I’ve written about how I use Twitter - and how I view it.
In a nutshell, I see it as the online equivalent of a coffee-room in the cardiac surgical operating suite - a place where you relax in between work, chat and catch up with news by talking briefly to a group of people.
In the coffee-room, I find myself talking to 4 kinds of people:
- those I already know
- those who share similar interests
- those whom I can help
- those who can help me
If there are others in the room, I might chat with them on occasion when I have free time, there’s no one else to talk to, and I’m in the mood to explore new relationships.
Otherwise, I’d rather ignore them - and sit quietly with a cup of tea… and think!
And that’s how I intend to use Twitter, going forward. Because Twitter, in many ways, is a social microcosm very similar to the coffee-room environment.
Let’s take a hypothetical friend of mine named JohnDoe.
If I walk into the coffee-room and see John sitting by himself, I’d very likely step over and talk to him. We’d share some gossip and news, plan something to do, catch up with what’s happening in our lives and generally pass the time happily until either (or both) had to leave.
But what if the coffee-room has 20 other people, 19 of whom know JohnDoe and are his friends?
I couldn’t possibly walk up to him, cut into his conversation, and start talking to him about something else - even if I’m his good friend.
If I had something interesting/important to tell John, I’d probably call out across the room (the Twitter equivalent of an @JohnDoe message): “John, how about tennis this Friday?”
He’d look up, reply with a quick: “Sure, see you there!”
And I’d leave, hoping to see him on Friday.
But what if there were not just 20, but ONE HUNDRED people in the room… and ALL were friends of JohnDoe, and all are trying to talk to him at the same time.
Even if I shouted out loud, the chance of my grabbing John’s attention for long enough to get my message across is very slim. My voice gets drowned out in the noise.
Let’s port this scenario to Twitter.
JohnDoe has few followers, and I’m one of them. We enjoy conversations.
After a while, JohnDoe gets many new followers. I can still get his attention with an @JohnDoe message - but that’s it.
In time, JohnDoe is overwhelmed with followers - or he has drastically cut down on the time he spends on Twitter. This means he is no longer able to service his following - and I can no longer reach him, even with @JohnDoe posts, or through Direct Messaging.
JohnDoe’s Twitter-verse got too crowded for meaningful 2-way communication to be possible.
And that changed reality is what forced me to revise my Twitter strategy.
I enjoy building relationships online.
I use social media and digital communication for this purpose.
Almost everything I do online is related to my efforts to spread congenital heart defects awareness and helping unfortunate children born with heart defects.
So I use Twitter to build relationships with specific groups of people.
1 - those I already know (from elsewhere on the Web, or offline)
2 - those who share similar interests and values (mainly a desire to help less fortunate people)
3 - those whom I can help (like my list members, clients and contacts from other forums and social networks)
4 - those who can help me (in spreading congenital heart defects awareness)
In other words, if you are a part of my Twitter universe, you matter to me.
And if I am a part of your Twitterverse, I expect that I should matter to you.
In case I don’t, there isn’t much point in our being on each others’ Twitter networks, really, is there?
That’s why my revised Twitter strategy includes UN-following everyone who did not fit into one of these 4 groups.
And why I will be VERY picky about who gets added in the future.
After all, I only have limited time to spend in this online coffee-room - and I want the biggest impact from my social media networking on Twitter!
10 Comments Received
February 9th, 2008 @4:41 pm
Dr.Mani,
I like your coffee-room analogy. Twitter has been useful to me for building relationships. However, if I am just going after numbers of followers (and those I am following) it can become a major time drain that I can’t afford. Thanks for sharing some great criteria to use when considering who to follow on Twitter.
February 9th, 2008 @7:37 pm
Dr. Mani, thank you for a very useful analysis. Twitter is not a substitute for e-mail and, as you know, if not used sparingly, can waste a lot of valuable time. We already have SMS (texting) for short messages but, because we pay for them, we are more careful with how many we send. I think Twitter will remain very much a niche as opposed to a mainstream service.
February 10th, 2008 @1:45 am
Doc, I can’t help but feel you’re talking about me.
Part of dealing with a lot of followers is figuring how to quickly scan your timeline. It also helps to regularly search your own name on tweetscan.
It definitely gets tougher with more followers. My own m/o is also to respond to everyone’s @-messages if at all possible.
Mike Doe
aka, @mikedoe
February 10th, 2008 @7:17 am
Dr. Mani
I get your analogy, and respect your decision… but wonder.. “What’s the point?”
I’ve seen others apply these same rules to email (”I never allow myself to be on lists.. I don’t want that crap in my email, it’s just for business”)
I’ve seen the same applied to blog comments (”you can post if you want, but I don’t have time to read comments” or worse “My blog is about me and my special thoughts.. no comments allowed”)
Then there’s the guy who won’t use a cell phone or email because he’s too important.
Give me a break!
Technology allow more and more communications and it’s obvious that we all have to put up filters or limitations and learn to deal with the avalanche of messages.
But there is a fine line between “handling” and “Luddite”
Twitter is a great vehicle for networking, but not irreplaceable. Personally, I’m adding people to follow, including every person that follows me. I find that most of them have some value.
I can’t read all the posts.. and wish I could filter, search or better catalog twits for future reference. Right now it’s a new technology and we’re all learning.
Sorry to see you drop out before it’s reached maturity.
Glad o see you still allow posts here. Hope you have time to read them
February 10th, 2008 @7:36 am
@Roger Carr - Thanks for your feedback. Going after a large following may fit someone else’s strategy, I’m not debunking it as an approach to Twitter use. Just saying it doesn’t fit my approach to using Twitter, and explaining what criteria I plan to use to maximize my time investment on the service. Glad you find it of some value, very likely because you too use it in a similar fashion as I do, and for similar reasons
@Chris Shallow - Actually, I did intend to try using it as an email substitute, especially given the poor delivery rates that plague most services for mass distributing email, and considering how many people dislike ‘push’ marketing messages delivered via email (but would welcome ‘pull’ messages they can easily opt-in to and equally easily disable with a single click).
@Mike Doe - Thanks for your comment. I could probably take advantage of some Twitter tools too, but am not sure how the ‘casual’ contacts will evolve into more meaningful relationships. I also have a definite upper limit to time I can afford to spend on Twitter, which will limit the number of meaningful interactions/exchanges I can fit into that time and space.
@Warren Whitlock - Not sure if I came across wrong. I sure wasn’t making it out that I am “too important” to waste time on Twitter. It’s just a reality of my overall online presence that I can’t spend more than a fixed time on this, and am trying to maximize it by fostering meaningful relationships with (maybe) a smaller group than tweeting at a larger audience without really ‘connecting’ on any level except very superficially.
The “fine line between handling and Luddite” is precisely what I’m defining - for myself - and I detailed the criteria I’ll be employing to make that distinction. I’m also not advocating my approach as ‘best for all’ - in fact, I’m not even sure it’s best for me, though I am certain what I’m currently doing didn’t work as far as reaching my own unique goals is concerned.
I haven’t (nor will I) “drop out”. I do allow posts here, and read them all, and try to respond to as many as practical. And incidentally, you are among the few who are still on my Twitter-following list
All success
Dr.Mani
February 11th, 2008 @6:09 am
got to be the best tip on using twitter ever,thus far.
May 2nd, 2008 @7:11 am
Dr mani,
This is exactly how I’m playing on twitter. I’m following 45 people (95% are pros). I get invaluable pro perspectives on various topics and get time to ponder, assimilate (and try to implement) the techniques. If I follow in hundreds, each tweet would get a flicker. Thats no wise use of my time.
I’m glad I read this post. Will keep coming for more.
Shri
September 18th, 2008 @5:04 pm
Hey Dr. Mani,
This is something I’ve been grappling with too.
I understand the time constraints…yet I also understand the idea of reciprocity….that we all can help one another succeed. And frankly I try to follow those that have decided to follow me.
Perhaps I’ll start another twitter…for friends and family….as I do with email and my phone number.
Twitter is a a free social networking site…you are enjoying massive success and many, many have helped you with your wonderful projects…that may not have happened/or perhaps not so easily with out this technology and the kindness of “strangers”
Twitter really isn’t an small coffee room….if you want a small office feel this really isn’t the place to be and at the heart of it…you’re using it in a different way….example your successful twit-a-thon.
And perhaps the largest single factor for me…I’m constantly delighted and surprised …by the new people that come into my life in unexpected ways…I like that about twitter….if I didn’t follow them…I wouldn’t have that.
There is also an air of “I have more followers…or I only follow certain people”….that’s human nature….and it’s something I’ve been observing from the “biggies of internet marketing”
Who is open to the ordinary smaller seeker….who is culling lists and who is not.
Haven’t made up my mind…….but I don’t think I share your view.
I still think there’s an understood courtesy between people on web2.0 sites…of reciprocation.
Thanks for starting the conversation.
Blessings…….In Peace,
Jeri
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