I realize that many people in nonprofits may answer that question with "I don't use Twitter." I'm not saying everyone should. But for those who have begun to adopt it or are thinking about it, the next step is to find a style of use or (darn I say) how to integrate it into your work flow.
What It Is:
- Twitter is IM/Micro blogging tool that asks one simple question - what are you doing right now?
- You follow your friends
- You can get your messages on IM, mobile text, or the web
- Twitter changes some expectations associated with online communications - 140 characters
How It Might Be Used:
- Social while at a conference to - find better sessions or parties
- Using twitter as a virtual water cooler.
- Industry gossip
- Pointers to resources, blog posts
- Drive traffic web page/blog or comments
- Ask a question, get an answer
- Get referrals
- Ad hoc collaborations
- Sending reports in an emergency
- Getting news
- Product recommendations while in a store
- Even help create screen captures for presentations!
- But the exciting thing for me recently was to use it as a solicitation tool for a fund raising campaign
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of it." That's why my husband said the other night when I showed him Twitter. He also added, there's more effective ways to spend your time. Then, he went through the Twitter Life Cycle
The next question is something like, "What's an effective way to use it?"
- Stay hyper connected or take a break?
- Dip in or submerge?
Trend Tacking:
You can now track concepts on Twitter via your cell phone. You could stalk or track your friends in this way. But now, you can track keywords "Nonprofit" or you can ego track "Beth Kanter." Has to be done on Jermiah Owyang suggests "This could provide more utility for those that are responsible for watching certain markets, products, or even emergency use."
Sources: http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2007/10/dip-in-or-subme.html and http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2007/10/trend-tacking-w.html