Is Twitter all that it is cracked up to be?

[Chris Brooks]

Hey everybody,
So the web and forms alike are abuzz with Twitter, but is it really everything it is cracked up to be. I wrote this article on my blog and was wondering what you guys and gals thought. So here it is:

Is Twitter all that it is cracked up to be?

Twitter is everywhere. People are building massive followings. Tweeting information like never before, but is it really what it is all cracked up to be?

What Twitter is to me

Twitter to me, and correct me if I am wrong, seems to be about building relationships through your followers. The best ways of doing that have been talked about and discussed a hundred times over a great example of social media and its uses are at these sites: Marketing Hackz and Benphoster

That is all well and good, but is Twitter where you really should be spending your time? If I am trying to build a relationship to help build my business why would I look to Twitter? Twitter gives me a bio and 140 characters to express my views. Is that really enough to build a relationship?

Can you really build a relationship with Twitter?

Genuine relationships take time to form. Is every person you say hi to your best friend? Of course not. Relationships take time. With the volume of tweets flying across Twitter on a daily basis about tons of topics is there really enough “time” on Twitter to form a relationship?

What about going to a networking event? Better yet setting up a free seminar of your own. That way the people walking in the door you know are already interested in what you have to talk about. Plus you get more than 140 characters to express your view.

My two cents

I believe that Twitter is a great place to get the pulse of an industry or niche. I just don’t see how answering the question “What are you doing” is going to help me build my business. Now I don’t mean to rip Twitter a new one, in fact if you want please follow me, ChrisBrooks07.I am simply trying to spark a discussion about the merits of Twitter.

If you are interested in joining the conversation please leave your remarks below.

Topic for discussion:

Is Twitter worth it? If so what do you use it for and how has it helped you?

Until next time here is to your success!

Sincerely

Chris Brooks

[lonniepaiz]

I completely agree..Twitter gives me anxiety.. how in the world does anyone find the time and energy to care that someone is looking out a window, or going to eat supper. All I've gotten out of it is that celebrities are just as boring as the every day person.. and the every day person is even more boring behind closed doors.. and I am WAY busier than to have to care about what they are saying, or thinking up things to say on it... just my two cents.. I don't think we need any more social groups..!!!

[Bouch]

Twitter's at least a great avenue to spam your followers with marketing propaganda

[Chris Brooks]

Looks like we are on the same page! I know that people have used twitter with success for gathering feedback and things like that, but on a day to day use is twitter useful?

[Wayne Liew]

Just like any social media platforms, it is all about relationship building and relationship building takes time.

Using Twitter effectively is not about answering the basic question of What are you doing? In fact, most successful Twitter users don't tweet about what they are currently doing.

You need add value to your tweets by tweeting inspirational, useful or though provoking text or links. Also, interacting with people via @ replies and DMs is crucial as well.

Twitter has given me some referrals over the past few months as well as affiliate marketing income, not to even mention about the traffic that it brings to my blog. Also, I have found new people that turn into prospects or business partners. I wouldn't have known them if not because of Twitter.

I am not a Twitter evangelist or something but just to highlight a few things that Twitter has achieved for me.

[DeathsAlive]

Never actually used it my self or yet alone even been on there, seems like a good tool and could help generate some traffic if you are able to intergrate it into a system/application anyone aware of anything like this ?

[myfayt]

I don't use twitter and never will. It looks like some middle schoolers class project.

[Chris Brooks]

Wayne Liew thank you for the insight. If you don't mind me asking how were you able to drive traffic to your blog? Did your followers see it as spaming them sometimes? Thanks!