Warning: Twitter doesn’t come with instructions.
It would be helpful if it did. But people continue to find a multitude of creative uses for Twitter. One of those persons, from the advertising agency side is Edward Boches.
I met Edward Boches through Twitter. Edward is the Chief Creative Officer for the Mullen agency. He recently wrote a great piece for AdWeek about Twitter that was released today. In it he says,
“Whenever I start a conversation about Twitter with someone who doesn’t use it — or who tried it, but never got beyond the inane act of twittering some insignificant detail of his daily life — I get eye rolls, throat clearing and other signals that suggest I should change the subject.
But if I start a conversation about Twitter with someone who has taken the time to use it, I get the exact opposite response: an instant conversation about fresh ideas, emerging thought leaders, newly revealed content and trends in social media that comes at me faster than an overcrowded chat room.“
Edward goes on to share five of the benefits that Twitter has given him:
- Instant access to thought leaders
- An opportunity to experience crowd sourcing in action
- A new way to connect with Millennials
- The first hand experience needed to become an authority
- A better understanding of how to weave together all things social
You can click on this link to read Edward’s article: What Can Twitter Do For You? Also follow Edward on Twitter: http://twitter.com/edwardboches
Reading Edward’s piece caused me to reflect upon my own journey using Twitter. My perspective is a bit different than his because my main objective is helping ad agencies with their new business using social media.
Here are some of the new business benefits that I’ve found through the use of Twitter:
- A tremendous networking tool that initiated friendships with dozens of people on a global scale. Chances are I wouldn’t have met these people otherwise. So thank you Twitter!
- A way to introduce new people to my blog’s content. Twitter generates more new traffic to FUEL LINES than any other tool. As Twitter grows, my followers on Twitter grows and my blog traffic explodes.
- Instant feedback and insight. I’ve introduced concepts, messages and posts through Twitter and am provided instant feedback. I’m also able to easily create polls and surveys on a variety of subjects that I’m researching.
- The ability to generate communications quickly. I’m able to propagate information at lightening speed through Twitter. I sent a direct message to followers yesterday with a direct link to some new research and had over 700 click-throughs within minutes.
Those are just a few of mine. What has Twitter done for you? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.
I think it’s odd that people have to ask what Twitter has done for them. If it hasn’t clearly done things for them, then they aren’t into it enough.
1) Several gigs/job opportunities
2) Ability to take advantage of events better than ever
3) Some level of self-promotion and branding
4) Oddly enough several dates
5) Constant connection with the communities I’m involved in.
Always learn something more when I stop by Michael’s blog. Agree with the benefits he cites, as well. In fact I’m going to cut and paste them for an upcoming piece that captures all the comments and dialog this is generating. If you believe that the more thoughtful people there are the better, the more ideas there are to share, then it’s in our collective best interest to build interest in and understanding of Twitter’s (and all of social media’s) benefits.
Edward Boches
I am a rather new Twitter user and the potential is huge. The ability to communicate with anybody or any organization on an instanteous basis is great.
Low cost is very appealing as well.
Access to trends and research in emerging industries–such as renewable energy–is another huge benefit to Twitter. @solartweets, @altenergynews, @awea are particularly good resources.
First, thank you Michael and Edward for this post.
In it’s basic sense, I find Twitter to be like a chat room for smart people. I get from it much of what’s already been mentioned, but what I find most gratifying is the instant access to breaking news, trending topics, and I love the wide and varied information constantly coming at me in a format that’s so easy to sift through. In 140-character tweets, I can skim pretty quickly and tell if I want to learn more, and if I do I know exactly where to go to get it. Incredible learning tool. I’ve learned things (and met people) I’d have never sought out were it not for Twitter.
Good day, my Twitter friends.
Like Lizz, I’d like to thank you guys for the post. I was very recently one of those eye-rollers when someone brought up Twitter. But have started a course in social media, as part of my PR program and have been ecstatic to find these “chat rooms for smart people”. It’s also been a great opportunity to engage with experienced professionals which is invaluable for students. Thank all of you for helping me realize the potential of Twitter.
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About a year ago, a colleague asked me if I was ‘into’ Twitter. I said no. I didn’t see the commercial applicability in it. And God knows, that’s why you spend time doing anything when you work for yourself – to ensure there’s a return of some kind. Then I spent a few hours trying it out. By the end of that time – I’d had an epiphany. Not so much for the commercial applicability, but for the amazing communicative power of the medium. And so I was hooked. And now I know people throughout the world whom I’d never know if it weren’t from Twitter. You don’t get that kind of networking from paying Chamber of Commerce dues. And as a virtual ad agency, Twitter is a revelation.
Jim, I can identify. I wasn’t a believer in the beginning but quickly understood the power of Twitter to build networks. Thanks for sharing.
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I use the spectrum of social media tools for different purposes. But at the end of the day, twitter is the one that I use the most. It offers the path of least resistance – an unintrusive icebreaker – to relevant networking contacts and getting up-to-the-minute news and info. Twitter interactions are instantly more valuable because in order for them to occur, both parties have to be mutually agreeable to engaging.
I sort my follows by topic or industry so I don’t get overwhelmed and can drill down on a particular area of interest when I want to.
I use twitter sort of as a litmus test to help me qualify prospects that I identify in other on/offline spaces. I look for twitter buttons on bios and I search twitter for individuals I am considering. I want to do business with progressive tech-savvy creative professionals. While twitter obviously isn’t the only indicator, it sure is an easy way to get a quick read on someone.
I started using twitter two years ago, when I was launching my own new company. It took me a few months to get my “twitter wings” (think “sea legs”), before I had sales that I could trace directly to my twitter activity. But once I landed that first account, the value became so obvious. I gain ongoing insights about my existing customers by following them and using twitter to maintain relationships. I make a point of promoting my customers on twitter using geographic keywords and spotlighting their products when appropriate – and give special attention to those clients who actually use twitter. It’s an easy touchpoint to show my (tweeting) clients that I’m committed to helping them succeed.
Now, I’m helping to launch another new company, AdRogues.com, that will help Creative Pros and Advertisers connect to do good things. Twitter is, again, proving to be a key tool in helping me bring those people together. 🙂
@MichelleSpelman
Director Media & Marketing
@AdRogues
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Oh my! Twitter can do anything you want it to. I recently had the lightbulb that since I’ve been on Twitter and following people such as Edward and other creatives, I’ve had a free education. I’ve read articles, I’ve gone down paths on the internet I never had before. I don’t follow a lot of people, I consider myself selective. I weed out the bots and followers who don’t interact. I can find out what’s going on immediately and Twitter is the first place I go for news. I do not use Twitter for a business but I can see your points are valid. From looking at all the spam posting above, you see what I think would be the hardest part.. weeding through all the crap to get to the good stuff (let me see.. I should make some analogy about lobster or crabs since Edward is from Boston).
Twitter is to me the cool, intelligent, creative bunch, maybe even a few of us C- students. Facebook.. meh.
Twitter also forces people to speak succinctly.
I wish I could filter out all the current celebrity stuff but it’s coming from everywhere.
Twitter gives me a voice.
(Now I’m going to go read Edward’s article)
I know there’s a work/advertising slant because you’re talking about Edward but it’s funny how, even after recent world events, no-one has mentioned twitter as a news source.
Come on, people, look outside your bubble!
Are you seriously telling me you’ve forgotten a plane landing on the Hudson river, a balloon adrift apparently with a little boy inside, or revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya?
Your title is ‘what twitter can do for you’, not ‘what twitter can do for your work’.
Spread your wings. Follow different kinds of people. Don’t just follow people in your industry. Use world events to guide your choices.
Get a world view. Your work will be better for it.
H