Twitter, Twitter, Twitter Everywhere…
Here a Twitter. There a Twitter. Everywhere a Twitter. It is like you can not avoid the the tweets posted by those who tweeters. . I mean some may have tweetaholism and become tweetaholics. Im not going to be tweepish about this, nor should you when you the tweeple who twead this. Twitter is not for the the tweepish nor a place for tweerboxes. So let me tweet-back to my point.
Well I think you get might point, Twitter is everywhere and being used by everyone. Let me give you a rundown of observations I have made just in the last 24 hours. I will do it in list form, cause people like lists.
-I watched a Desperate Housewives episode on Hulu and Tom Scavo could not get a job cause he did not know what Twitter was.
-There was a post by Domino’s Pizza asking how they can get their brand name on Twitter as someone else has both Domino’s and Dominospizza i.e squatters.
-There is @nakedpizza who uses Twitter to bring in 15% of its daily business according to an Adage article titled “Twitter Proves Its Worth as a Killer App for Local Businesses”
-Rumors are that Google will now index Twitter
-There was even a NCAA Recruiting Violation on Twitter!
-Starbucks is going to start marketing on Twitter
-Oh and Patrick Swayze is not dead, no matter what tweeps on Twitter say
So my point. Twitter is big. Its getting bigger everyday. Then there is this post from today: Social Media Fails To Manifest As Marketing Medium, Report Likens Twitter To TiVo: More Hype Than Reality Ill give you the take away from the article which is:
“Social media has reached critical mass, with 83% of the Internet population now using it – and more than half doing so on a regular basis – according to new research being released today by Knowledge Networks. But for all the media industry’s hype and buzz surrounding social networks, microblogs, and other social networking platforms, the genre has failed to become much of a marketing medium, and in the opinion of the Knowledge Networks’ analysts, likely never will”
I’m not buying it. Not because its what I do to feed my family. Nor am I in denial because on May 26th I will be speaking on a panel at the 140 |Twitter Conference in Mountain View with @ijustine and @missrogue. (like how I did a plug right there? Use discount code: int140tc)
Nor am I saying this because I have the Peninsula Twitter and Facebook Meet-up for June 2009, that I have put together happening at the Four Season in Silicon Valley. (what another plug?)
Look people are watching less tv. If they are they have DVR’s to go past the commercials. There are mp3 players, satiellte radio and sites like Ilike.com that are replacing radio. Newspapers are dying when you can get your news online.
Look, maybe something better will come down the pipe that will blow social media out of the water. Sure, but it is not going away anytime soon.
Okay let me put my soapbox away.
Thoughts?
Many great points, but people are actually watching more TV, not less every survey indicates. This does not negate social media, just helps set the proper context. "Old" media is not going away, while "new" media comes in, a new ecosystem is created that mixes the two.
I stand corrected regarding my tv statement. I did not look that up nor verify it. I do like your take on how this is a new ecosystem which the two will live together.
I'm with you, Dave. Social media is not like TiVo. The barriers to entry are practically null … it’s free, ubiquitous and there’s no set top box required.
As a B2B marketer, I think that social media is as big, if not bigger, that the internet was back in '95 when everyone was scurrying to put up a website. And we know what happened to B2B companies back in ’95 who didn’t think they needed a website. I see this trend happening all over again with social media. It happened to a lesser extent in ’02 with blogs. Now many B2B companies are seeing results from blogs including improved search ranking, higher engagement, etc.
So I don’t think social media is fad. I think that many of the tools that work on the social media platform may in fact be fads, but that’s what happened back in the late ‘90s when numerous companies that were built on the internet platform didn’t make it. The same will happen with social media sites—some will make it and some won’t. But the platform itself is here to stay.
@copywriter4u
I agree its not going anywhere! (I'm surprised at the surveys also.) There isn't only the people that are involved right now. Most teenagers and early twenties are almost always on various social messaging utilities, it completes their world. And as Whitney said, "The children are our future". Need I say more?
Nice post and great plugs
nope, you nailed it!
Will social media ever go away? No, I don't think so. Will it be called social media in the future? That, I'm not so sure about. However, I do know that we build upon what we know and move forward. Social media works and everyone's into it – that won't change. Maybe a few years down the line something might come along to revolutionize 'social media' but I honestly think it will just be another iteration of everything we like and use now.
I like to look at things that have stood the test of time through the life of the internet. Lets use forums as an example. They were around before the term 'social media' even existed and I'm sure they'll still exist after that term has been retired. Does that mean message boards aren't a form of social media? Nope.
I'm honestly super excited to see what's past web 2.0. Mobile interaction is definitely making it's mark on the public right now and I think there's huge opportunities for the mobile platforms in the near future.
Agreed, mobile platforms are the next step..the future..
Dave,
I agree, of course. It seems that there is a rule that says someone must release a new twitter app every day (I think the number of apps released for a specific platform should be a world-record record). Personally, I like me some social media with my breakfast. Don't know about those TV user surveys. Maybe they are counting peeps in china now??? I haven't had a TV in my house since 1980! (I realize that I am in a distinct minority there)
I need to look up the survey regarding tv viewing increasing. I thinking the term tv is misused regarding what I wrote. TV shows are on ipods, hulu, etc. The TV networks via the television viewing must be down. right?
I'm a Twitter guy, but even I get sick of all the Twitter talk sometimes. It's okay, though. It just means the world's bored and needs something better to talk about.
I do worry about the fishbowliness. You know who social media works really well for? Social media people. And you know who will gladly sing social media's praises. Social media people.
I should know. I'm one of them.
When you think about it, when we're pressed for proof of social's value, we point to the same handful of tired old case studies, or we point to ourselves. Well OF COURSE social media works for us — we're in the communications business! How many of us would have the same success with these tools if we were basket weavers or trial lawyers.
Yes, I know: Those people can succeed with social media, too. My point is just that our perceptions of the medium's ease and effectiveness are skewed because we're in a field full of people for whom interpersonal relations come easy. Our followers are natural listeners and talkers.
Well said Scott! Well said!
Nice post, Dave.
You made a great deal of posts – but what really bothers me is that there are also alot of chatty and noisy tweets out there. Which means that only a small portion of the users are actually taking full advantage of the service.
In fact, I would say you are a good example of how twitter should be used – saw your tweet, followed it, and ended on your site. What could be better than that?!
Awesome stuff!
Thanks Helen!
twitter is making money everytime you all use bit.ly for shortening your url`s……and if anyone uses another service the greedy as%$#@! are SUSPENDEDING ACCOUNTS….
I think what both factions; the contrarians as well as the evangelists; miss about social media and marketing is that it is only A PART of a comprehensive marketing mix.
There has not been, nor never will be one dominating venue for a company to advertise in. Marketeers must be agile and flexible to adapt styles across the board (as described in one of my latest posts). The issue with marketing and Twitter is when 'experts' try to apply the same tactics used in other channels, and then find it fails. Soc Media demands a different type of engagement – an engagement that is welcomed by people demanding permission and awareness marketing.
Now, is it the same people, as referenced in the 'fishbowl analogy' above, who are swimming in the same circles. Yes and no… I agree there are the veterans. However, different types of apps appeal to different people, and as Soc Med evolves, new apps will appear that appeal to people never once engaged before. Combine that with a demographic shift, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z (yes, they are coming) with the integration – not just usage – of Soc Med into everyday lives, and you have the making of a societal venue with staying power.
Wow, I guess that should have been a post on my website. Sorry Dave.
Hey no problem John. Great points and insight. Write as much as you want anytime!
Dave – Really enjoying what you have to say. The number of success stories in Social Media connections thru Twitter say it all. I personally have met people from around the world, learned something new, expanded my life, partnered on projects, been prompted to write an article and have great conversations all because of this technology. Even though I don't watch TV, per se, many programs and news shows are available on the internet. It's all about sharing. Sharing what you do, what you know and who you know. What could be better?
Debby, Homeopathy World Community
Thanks for the kind words. agreed success stories via Twitter are still increasing everyday!