Amen to Darren on the Twitter Post
5 June, 2008, 4:48 pm
Lately Twitter has been a bit frustrating. Up down, up down – making you angry and sick to your stomach – like a bad porn flick. As a result I have seen a plethora or posts and submissions at a lot of different Social Networking Sites bashing the application.
When I saw something in my feedreader by Darren at Problogger saying something about “twitter is a waste of time” , I felt a bit sad that such a tremendous blogger would fall prey to that nonsensical banter that has been roaming around the internet lately. On the Contrary! Darren rose above the fray by suggesting that Twitter (like anything else) can be a waste of time if its not used correctly.
I see all these people using twitter as if it is just a place to chat it up. Do I chat it up at twitter sometimes? You betcha I do! But I do that with a goal. I am using twitter (and a lot of other social networks) with a goal. It’s not wasting time if I am achieving my goal.
So let me ask you this. What is a goal you have? Can twitter be used to meet that goal? How can this be measured? If you cannot answer these questions then either head back to the drawing board, or get the heck away from twitter.
- Social Networking 101 – Why Should I twitter
- Increase your website traffic with Social Networking
- A call with Darren Rowse of Problogger.net
- The Whores of Social Networks
- Did the Christians Get it Right? or not?
I think entrepreneurs and bloggers who are focused on a goal for readership and/or money forget that those who are happy with a 9 to 5 full time job sign up to these services with a goal, the goal is to socialize. They meet new people and find new content that they never would have found normally. Even those who do it with “no goal” still have a goal just not one that would meet the bloggers lofty goals. I think everyone’s goals are different, but none really lack importance. It all lies in the perspective of the Twitter..er and his/her followers.
J. That’s a great point. Thanks for your comment. Even people with “no goal” have a goal. I guess the people saying twitter is a waste of time simply need to define their goal a bit better and then see that it is not a waste.