Continuing the effort to build my online presence, I recently fired up a Twitter account. I have so far had some decent success in connecting with people via this blog, so I considered Twitter the next logical step. Having now been “tweeting” for three or four weeks, I’m starting to wonder why I bother. My short foray into the Twitterverse (a word I just made-up) has landed me a mere 12 followers. From what I can tell via my WordPress stats, not one person has accessed my blog through Twitter. To be fair, I’ve hardly clicked on the links other Twitter users (Tweeters?) have posted. This got me thinking: Is anyone on Twitter actually paying attention to the endless stream of virtual chatter?
Being on Twitter is like being stuck in a room with someone who doesn’t stop talking. It’s an endless tirade of meaningless blather. I was following one writer but eventually dropped him, as he seemed to tweet every 30 seconds. It was constant. Whenever I logged on, his were the only tweets I saw. He drowned out everyone else. If you’re going to tweet (I’m really growing to hate that word), then please post stuff that’s stimulating in some way. I don’t care enough about the mundane minutiae of my own daily routines to bore other people with them, so why do I care that someone I’ve never met is “Pretty raved out”?
I suppose I’m missing the point of Twitter—but now that I’ve dabbled in it (I have since cancelled my account), I can honestly say I don’t understand its appeal. Is it actually possible to convey anything meaningful in 140 characters or less? The tweets that really annoy me are things like, “You can make your dreams come true if you believe” and “You are the engine of your own destiny”, and other feel-good affirmations that have zero substance to them. Thank you, but I feel pretty good about myself already. Also, don’t bother telling the rest of us that you’ve just gotten up or are going to bed or heading to the gym or heading home from the gym or deciding what you’re going to have for dinner. We don’t care.
Facebook I understand. It allows people to reconnect and keep in touch with friends and family. That said, I’m suffering a severe case of Facebook burnout. What is this need we have to constantly be updating people about everything we’re doing? Since when did all our lives become so interesting? Do we need to know that a friend or acquaintance—at this very moment—is eating at the International House of Pancakes?
Don’t mistake this for the misanthropic rant of a perpetual grump. As opposed to Facebook and Twitter, I love WordPress because it allows people to share unique opinions, ideas, and experiences in a way no status update or a 140-character phrase can. It requires a level of effort and creative thinking.
I concur with the majority of your thinking. Just having started twitter myself I can without the least doubt say that I am not impressed with the concept of keeping my account open.
Promotion on the Internet is not the easiest thing in the world with the exception of your own single website that is SEO (in this case I mean Optimized and not Optimization) and updated on a regular basis.
Yep . . . agreed! I think for the time being I’m going to stick with my website and blog . . . and keep my fingers crossed!
I like twitter because you get to follow who you want and you can even choose whether someone can follow you. Plus, I like to read book news there because most publisher’s have twitters. It’s a knowledge source to greater and better links.
Hey, Cassie . . . you make good points; I just don’t think I’m cut out for tweeting!
This was a great post!! First, let me say I didn’t know you were on Twitter, otherwise I would have followed you. Second, I will say that I am involved with it more as an obligation than anything else. I can’t get into it at all, and I recently engaged in a conversation with another WP blogger regarding the idiocy of Twitter. It is purely for self-promotion and I can’t remember the last time I read a truly substantial or meaningful tweet.
I went to a conference last year where I listened to a social media guru who said that Twitter is designed for writers because it’s like ham radio. You can convey the most important moments of your day in a rapid-fire tweet and because it reaches people exponentially, it is the most effective method of self-promotion, marketing, chatting, keeping up with everyone, etc.
I am a traditionalist at heart, and I prefer the good, old-fashioned thing called ‘conversation’. Now, even with blogging there are major limitations in engaging with other people, but I feel like I get to know people so much better through their posts and the comments they make on my posts than I ever do through Twitter.
And I agree about the feed, it is non-stop and there is no possible way I can keep up with the 700+ people who I follow (who I follow back out of courtesy–I probably know about fifty of those people from other venues, such as WP). You’d have to be on Twitter 24/7 if you ever hoped to keep up with the feed. It’s too much.
Basically, I use it mainly as a shout-out that I have a new post up on my blog. Other times I have gone out of my way to use it is to thank someone for mentioning my blog, which I always appreciate. To be honest, those I keep a closer eye on in Twitter are all followers of my blog. But again, I cruise blogs before I cruise Twitter.
I don’t blame you for giving up on it. I honestly don’t think you’re missing that much. I will say though that like you, I only had about 14 followers for 7 months, I didn’t know how to get more followers. Then I got this great idea to start following people who follow WP bloggers that I follow. Suddenly, my numbers spiked and now people from all over are just following me. I have no idea who they are, or what they want with me (they probably have no clue who I am, but they see that I’m following someone they’re following and that makes me look interesting).
So, this was a really long comment, sorry! But I’ve been fired up about social media in general and what a time suckage it is, so your post was timely for my raw nerves!!
Have a great day, Twitter-free.
Hey, Kate . . . great comment!
Following people on Twitter who follow WP blogs is a clever idea. I should have thought of that . . . then again, as you point out, how much attention can someone pay you if they’re following dozens or hundreds of blogs?
I agree you get a much better sense of someone through their blogs on WP than you do reading a 140-character missive. Yes, Twitter might be an effective tool for some when it comes to self-promotion, but it’s so easy to get lost in all the static.
I tried Twitter three times now . . . not sure if I’ll be giving it another go.
I only lasted a week on Twitter. I didn’t get it, either. Great post.
Thanks, Peggy! This is my second attempt at Twitter . . . not sure if there’ll be a third!
This is exactly my feeling Simon. Facebook I have to keep in touch with my family who live in another country. Twitter I have given up on: I am not really interested in reading an endless barrage of people touting their own horns. And WordPress – I love! Especially since they have created a way to see the bloggers responses to comments you have made on their blog. I am slowly getting to know people through this medium; and I enjoy the exchange of ideas. If I were to have only one social medium, it would be a blog with WordPress. Twitter is for the birds – and may they tweet in peace.
Hi, Colline . . . yes, you certainly get to “know” folks better on WordPress. It think it’s a much more effective venue for sharing content and expressing ideas. I know a lot of folks lover Twitter . . . you and I just aren’t among them!
Great post! Never had a twitter account and never will. I just never had an interest in it. Even more so now! Haha. So, props to you for trying!
Cheers, Ames!
Interesting post…though I think you and I may disagree with our opinions of Twitter/Facebook. I had a Facebook account for all of about 1 day before realizing what a time-sink it could become…I’ve enough social obligation without adding more. Twitter doesn’t require this investment, and I’m very selective as to who I follow.
I do completely agree with you concerning annoying messages such as….’You are the engine of your own destiny’. These messages are pandering rhetoric devoid of originality and true inspiration. However….I do think meaningful messages can be conveyed in 140 characters or less. In fact, some of the most meaningful messages I’ve ever received have contained far fewer.
I also agree that of the three, wordpress is the better platform. While it does allow for a higher level of effort and originality, it does not actually ‘require’ it, the evidense being in the multitude of wordpress accounts which include no original content at all. How much real effort does it require to link to a youtube video?
Hi, Alex . . . thanks for the comment!
I agree that Facebook is a “time-sink,” which is why I now only check it once or twice a week (as opposed to daily, which I used to do).
The problem I have with Twitter is it’s an endless rapid-fire barrage of information, and sifting through the trash to find the gems is too much of a headache.
I agree with you completely regarding WordPress. That said, I am guilty of linking to a Youtube video every now and then . . . but I always make sure the post contains some original content!