TWITTER – WHY DOES IT HAVE SUCH A SILLY NAME?
I think this every time I try to explain the value of twitter to a sceptic, because its name sounds so frivolous, so inane and so unnecessary. Clients and friends look at me as if I’m mad. It doesn’t help that so many celebrities use it to inform their fan base of what colour shoes they are wearing today or that all the language around it is even more silly: Twitterati, tweeps, tweeting. Or that David Cameron said:
“too many twits (sic) make a tw**”
It’s ironic that, to the converted, it’s absolutely brilliant. So flexible, so much information. For me, in setting up a new business, it has been invaluable for connecting to other people I can work with, following links to learn about new ways to market my business, networking, finding out about events and starting conversations with potential clients. It’s also fantastic for keeping up with news as it happens and watching trends in public opinion. It was fascinating to read the tweets during the Olympics and follow the short statements of congratulation offered to British sportsmen and women.
Sceptics think Twitter distances users from their friends and families but I think it can make tweeters feel part of a community. The hard work of introducing yourself to someone is done before you actually meet and ‘tweeters’ immediately have something to talk about. If I meet someone at an event and their parting words are “I’ll follow you on Twitter” I feel that it will probably develop into an ongoing business relationship and if they don’t ‘do’
social media I know it will be harder to keep in touch. The power of twitter to pull communities together, whether they are geographically at a distance and interested in a single topic or all living on the same street, is awesome.
Such an amazing communications tool – and such a silly name.
Sent from Sarah Whitelock 07956 757375
www.greenapplecommunications.co.uk
www.greenapplecommunications.co.uk
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© 2008
