To Tweet or Not to Tweet…That is the Question

More than a year ago, I made the decision NOT to sign up for Twitter. This decision was made strictly from a time management perspective. I often lose myself in email and blog reading and instinctively knew that Twitter would become a major distraction. So, I opted not to join. Actually, I thought it was a passing fad and that if I sat it out long enough, the world would be on to something new.

Many of the folks I admire in social networking fell in love early with Twitter and now have incorporated it into their online presence and business promotion. After months of being told that I should reconsider my Twitter position, I recently joined and became a part of the Twitterverse.

I was right about my initial reaction. It is a distraction for me, but also an incredible learning experience. I am following and learning from others who have or are in the process of mastering the art of Tweeting. In the three weeks that I’ve been Tweeting, I’ve reconnected with old friends, learned some nifty new things, found a vendor for a project I’ve been planning and was part of the most wonderful stream of live Tweeting during the Obama Inauguration that linked people on the Mall with people like me watching on TV from all over the world! It was incredible to be linked live with hundreds of thousands of other people all focused on exactly the same thing at the same time.

And I’m learning lots of new shorthand as Twitter limits your messages to 140 characters. It does make you focus on your point so your communication gets sharper. Like any popular software, there is an active development community focused on designing and sharing ever more convenient and interesting ways to use Twitter.

The folks that I “follow” range from educators, magazines, and publishing folks to all kinds of self-made gurus in social networking, writing,  internet marketing and sales. It’s a fantastic brew. One of the real benefits of Twitter is that you can sort through content that is interesting to you versus not at a much faster rate than on a blog reader.

As with most social networking tools, there is no substitute for diving in and trying it for yourself. Below are links to some content shared by my fellow Twitterers to inform and inspire you about using this engaging medium for yourself.

12 Reasons to Start Twittering - Michael Hyatt

Twitter Basics

The Beginner’s Guide to Twitter - Michael Hyatt

Retweet: The Infectious Power of Word of Mouth

 Twitter Basics for Non-techies (like me) - slide presentation

The Art and Science of Retweeting for Twitterholics

Get Positive Attention in the Twitterverse and Other Networking Situations

Looking for Mr. Goodtweet: How to Pick Up Followers on Twitter

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