming an active participant, no way! People start following you back. So be prepared to dive right in.

  • http://lisaneal.com Lisa Neal

    I’m curious what you think about using Twitter for educational purposes – what I call micro-blogging (do others use that term?) See http://elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=best_practices&article=44-1 for a short article about blogging in the classroom and please let me know if you think Twitter would be advantageous or distracting.

  • http://www.gecekahvesi.net gece kahvesi

    I hate missing them. The web pages shared on Twitter are the number one reason I follow.

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