What is Twitter for?

From Volkmar Völzke, New Pace Consulting SA

Just read an article at Harvard Business Review about the use of Twitter. The conclusions are based on a 300,000 user sample and their use of this new "communication" tool.

Most remarkable to me is the fact that the vast majority of users do NOT use Twitter for any conversation (even if I–and perhaps others–think it was made for that purpose). Even more interestingly, the study shows that there are relatively few opinion leaders followed by a huge number of other people.

So, what are the consequences for an effective usage of Twitter? Here are my suggestions:

1. Forget about conversation via Twitter. In reality it is not a n:n, but a 1:n tool.
2. Be a leader not a follower. If you are not a leader then there is very little chance that others will be interested in what you are tweeting.
3. To identify you as a leader, there is one simple indicator: you are following nobody but have thousands of followers.
4. Once a leader, don't make the mistake of following anybody. That would weaken your leadership position.
5. Twitter is a great tool for people who like to tell to the world what nobody is interested in. It works according to the old platitude that it makes you feel better to talk about something when there is a chance that at least one person is listening.

Am I cynical? Perhaps. Anyway, I'm on Twitter, too. But I prefer 1:1 conversations or 1:n if there is any substance in it, as with newspapers or on good websites.

Are there other viewpoints? Then comment! Till next time, Volkmar