I say NO… it’s evolving. The social landscape continues to shift, and Twitter is no exception. However, it’s still one of my favorite social platforms for several reasons:
- It keeps me “in the know” with up to the minute news
- For “on the go” people like me, the short format makes it easy to connect on the fly
- I love the lists and streams
- Most importantly it allows me, and brands I work with, to reach out and touch people… engage, interact and build relationships, at scale, with ease.
Twitter’s reach goes way beyond Twitter, beyond its signed-up users, and touches many more than its reach numbers demonstrate. In fact, a recent Bloomberg tech article stated that Twitter’s CEO, Dick Costolo, reported at the company’s first “Analysts Day” that 500 million people access Twitter to check out profiles or tweets each month without logging in.
Sure, it has slower user growth numbers than Facebook, but it’s really a different medium for a different audience. I don’t think you can lump them in the same basket. In fact, Tweets and Hashtags are posted in every form of media, and every TV show—something that doesn’t apply to Facebook. It’s the ultimate media outlet for breaking and real-time news. In my opinion it has become the “global town square,” yet people don’t need to be in the town square to hear its clamoring. With over 500 million tweets a day, news and conversation emanating from Twitter finds its way into daily conversations of the masses on an immense scale.
It’s a listening tool. It’s a conversation tool. It’s a connection and sharing tool. One can find a path into most communities via Twitter. In fact, smart brands should think of Twitter as the Swiss army knife of social. And if the rumblings from the company’s executives are any indication, the platform is slated to make it even easier for people to connect, organize their timelines and share content. I’m a bit excited to learn about the new things coming next year, including the ability to take, edit and share video in real time, and to share public tweets through private messages.
One of its greatest features, however, is still the Twitter list, yet many don’t take full advantage of it. In fact, I came across a blog post by Buffer last month that lists 23 ideas for using Twitter lists. You should check it out. No doubt about it, the power of a great Twitter list is immeasurable!
In just a few short years, Twitter has had a huge impact on our lives, from breaking news to influencing language and conversation. People are even talking in Hashtags (check out this hilarious Jimmy Fallon/Justin Timberlake video… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57dzaMaouXA), and use of the Twitter-born symbol has spread to many other social channels, and has great impact and power on Instagram. Do I think it will continue to have the same impact? Much depends on how the platform does or does not meet the expectations of its users. The one thing we can count on in the ever-shifting social landscape is change, so time will tell. However, I think the more important question is—how adept are we as individuals and brands in using social tools like Twitter to make connections and build relationships? The tools that continue to fill our needs in achieving Return on Reationship (#RonR) are the ones that will stick around. It’s up to us to make good use of them.
Originally posted on InsideCXM, December 31, 2014
Hello Ted,
Another great article, thank you!
I agree with you. I think Twitter is a major player and excellent platform to connect and build relationships. Twitter chats, in particular, bridge many gaps.
Many of my leads come from Twitter. I also chat people up as much as possible over there. In terms of quality discussions, it’s at the top with Google+.
Thank you Cendrine… Twitter is such a great networking, outreach and relatinship building tool.
Ted,
I respectfully do not agree. I find Twitter to be completely useless now because of the flood of tweets.
I used to get excited if someone I admired followed me. But what’s the point? They follow 10,000 or even 100,000 other people. They’ll never see my tweets, and will probably never even respond to my @ mentions to them. Sure, I could DM them, but that feels rude unless it’s very important.
To break through that, I could tweet more. But that feels like I’d just be contributing to the problem, not helping.
Ted, I’d love your feedback and thoughts.
Hey Daniel, can certainly understand how Twitter can fel overwhelming, but feel I gave some insight into it’s power and how to make use and break through the clutter. Also if you want to make a real connection with someone, simply following them is just an initial step, and I have never really expected anyoe to take notice of that. Interact and engage with them, RT them, comment abotu that they Tweet or on the posts they Tweet. Some will repsond, others will ignore, no different than at an event, a cocktail party or at the office. Not sur if you saw this link in my post, but might be worth a read. https://blog.bufferapp.com/twitter-lists. Thanks for your input, and make it a great day 🙂