Why Twitter? I say: Twi-Not?

I have been using Twitter, both personally and for business, for about a year and a half. A pretty long time for a relatively new technology. I get people who ask why would someone want to Twitter and it got me thinking that most people probably don't fully understand what IT is.

You can see my Twitter feed on my personal website of photo uploads and comments but that by no means WHAT Twitter is.

Not. Even. Close. And I think that is where the confusion is. The REAL value of Twitter is not about telling the world what YOU are doing, it is about CONSUMING.

Imagine if you could make a list of your favorite sports teams, hobbies, cooking, news websites you like to read about every day. Now what if you could get all the newest things posted by ALL of those in one place. THAT is the real power of Twitter. It's like having a personal assistant who constantly scours the Internet and gathers all the stuff you like and puts it all on one website for you to read.

How does it work:
Step 1: Create a Twitter account. It's free and you can do it here.

Step 2: I "follow" (think subscribe) people on Twitter who write about things I like: recipe folks, fitness sites, local weather updates, my grocery stores who publish specials, family members, a whole lot of Twilight site (my private obsession), etc.

Step 3: At any time, I can click on Twitter and see my customized feed about all those things. It's like my own personal news cast about just stuff *I* like! How cool is that? You cannot see this feed, only I can.

Step 4: As a bonus, I can also converse with people (my "followers") on Twitter (sort of like email but in public), upload photos, re-tweet or forward someone else's tweet I liked, and yes, post what I am doing/thinking.

For our business Twitter account, this has been a huge help. I follow industry related experts, customers, would-be customers, competitors, trade associations and industry news. It is great to get the inside scoop on what customers are thinking, what is about to hit the market, etc. It has been an invaluable tool to tune into the market.

The only reason I display my personal Twitter feed on my website is that it's a very easy way to do mobile uploads of photos. I take a pic, open my iPhone twitter app, and press upload. Done. My family can see the cute pic I just took of my kiddos. I think seeing the feed there has thoroughly confused my family members and skewed their understanding of it.

Just know that when you see my Twitter feed online, you are only seeing part of a conversation and a mere fraction what Twitter is. To understand it, take a minute, set up an account and follow a few folks that interest you. You may even like it!

Tweet ya' later!