Twitter Archives - Page 7 of 9

Listening & Watching – Lessons Learned

April 16, 2009 by Guest Author

I took two days off Twitter recently and listened. By listening I mean watched. I’d been noticing the changes: the shifting, the influx and the exodus. I’m not talking about how the interface is working; I’m talking about the how the users are changing through the use of the tool. I’m a sociologist at heart. I like to watch group behavior; I like to think about what makes people tick. Brian Solis described social media as “… a fusion between technology and sociology…” Naturally, I’m intrigued.

I saw really interesting happenings. There will always be leaders and there will always be followers – no Twitter pun intended. I saw people I have met in person taking on leadership roles on twitter that they never would dream of doing off line. I saw people changing their behavior from when they began on Twitter to emulate some who they must perceive as successful. I saw people building relationships based on conversation and many offerings of help.

At first, I admit, I did notice the more negative aspects of what is happening out there like the huge collecting of followers based purely on numbers without any engagement. I also noticed that some people needed instruction on how to be genuine. No, not just newspapers and corporations but actual individuals.

Through a conversation I was having with someone I greatly admire (and whom I met through Twitter) I began to describe how I found this particularly sad. He replied the “genuinely-challenged” haven’t learned that their vulnerability can be a rich source for power to do good for others.” I thought about that statement for a full day.

I see a lot of good things happening through social media. I’m not just talking about Twitter – that’s a tool and there are many tools. I see people coming together, exchanging ideas, learning and growing. I see companies communicating with people who buy their products in a meaningful way. I see publishers, PR people recognizing the need for change and working through that. In tough times I see people reaching out to each other building a community that offline, maybe crumbling around them.
It was really good to step back for a day or two. I highly recommend it. It’s also really good to be back.
Have you taken a social media break? Was it helpful? What did you learn?

from: Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

Imitation

April 9, 2009 by Guest Author

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Coined by Charles Caleb Colton in 1820 in his ‘Lacon.’

“Imitation” happens all the time on the web and is the source of much frustration for newspaper and other print media. The concept of “fair use” and “scraping the web” are terms mostly used when talking about copyright infringements for print media producers. The idea that citizen journalists can now report on news and other happenings with information taken from news sites it a disturbing phenomenon for many journalists to deal with, not to mention print media in general.

But is this type of imitation really flattering? Is this plagiarism? You’ve worked hard on your post. You’ve taken the time to think about it and possibly, do some research. You’ve carefully written and posted it on your blog. It’s your content based on your idea. Later , you discover through Twitter, or a friend that the very same content has been taken, copied and posted on someone else’s site! Sound incredible? It happens.

I’ve even seen it happen even on Twitter! We all know, or learn quickly (there is a LOT of twitter advice out there) the idea of the RT. You see something of value from someone else and you share. The RT is the attribution, the link back. Twitter has been called micro blogging – when you see something you’ve found and shared go by two seconds later from one of your followers with no RT, do you feel flattered by the “imitation”? I don’t.

I think it’s important to protect you work, your ideas, your content. The very idea of taking the time to think about, write and post your ideas deserves respect. That respect should allow you the right to not have your work copied without permission. Creative Commons is an excellent resource to help you with this. There are different licenses you can apply to your work that will protect it. A great resource for questions regarding this issue is Jonanthan Bailey, @plagiarismtoday on Twitter. He would be happy to discuss anything related to “imitation” with you.

Have you had experience with this and your writing? Do you see this as a problem?

from Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

photo credit: The Green Album

50 Blue Feather Tweeters: Talking about People Who Talk With You

March 20, 2009 by Liz

A new guy at the local pub asked me, “What is Twitter?” He said he couldn’t make sense of it, but he supposed his niece could. She has a blog.

I finished what I was tweeting and walked over to show him. I held out the public timeline on my iPhone and began talking about what folks were talking about. As we looked down the stream, I “introduced” him to people in the avatars. We talked about what each tweet showed about the ways people use Twitter.

I pointed out the huge audience of lurkers and listeners and told the man in the pub that I preferred the folks who talk. The folks who talk make the tool a mutual resource. People who talk share information, ideas, and insights. From them I learn, I laugh, and I connect to new people and new ideas. Questions get asked answered by the folks who talk. It’s like networking offline with the speed and reach of the Internet.

The man in the pub was shocked and awed …

The man in the pub came to mind yesterday when I read Lonnie Hodge’s Blue Feather Tweeters.

So, I thought “How about a list of the top 20-30 nicest people to meet and tweet on Twitter?” Here are my first picks for Blue Feather Friends–who actually talk to you….

Lonnie’s post and his idea to celebrate friends who actually talk to you … so inspired me. I want to offer you some of my favorite tweeters too — the folks who help me learn. Certainly these aren’t nearly all of you, but these ones I think wouldn’t mind a a new person starting a conversation.

Just a Few of My Blue Feather Tweeters

@lonniehodge He started the idea of blue feather tweeters and I’ve been reading his blog for almost 4 years.
@amyderby Listen in at night when she and I are designing t-shirts.
@rickmahn Ask him what LoL really stands for.
@zenaweist About as wise as they come and even more fun than that.
@jimpeake His conversation can be about anything. You’ll never be bored.
@DivinePurposeMV Listen to what she says, it’s always uplifting.
@AaronStrout A truly decent human being who knows business and tweets with professional generosity.
@BeckyMcCray Wit, style and everything about small town small business. Ask her about rush moment.
@JimStorer Lovely, kind, intelligent with a wicked mischief in his smile.
@JennFowler Fabulous sense of humor and fabulous hair.
@roberthruzek The original cowboy hat wearing gentleman of Twitter.
@carole_hicks Energy, enthusiasm, and so much honesty. Ask her about socks and social media.
@ahoffmann50 Always checking in to see how things are — if your life is a rollercoaster he knows all about them.
@eeUS Every morning she greets Twitterville with a smile.
@rainesmaker He speaks in brilliant sentences and often they’re hilarious.
@DebNg Soft words and a sly clever way of saying them. She’s a natural community manager.
@gassho He knows that reflection and silence matter. His words show it.
@joanna young The smile in her latest avatar says it all.
@CCSeed Intelligent, soft-spoken, and often profoundly insightful in 140 characters
@amypalko She’s extraordinary. Ask her about soaring.
@davepeck This is a guy worth meeting! Just say, “OMG it’s Dave Peck!” to him.
@heatherrast Every morning she greets Twitterville with a smile.
@markdavidson Twitter maven who’ll answer your questions and make you laugh while he does.
@_Deb She’s picturing us with tha camera. Tell her it’s time to sort her sweater collection.
@toddsmithphoto Always look when he points you to his latest gallery.
@northernchick Gentle and funny … and oh so smart.
@starbucker Positive in his world view. You will be too, especially if you sing along.
@rosasay Every bit of Rosa is leadership with aloha. You hear smile when she talks.
@shashib Truly a connector who wants to help and share what he knows.
@lorelleonwp She’ll talk anything “W” — WordPress, Woopra, what she’s wearing.
@BrentLeary He can talk about almost anything — maybe it’s his skill at interviewing.
@YaelBeeri She gives good tweet.
@remarkablogger Works hard, plays hard. Tweet like a pro.
@AlliWorthington Charming, funny, and graciously good humored.
@tojosan He’s relational. No doubt about it.
@websuccessdiva She’s genuine, generous, smart, and engaging.
@colderice His energy is beyond inspiring … It’s contagious!
@christammiller A whining new start worth every word that she tweets.
@VincentWright Chief Enthusiasm Officer and the nicest, wisest power connector.
@hartsook Awesome, smart, and thinks big thoughts. Inspiring.
@JasonFalls If he says it’s so, believe it.
@debworks Likes to talk with smart people about smart ideas because she has so many of her own.
@CCSeed Intelligent, soft-spoken, and often profoundly insightful in 140 characters
@heatherjstrout It’s so easy to talk to Heather and so fun. Don’t let that fool you. She’s sharp!
@barrymoltz Barry cares about folks succeeding. Asking him how to bounce.
@retheauditors A brilliant, straight shooting, sharp-witted Chicagoan.
@paisano He thinks therefore he’s fun to tweet with.
@momofteenstwit2 Everything she does is filled with generous energy. Get to know this one.
@Ron_Hudson Loves social media, making things happen, and people.
@neenz An alltop favorite of the Internet. Make sure you tell her I need some stickers.

Of course before we talk, it’s always a good idea to listen first. Then do tell them I said, “hi.”

What Blue Feather Tweeters do you know?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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The Value of A Comment

March 19, 2009 by Guest Author

Leaving a comment on a blog is an excellent way to say what you think about the content of the blog you have chosen to read. Commenting is becoming part of the conversation. People comment, or write a blog post about the topic themselves, because something they read interested, motivated, angered, intrigued or just plain made them happy. So why does there seem to be fewer and fewer comments on blogs these days?

Blogs with huge readerships, the “A-Listers “ have no problem getting comments. People comment there to be seen engaging in the conversation, challenging the ideas contained in the post and promoting their own sites. We don’t question that A- List bloggers input great value and knowledge into the blogosphere. I’ve gone to many other blogs that also provide great information and insight but have small readerships and very few comments. I wonder why?

There’s been some conversation lately around the issue of the value of comments. There seems to be a trend towards less commenting and more posting of links, for example, on Twitter. This isn’t new. I’ve seen the topic come and go. I keep wondering about this the longer I blog and the more I read.

I read a lot of blogs and comment on few. I’ve been thinking about that lately. At times I believe I don’t have anything of value to add to the conversation or I’m intimated by the other comments. Sometimes I have too many to read and not enough time so I just tweet the link. I know that when I receive comments on a post I wrote I feel like they add value and I truly appreciate hearing what others have to say. I enjoy and learn from the conversation.

What is the value of a comment to you?

from Kathryn Jennex @northernchick

photo credit: Linda Cronin

The "ART" of Being Genuine

March 5, 2009 by Guest Author

Definition of Genuine :

1 a: actually having the reputed or apparent qualities or character (genuine vintage wines) b: actually produced by or proceeding from the alleged source or author (the signature is genuine) c: sincerely and honestly felt or experienced (a deep and genuine love) d: actual , true (a genuine improvement) 2: free from hypocrisy or pretense : sincere

– from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary

But being genuine isn’t something you should try to emulate, or work at or simulate. Being genuine is being yourself. Sometimes we take on different roles in different situations for various reasons. When you meet me at a conference I may be different that you perceive me to be on twitter. If we meet later that evening at a social situation I may be different again. If we ever happen to be discussing a project, contract or another work-related item I will, again, be different. These are all different roles for different situations, but they’re all still me.

There’s a lot of talk in the blogosphere, on twitter, in the press, actually everywhere I look lately, about being genuine. It goes hand in hand with the conversation about authenticity. I realize that this isn’t a new conversation, and that its relevance as a topic will come and go.

But for me it became very relevant just yesterday. Yesterday, someone questioned whether or not I was being genuine. First I was shocked. I realized they had a totally different idea of what being genuine meant. I was being honest, respectful and sincere but they thought that this wasn’t enough.

Being genuine is important – it leads to respect. My genuine self isn’t your genuine self. We are all different. We all strive to meet the definition but we all come at it in different ways. There is no one way – we’re all individuals here from different backgrounds. If you are your actual, genuine self – then that is enough.

from Kathryn Jennex aka Nothernchick

photo credit: Andy Glogower