Saturday 7 December 2013

#Twittering #Tweeting #Twits ?


Personally I don't get it. But, in 2006 Twitter launched as another method of communicating on the go. Allowing 140 characters per message the ‘microblog’ site now has over 218 million users worldwide (Bullas, 2013)



I count myself one of the 60% in 'inactive' Twitter scrapheap statistics (Rheingold, 2009) Joining up, then promptly abandoning ship. Twitter always seemed to me to be largely focused catching the latest celebrity 'scoop'... such as this embarrassing twit tweet of the week:

So, I asked a friend of mine, who has her own small jewellery business, why she succumbed to the trend of tweeting and the endless #'s??
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" she said, matter of factly. Ahhh… that old chestnut. 


Whether I like it or not, Twitter has proven itself a great marketing tool for businesses of all sizes, and much more affordable than traditional methods (Bulearca 2010)

 According to Rheingold, the reason I can't handle Twitter is due to poor media literacy. 'Twitter id one of a growing breed of communication media that require some skills to use productively... The difference between seeing Twitter as a waste of time or as a powerful new community amplifier depends entirely on how you look at it - on knowing how to look at it.' (Rheingold, 2009)

 Rheingold says originally the printing press provided this equality. Enhancing literacy and free speech throughout the community. Now, the enabling technologies are based on the internet. 'Every desktop is a printing press, a broadcasting station, a community or marketplace.' (Rheingold, 2013)


Taking all this on board, I decided to expand my mind and my literacy skills by learning Twitter basics in business, via this video:
So, Twitter can enable small businesses to grow. By giving them access to a community od potential customers and events, allowing network building within their industry. I am now seeing the appeal.

Some tips from Bulearca's (2010) article when using Twitter to push business:
Search - posts for related keywords (the #!) find out what people on Twitter are saying about your business.
Engage - build customer relationships. Twitter's fast access and real time 1:1 encourages this.
Tone - Speak like a real person. Be engaging.
Think - are you using it for a business,or using it personally? Have a strategy.  

 Jenkins' Convergence culture theory is also demonstrated. Sites like YouTube, and now Twitter, give the masses control over multinational corporations. By re-imagining and reposting their thoughts and views of media for the wider public. (HCDMediaGroup 2009)

 The little company/person now has a big voice. Gaining access to speak to large numbers and corporations directly. Twitter is helping the little guy get ahead. 
Now I get it!

References:
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2 comments:

  1. Unknown9 December 2013 at 22:19

    I found it interesting that Rheingold asserts that how effective Twitter is relies on how we perceive it - very thought provoking! I was not a Twitter fan; I held quite a closed minded view that it was simply another social networking site that people told the world pointless updates about themselves, so according to Rheingold's thoughts, Twitter would not have been very useful to for me, due to my perception. And it's true, with that view, I would not have used Twitter to any of its potential use; both because I wouldn't even have considered using it plus I was ignorant to its capabilities.

    Upon further research, I am recognising that it can be a useful tool for businesses and individuals. Your blog is very visually stimulating and engaging. Well done!

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  2. Gitte14 December 2013 at 19:34

    I think Rheingold's thoughts can be translated to any media / social net working medium, i.e. the effectiveness of any media relies on how we perceive and understand it.
    Brigitte

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