So, I just signed up for Twitter to see what all the fuss is about. Everything I read in the biz rags says it's revolutionizing business, relationships, networking, etc. etc. etc.
Out of my address book, it found like 5 people that are currently using it.
Anyone here use it? For just friends, or job stuff too? What's the value? Is it a time wasting tool? How many questions are enough? Do you regularly update it? Do you follow a lot of people or just a few?
Don't use it. Am I right that the idea is you post small comments about what you're doing or where you are, etc? And that's basically the whole idea?
That's pretty much it. Kind of a micro blog. While I do get personal things like that, I also get info from different blogs and news sources, similar to an RSS feed kind of thing.
Yeah, that's pretty much what it is, Dio. Little micro posts ranging from "Standing in line at LAX ready to go to Atlanta" to people posting that they are in the mood for vanilla ice cream.
I think I can see what it's good for if your co-workers, bosses, network peeps, etc are connected - letting others know about projects, needs, travels, etc. But I know one person who sees herself as a "super networker" that posts on this thiing over 100 times a day. Do people really think others give a shtein that you are wondering "What have you done nice for someone today?"
so its basically Facebook or Myspace updates for adults
i was just about to say do yous realize youre grown men on the internet playing around on something called twitter
Didn't you not know how to use Google like just a year ago?
he only understood http://www.gizoogle.com/
Quote from: Father Demon on December 04, 2008, 09:07:22 AM
Didn't you not know how to quote posts like just a year ago?
yes
Actually, LinkedIn is the real professional networking site. Twitter is what you make of it..mostly a waste of time.
I use LinkedIn, and love it. But where LinkedIn is mostly static, I think the draw to Twitter is it's fluidity.
Regardless, I'm going to give it a couple weeks, and if I still can't figure out the draw, it'll be over.
From what I can tell the service appeals to people for whom constantly checking emails in their blackberry just isnt' enough connection with everyone else. They gotta have more and faster communication regardless how trivial, because it makes them feel like they are a part of something. Or some such shtein.
I think you're spot on.
LinkedIn is probably great for people who need to create business networks, but I can't justify forking over $20 a month for the honor. And the free level of the program is nothing more than a come-on to get you to pay for their service.
One of the people I follow on Twitter is a columnist who writes on the local bar and restaurant scene. She posts alerts about upcoming events and such, in addition to her personal updates, so there is some value to following her. And there are a few other bloggers that I like to keep up on. I definitely don't need immediacy, and I don't have Twitter updating me via text messages or anything. But it is nice to sit down at my computer, pull up one page, and find out what some of my on-line contacts are up to.
matt just took a wonderful dump.
Quote from: Cerevant on December 04, 2008, 09:41:34 AM
Actually, LinkedIn is the real professional networking site.
Indeed.
LinkedIn basic is fine for me, and I really can't see why it's worth it to spend the extra money. Looking up contacts, researching prospective employers, or more importantly lately upcoming interviewers all all phenomenal in the free service. I get more out of that site professionally than I do from any other.
Quote from: FastFreddie on December 04, 2008, 11:40:57 AM
Indeed.
Indeed.com is the shiznit when looking for jobs. It basically combs all the other sites (job boards, corporate sites, want ad sites, etc). Save keyword searches, company searches, etc, and get an email everyday with tons of potential matches.
I could give a class on looking for a job. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be very good at actually finding one.
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on December 04, 2008, 10:43:30 AM
One of the people I follow on Twitter is a columnist who writes on the local bar and restaurant scene. She posts alerts about upcoming events and such, in addition to her personal updates, so there is some value to following her. And there are a few other bloggers that I like to keep up on. I definitely don't need immediacy, and I don't have Twitter updating me via text messages or anything. But it is nice to sit down at my computer, pull up one page, and find out what some of my on-line contacts are up to.
Maybe this is why I'm not getting anything out of it. How do you find the people to follow? I mean, if I wanted to look for a contact I had for some reason, I can't find a way to search for them unless I know their Twitter user name. Or a blogger, for instance?
Yeah, you either have to know who you're looking for, or you can look at who your existing contacts are following, and then follow them yourself.
That sucks. They need a search function.
Quote from: Father Demon on December 04, 2008, 02:05:35 PMI mean, if I wanted to look for a contact I had for some reason, I can't find a way to search for them unless I know their Twitter user name. Or a blogger, for instance?
I would imagine that many bloggers list their Twitter username?
matt just ate an italian sandwich
next Twit from matty likely to be:
matt just performed an asslosion in the executive bathroom
matt's funny.
Quote from: Diomedes on December 04, 2008, 10:05:11 AM
From what I can tell the service appeals to people for whom constantly checking emails in their blackberry just isnt' enough connection with everyone else. They gotta have more and faster communication regardless how trivial, because it makes them feel like they are a part of something. Or some such shtein.
This.
LinkedIn (free version) is great for finding & keeping track of people you've met at previous jobs or at school. You just enter information about previous jobs & schools, and it lets you search for the names of people who also listed those. It is especially useful for getting references from people who no longer work where they were your supervisor.