"Twitter Feedback & Tweeting Alternatives"
By Jim Daniels

Me? Cutting edge? I don't know where you got that idea Ed! I'm more of a throw-back to the dawn of the Internet. I still do all my customer support personally. I still publish content on a regular basis. Sure, I still do new things to promote my business, I just have to limit the amount of time I spend, I think that's the main reason I don't tweet. But I do think it's great that others such as yourself are having success with it. :-)

I have to admit, I was ready for a firestorm from more Twitter fans, but the tables quickly turned. In fact, every message that followed was completely different. Here's a sampling...

Theresa S. wrote:

Hi Jim,
I totally agree with you!!  I, too, spend way too much time in front of my computer as it is and I am not interested in updating anyone about what I eat for lunch or find out what they are eating -- this seems to be a common theme with Facebook, too. These programs have a purpose but are out of control trendy and you are almost considered some sort of nerd if you are not using them. Our company develops and implements web based solutions for employers, recruiters and job seekers in the healthcare industry so I am not a "techno phobe". I recognize the importance of networking and tend to work within LinkedIn. Thanks for the entertaining article and I'm with you!


Anita H. wrote...

Good for you! Twittering has to be one of the most inane creations yet. Besides being time-consuming, who cares about the minutiae of everyone else's lives? But the lemmings keep streaming to it.

I'm concerned that the art of conversation as well as the art of correct writing are also losing ground to this time-wasting activity. I vaguely remember a science fiction story about how this kind of technology led to humans' entire existence spent wired to a computer. That's the only interaction they had with the world. Ugh!!!


Nan Y. wrote...

Jim, I couldn't agree with you more!!!!

To me, Twitter and other social networking sites are for kids -- NOT serious internet marketers.

I dislike marketing videos for the same reason ... I'm simply too busy to spend time *watching* someone sell their product. I MUCH prefer text so I can scan (or read, if it's relevant) and then get back to running and building my own online business.

You definitely hit a nerve with this issue's article! Thanks for saying it.


Elwin R. wrote...

At last!

Someone with some common sense!

I've been amazed at how everyone (well, except you and I apparently) have taken to twittering, tweeting, et al.

To me the idea of posting a flow of mostly meaningless 140 character messages is, on the face of it, absurd. It is symptomatic of present day society in two major ways.

First, it demonstrates the short attention span that has been fostered by TV news programs and their 30 to 90 second news "stories." No background stories, no so-called "think pieces," we don't have time for that!

And secondly, it illustrates all too well the near egomaniacal thinking of so many among us that their every thought and action should be of interest to anyone and every one including complete strangers.

I'm with you on this one; it'll be a frosty day in Hell before I start tweeting!


Sue T. wrote...

Hi Jim,

I joined twitter out of curiosity when my kids asked me if I "twittered" but when confronted with the question "what are you doing" I could only say "staring at the screen wondering what to say". After all, what would I be doing other than staring at the screen wondering what to say? Does anyone really care what I'm doing?

I looked at the faq page, and most people were asking "how does this site work". Others were suggesting a Twitter for Dummies book! It seemed clear that not many people could figure out how the site worked. I can't either.

I felt like I was talking to myself.

I received an email from Twitter saying that Barack Obama was following me. Why on earth would the President of the US want to follow me? I'm from the UK and he doesn't even know I exist!

I agree it's a terrible time waster. Having tried it I can't see the point so I am giving up forthwith!

~ and this one just in today...

Brent S. Wrote...

These people have no concept of the power of Twitter as a marketing tool. I don't post any personal info, strictly business. Traffic to my websites has increased ten-fold since starting to use Twitter. Don't knock something you don't understand or know how to use. I spend maybe an hour a day on Twitter, yet the new subscribers and income just keeps on increasing. I'm glad so many people have no idea how to use it, less competition for those of us who do.

End of Comments.

Now that I've shared how others feel about Tweeting, I'd like to put my wrap on this...

Whether you like Twitter or not, it is important to understand that social networking does have it's place in marketing. Even if you refuse to tweet, there are lots of ways you can benefit from social marketing.

After all, it is here to stay, and it's a great way to spread word about your products or services virally. And that can really pay off. So you may as well find some form that you like and use it to your advantage.

If Twitter is just not your style, I'll share other styles of effective social marketing after this sponsor break...

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Again, whether you like it or not, the emergence of the "social web" provides opportunities for viral marketing that never existed before. Face to face talk or talk over the phone has its limitations in reaching your audience. The social web has opened up avenues greatly expanding the online reach.

Here are several techniques for using the social web to achieve that viral reach.

1. MySpace is the ultimate social website because of its sheer size in terms of visitors. The best way to get started with marketing via MySpace is to grab a free account and join a few groups in your niche. Then wait a week or so and post something intelligent to the group. You can either answer another member's post or post your own topic or question. Since MySpace is a social network, not a marketing network, it is best to "soft-sell" by adding your offer in your signature file. Remember, your main goal should be to build up relationships with people in the group first, and sell to them later.

2. Grab a free account at Facebook -- it is one of the better sites for social marketing. Be sure to use their "facebook pages", which is a public profile that enables you to share your business and products with other Facebook users. Here's a nice guide to using Facebook pages.

3. Visit a site called Squidoo. At Squidoo you create "lenses" (a Web page) about any topic. You can create as many lenses as you want and you can embed external links in your lenses. Squidoo lenses also have good search engine credibility. So, your sites will get some good external in-bound links for free.

4. Put up your own blog at WordPress.com and post to it regularly. Invite comments from your visitors. Then spend a little time at Digg.com. Digg is a community based news popularity web site. If your blog article hits the front page of Digg, you will get thousands of visitors and some of them will eventually become your regulars. Study the types of articles that end up on the front page of Digg. Write your blog articles targeted to Digg users.

5. LinkedIn is an online community of experienced professionals. Create your account at LinkedIn and network with professionals in your fields. Offer some free services for other professionals in your network and solicit their recommendations. All recommendations appear in your profile. LinkedIn provides great opportunity for someone to find your business or services.

6. Sta.rtup.biz/ provides a free online spot to announce your business and services. Create a profile, connect and promote to more than a million other members.

See ya in a few weeks...
Jim Daniels
JDD Publishing Co.