Comments on: Making Time for Twitter

By: Tweets that mention Making Time for Twitter | Your Organizing Business | Organized Assistant Blog -- Topsy.com

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:49:50 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Janet Barclay, Sara Caputo. Sara Caputo said: Good stuff! RT @JanetBarclay: Making Time for Twitter http://is.gd/wcRrrQ [...]

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:21:01 +0000

Thank you, Julie; that is so nice to hear!

It sounds like you and I are of similar minds when it comes to mutual following on Twitter. One of the things that distinguishes Twitter from Facebook and LinkedIn is the fact that you don’t have to establish a connection with someone to learn from or share your expertise with them. I am unlikely to approach a VIP on one of those sites and ask them for a connection, but I can follow them on Twitter if I want to – and vice versa. Although Twitter does enable relationships, it’s not its only benefit.

By: Julie Bestry

Julie Bestry — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:17:50 +0000

I agree with you that #3 is controversial, but I don’t understand why. Some percentage of the people following me are doing so because they want to get my expertise as a professional organizer; it doesn’t automatically follow that if they post mainly about dog grooming or Azerbaijani politics or knitting, that I’d have use or interest in that expertise. My not following them isn’t an editorial comment on their worth, it’s just a personal preference about content. Think of it like newsletters–just because someone subscribes to your newsletter doesn’t mean you’d have a need to subscribe to theirs.

I don’t expect most people I follow (unless I know them in person) to follow me, nor do I follow anyone just because they follow me. However, I try to be diligent about reading my @mentions, and if someone mentions me or replies to one of my tweets, I make a point of replying back to them and acknowledging them. Then, maybe I’ll follow, maybe not.

It’s about quality, not quantity, and the idea of gathering followers like squirrels gather nuts for the winter is missing the point of the interactivity of Twitter.

Of course I agree with point #1, though Twitter lists are certainly making it easier to keep up with what you want, even w/out the third party technology. If I’m short on time, I can just bring up my list of other professional organizers and read/reply, saving my general timeline for when my time isn’t at such a premium.

And Janet, you are one of the greatest delights of using Twitter!