Welcoming the Masses to Twitter (And Beyond)
So, get this: the number of unique visitors to twitter jumped from 8 million in the month of February to 14 million in the month of March (Source: compete.com). If I were standing in front of you, I’d repeat that for emphasis with wide eyes, a series of explosive hand gyrations and a giant grin, blinding you with my recently whitened teeth.
While I’ve heard a bit of grumbling from long-time twitter users (using since 2007!), worried that twitter would be ruined (somehow made less useful and/or less cool) now that it’s being investigated and embraced by the mainstream, I am ECSTATIC! (I’d also love a break from the trend I’m seeing in blog posts about why you’re unfollowing people…our apologies for creating so much “noise.”)
Only in mainstream understanding and adoption will ANY type of social media gain more versatility and usability for businesses.
Think about it in terms of the introduction of email, whose mainstream and mass adoption led to exciting (and ongoing) opportunities to advance communication, productivity and content sharing on both professional and personal levels. That said, utilization by the masses always comes with a few extras we’d all prefer to do without, such as SPAM, get-rich-quick schemes and abusive/annoying marketing tactics (hence the grumbling by the early adopters)…but you have to take the good with the bad, no? That’s just how life is. Accept it. And if you feel like getting your zen on, embrace it.
I want to extend a WARM WELCOME to the masses.
Welcome to twitter. Welcome to LinkedIn. Welcome to facebook. Welcome to youtube, ning, flickr and digg. Welcome to Web 2.0. Thank you for coming. Because YOU are here, we (the collective “we”) will be able to advance the power of these platforms.
YOU are driving “traditional” businesses to shift in their seats, sit up, take notice and evolve. Thank you!
This communication evolution will…scratch that…IS creating an abundance of personal and professional opportunities for us all. Each social platform offers something unique; so come one, come all and ask for help whenever you need it. Don’t “get” something? Google it. Everything you ever wanted to know is at your fingertips, the trick is in finding the platforms and tools to navigate through all of the excitement to find what you are looking for. Don’t look for social media “experts” busy building up their egos…look for businesspeople who can help you help yourself.
The cost of entry here begins with your time.
If you’re a small business owner, you should be doing cartwheels right now (right after you make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100% complete). Spend a few minutes asking someone who is using online social tools a few questions. Educate yourself, grow your business.
In January of this year, Peter Kim asked social media thought leaders to help move us all toward tactical solutions for social businesses. So while the masses are amassing online, I want to tip my hat to all of the businesses that are busy about developing their internal social media policies, plans and guidelines to expand their methods of external outreach. I’m thrilled to be working with clients and companies who are focused on finding ways to overcome some of the actual and perceived barriers that other businesses are using as excuses to keep their heads in the social sand.
“I don’t have time for it” is simply shortsighted; successful businesses find ways to overcome barriers, of time and tactics, period.
If you want to learn more about some practical solutions for engaging in social business, Amber Naslund is doing an amazing job right now on her blog, Altitude Branding, providing blueprints for moving forward. Another practical person to tune into is Kyle Lacy, whose blogging offers post after post of socially creative insights.
Me? I’m seeing the virtual rubber hitting the road all over the place and I know EXACTLY who we have to thank for it.
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Tags: amber naslund, kyle lacy, LinkedIn, social business, Social Media, Twitter for Business, TwitterSmart
April 30th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
First.. thanks for the link!
Secondly…The most important thing a small business owner can do is to educate.educate.educate. Once you are familiar with the surroundings… jump in.
April 30th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
You said it, my brother. Had that very conversation with a small business owner today. Second to that, I say again, when it comes to social media, listen to the marketers who want to teach you to market yourself! The real power of social media is in being empowered.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:34 am
Excellent!
May 1st, 2009 at 8:36 pm
You hit a bull’s-eye with this one! I can’t believe the number of conversations I’ve had recently with small biz owners who just don’t “get” it — who think social media is too much work, or just a fad, or a good way to get in trouble. One person announced to the small group I was in, “All I know is, you don’t want to be on YouTube!” I gently dissented, pointing out that, in fact, you DO want to be on YouTube — as long as you’re controlling the story.
Keep telling the story, and keep encouraging people to learn as much as they can. There are some awesome minds out there, just bubbling over with good info to share. We all learn from one another, and there’s plenty of room for everyone.
Thanks!
May 1st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Thanks, Joan. And thanks @Oprah while I’m in the thankin’ mood…for moving twitter into the mainstream consciousness … I love that lady. Always have.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:16 am
[...] 09 and 14 million in Mar 09? Here’s a great article on Twitter from a blog I follow called, Gray Matter Minute. [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 1:05 am
[...] your head out of the social sand! You already need social media policies in place at your company. Here’s [...]