There’s a whole other world out there.
A world where people log on to Twitter to tweet, and retweet and chat with other tweeples. But what is it all about? Is it just another time waster? A little sister to Facebook that’s easier to log onto and see what people’s status updates are? Or is it, potentially the next big thing in online marketing?
Jason Calacanis, from a US company called Mahalo Answers (“Share Knowledge, Learn and Get Questions Answered” — with the secret being that you get “paid” a nominal fee for the best answer) recently offered Twitter CEO Evan Williams, founder Jack Dorsey and investors Fred Wilson and Bijan Sabet a $250 000 lump sum to be featured as one of the suggested users on Twitter. When you log on to Twitter certain users are suggested for you to follow. Calacanis’s logic is that if they accepted his quarter of a million dollars (which they didn’t), he would have gained two to ten million Twitter followers and would have been able to drive one to two million visits to Mahalo Answers every month.
Interesting stuff. Especially, for me, because up until about a week ago I had no knowledge of Twitter whatsoever, and certainly no idea that it could be used for such extensive marketing. Does it work on an individual level? I’m not sure. So far, it’s been a pleasant enough experience. I’m not hooked (as I was told I would be) and it’s not wasting time (as I was told it would). In fact, I simply scoot over to the Twitter site once or twice a day and write a one-liner. Maybe this is why it won’t end up being a major marketing tool for me, but it’s pretty annoying when people update every hour throughout the day, so I’m okay with that.
I’m curious to hear what others think about Twitter. Do you think it will catch on in South Africa in anything like the way it’s caught on in the States? Obviously internet is not nearly as readily accessible here but for those who are online all the time will Twitter become an indispensable tool?
I’m waiting, and watching, and twittering, and tweeting and I’ll let you know when I figure it out.
Okay, I’ve just seen that South Africa is actually at number 10 on the ‘Interest in Twitter, top countries in 2009′ stakes. Huh.
Here’s the article: http://royal.pingdom.com/2009/03/12/the-countries-buzzing-the-most-about-twitter-in-2009/
You forgot to mention the fact that the Tweet phenomenon is also being driven by the ease of connecting to Twitter via a mobile phone. Several of my friends (all UK-based) are avid Twitterers, some of whom have been Twittering since the beginning. Some of the more recent converts immediately started ‘following’ celeb Twitterers like Stephen Fry and Jonathan Ross, only to ‘de-follow’ them several weeks later because the frequency of their updates had become boring.
Personally, I find the whole concept a big yawn that, I’m sure, will fade away before too long. It’s led me to switch off updates from several Facebook friends simply because their synchronised Twitter updates had become tedious – I really do NOT need to know where people are lunching or if they’ve just seen something ‘very interesting’ walk by.
But, having said all that, I found the following analysis of the phenomenon rather interesting:
http://www.newsobserver.com/1051/story/1443687.html
I love tweeting, it gives me instant updates on the latest info around the world. Its quick as I don’t have time to read reams of blog material. Brilliant marketing tool and know for its job opportunity capabilities. Instant news too..
Funnily i wrote about twitter today too http://www.brendan-mcnulty.com/2009/03/twitter-emperors-new-clothes.html (sibling intuition perchance?).
one of the cool things that i find with twitter is that you can plug it into your im, so that you can have access to it all the time. though, as detailed in my post i think it really becomes worthwhile/time suck once you have a few friends using it at the same time. i’m still out to lunch, but i’m testing it for 6 weeks to find out what it can really do for me.
I love Twitter. It allows me to keep up to date with everything I want to know about, from breaking news headlines to what my friends are up to. I keep my following list short and personal, but I’d feel isolated without it.
Tweets are being used as an alternative news source – in Mumbai during the recent attacks for example. I also think someone on the Tech Leader wrote about a similar situation where he checked out twitter to find out the loud bangs were a fireworks displaye (not impending war). Interesting stuff! I am not on twitter … yet
I feel old and stupid. Blogging already takes up so much time!
Why do you link to Mahalo Answers? Why not link to the article that describes Jason Calacanis suggesting he be a featured user?
To answer your question, yes, I am on Twitter. It was addictive but I am becoming bored of it. I’m even thinking of deleting my account.
And yes, internet is accessible. Anyone with a WAP-capable mobile phone can use the internet. But most people just do not realise it.
Funny story. I joined Twitter today because I am going to use it to help promote my blog, which I am still working on. From there, I found one of my old lecturers who I found out had won SA Blog of the Year 2009, and on the side panel of this website I found your blog. So technically, Twitter lead me right to this blog!
Twitter and Facebook are the best things that could have happened on the internet regarding internet marketing. Looks like many people are using it to promote their websites/services/blogs etc. I for one use it all the time.