Finding Meaning in Microblogging

by Marcia Fortley, Public Relations Manager

You just don’t “get it.” Why would you want to follow or be followed by hundreds or thousands of people who care if you brushed your teeth last night? Well, if you’re Ashton Kutcher, apparently this is a big deal. However, there are people who “get it.” Twitter, the king of microblogs, just announced at the end of September that they “...closed a significant round of funding with a group of investment firms…” Rumor has it that it’s around $100 million, though Twitter isn’t saying*. Yep, someone “gets it.”

By definition, microblogging is a form of real-time blogging that allows users to write a brief text message update (usually less than 200 characters—including spaces) and publish it instantly. These updates are available to anyone who has subscribed to view your messages. The messages can be submitted by text messaging, instant messaging, email, digital audio, or the Web. As Twitter puts it, “It is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: ‘What are you doing?’”

So why would you want to use it personally? Well, most use microblogging to inform a group of people of something a bit more important than the fact that they brushed their teeth. It is a quick alternative for mass communication that your group of followers receives in real time. Microblogging is also a great way to get information from a large group of friends and peers. Putting a question out there yields results that can provide great value. It’s also a great way to share resources that you find interesting and helpful. People love to share their thoughts and opinions, and microblogging allows for a conversation in real time with a group of people who share a common thread—large or small.

Still don’t see the value socially? Think about a mom who has four kids and is connected via a microblog—instant communication with one message and visa versa. Think about a group of teens who want to invite their friends to a party or a study group. Think about trying to coordinate a book club meeting, a PTA meeting, a golf outing, etc. Think beyond personal—news organizations and editors use microblogging to their advantage. What better way for the media to give and get information to a mass audience quickly. Editors use it to get story leads, and public relations professionals love it to “tweet” story leads. Businesses microblog to give and get valuable information to and from their customers. Ultimately, it’s just another way to be connected to a group of people who matter to each other on some level. And, no, it’s not for everyone or every business.

Professional Microblogging

You may not see the value in excessive communication for your personal life, but what about your professional life? What if you turn the question, “What are you doing?” into “What are you working on?” Imagine a social media tool that allows quick networking and information sharing with the added benefit of connecting easily within your organization’s email domain? Hmmm. Imagine a world where employees can make connections with co-workers in different divisions or provide assistance instantly by microblogging.

This type of communication is just emerging, but it has great potential. Of course, there are concerns about confidentiality and sharing proprietary information, but you can start small with a pilot program and eventually put policies into place. Other examples of how microblogging can be used in the workplace include

- Asking questions of co-workers—getting breaking news, networking, increasing visibility, engaging with partners and colleagues

- Creating less email

- Sharing project updates

- Making organization-wide announcements

- Building a community (e.g., new employees, single parents, departments, car poolers, etc.)

- Real-time sharing during events (e.g., conferences, training, meetings)

- Promoting a culture of information sharing

Of course, as with all social media, there are rules of engagement and microblogging is no exception. Especially in a professional setting, be sure to

- Post updates that add value (e.g., ideas, links, short cuts)

- Respond only when you have a contribution to make; no need to interact on all posts

- Always think before you post—do you want everyone to read this?

- Choose whom you follow—and allow to follow you—wisely

Ultimately, there is no one solution and no one fit with social media. But, what we do know is that social media can be engaged for legitimate and valuable purposes—both personally and professionally. As always, if you want to learn more about microblogging—try it! Sign up for a Twitter account and start following something fun. Below are some of the popular social and business microblogging applications you can investigate along with Twitter. Happy tweeting!

Top Social Microblog Sites:
www.twitter.com
www.plurk.com
www.jaiku.com
www.cromple.com
www.socialthing.com
www.twitxr.com

Top Business Microblog Sites:
www.yammer.com
www.presentlyapp.com
http://identi.ca/
www.coopapp.com
www.tumblr.com
www.yonkly.com

*Source: www.mashable.com