So you have nothing to tweet.
Well Claire Cain Miller has an answer to your dilemma. In her recent article in The New York Times, “Getting the Most Out of Twitter,” she offers tips for those users who don’t want to tweet. She reveals that the premise of Twitter is actually more expansive than many expect:
“Even the most prolific users say Twitter has become more useful as a way to tap in to the discussions of the day than to broadcast their own thoughts.”
Top three tips:
A Custom News Feed
Through lists and hashtag’s (the hashtag allows users to tie their tweets to specific topics, ex. #russopartnersllc) one can select subjects of interest in real time to get a sense of the current mood. With one-fifth of posts containing a link, Miller says, Twitter has also become an increasingly popular way to spread news and updates.
Attend a Conference, Virtually
Hashtags = money. If you want to save the thousand dollar conference attendance fee, consider following the tweets coming out of the different sessions. With Twitter omnipresent on iPhones and Blackberrys, it is easy enough to report on or review any presentation as it takes place. It is also just as easy to follow these (often insightful) reports on Twitter without ever having to brave the sea of suits and PowerPoints.
Ask Questions
In a more unique anecdote, Miller describes a medical student’s post, “Strange case today in internal medicine rotation. 16 years old boy with acute pancreatitis (for the 6th! time). Any ideas?” As it turns out, specialists from all over the world were able to respond on Twitter with suggestions and ultimately help with a diagnosis.
Twitter can be used in concert with a Web site and blog to build a solid internet outreach program — this we already know — but it is also an unexpected resource for the research necessary to build and maintain an online presence. Awareness of the current conversation will always lead to more effective and timely communication — and sometimes the answer to important questions.
