Digital PR? No Twitter account is like no fax number in the 80’s
Today I scanned through the recent PRWeek mag looking for articles on social media, digital PR etc…stuff that interests me specifically. There was one article where PRWeek pulled together a roundtable discussion with 11 experts in tech PR in San Francisco. I thought, cool, these are exactly the folks I’m interested in following because they share a common interest – digital and tech PR. So I jumped on to Twitter and searched their names to I could begin to follow their expert thoughts on a go forward basis. Unfortunately, of the 11 experts only 1 had a Twitter account and it was a locked account at that.
I bring this example up not to pick on these folks, as I hope they are on the verge of joining the vast tech/digital PR community now on Twitter, but to point out that if you don’t have an active Twitter account and you live in the world of digital, social media, or Tech PR you may be doing yourself a disservice. Twitter has become so intertwined with social media and digital PR that not having an account is akin to not having a fax number in the 80’s. It’s a contact point that others in the community and increasingly, social media savvy customers, expect to see. In fact, at our firm all of our new business cards going forward now include our Twitter, Gtalk and Linkedin handles.
The same thing holds true for aspiring social media PR types. At the recent New Communications Forum in Santa Clara last week many noticed a large digital divide between those currently using Twitter and those who do not. It was like there was two conferences happening simultaneously – one with a flurry of back-channel discussion and networking activity on Twitter and one, well, rather old school with people taking lots of notes and heading back to their rooms at the end of the sessions. (In fact, both Chris Brogan and I mentioned something along this topic when Shel Holtz grabbed some audio clips for The Hobson & Holtz Report at NewComm). The crazy thing is is that the Twitter community is open and it’s free and welcomes all who want to join the discussion. There is no barrier to entry – none. And take it from someone who joined six months ago, the experience has been phenomenal and game changing. No other community is as connected and as important to a tech/social media/digital PR professional as Twitter in my books.
So I encourage anyone who’s currently working in the space or aspires to be an expert in it to join Twitter now. Start by following folks with similar interests and begin by listening. Then join in by offering relevant and valued thoughts, sharing about what you find interesting, joining the conversation.
Millions of people just like you are communicating in a community on Twitter right now. Please, don’t miss out. See you in Twitterland.
April 28th, 2008 - Posted in social media | | 10 Comments
on May 8th, 2008 at 9:26 am
David, I think you are jumping the gun. While Twitter is popular among the geek/technorati crowd, trust me when I say most ‘normal’ people have no idea what it is.
It’s also a bit cumbersome for most normal people to take on so many social networks. Being on Twitter is cool, but ultimately if what you’re doing on the web is cool you will get mentions there organically.
It just kinda happens as a byproduct. Ignore the medium and the fragmentation, focus on the idea, and you win.
on May 8th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I think the point David is trying to make is that the landscape is changing. Twitter culture is already starting to bleed into “regular” society. There was a fantastic post on Read Write Web yesterday about how Twitter is being utilized by companies like Dell, Comcast and more for customer service. Perhaps the best example of Twitter as a customer relations tool is Zappos. What they’re doing is truly magnificent. I think this kind of communication will be at the core of many businesses heading into the future, and we all need to be prepared.
on May 9th, 2008 at 9:39 am
The landscape is definitely changing and the point is very valid that if you are in the digital world or consider yourself in social media, the glass is only half full if you are not twittering.
on May 9th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Great debate going here guys. Thanks for the feedback on the post. All very valid points.
on May 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Twitter is powerful. My post on Uses of Twitter was featured on Social Media Today! I ref’d R6’s use of tweetscan (the link got borked, but I put it in the comments section)
But check out what Zappos is doing! http://twitter.zappos.com/
Radian6 should rock Twitter like that!
on May 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
helps to link to the post, huh?
http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/33051
on May 19th, 2008 at 12:35 am
I use Twitter so much that I put my Twitter username on my biz cards. Immediate access to industry leaders is priceless, and it’s amazing how much information and personality can be packed into 140 characters.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Thanks to both Connie for your feedback. Connie, its cool that you also put your username on your biz cards. I wonder whether the idea will catch on.
David
on May 24th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I would love to have my Twitter @ on my business cards – instead I find myself scrawling it on the back before I hand one off. I talk about Twitter to practically everyone new that I meet, especially in the PR world. David, I agree completely that it’s necessary and provides almost one-stop shopping benefits in the social media world. I find out about the best blog posts and articles via Twitter, I hear about breaking news first on Twitter, and I learn how the best minds in social media are by figuring out who the truly great folks are following and then following them. It’s also a great place for immersion and introduction for anyone just trying to break into and learn more about socia media.
on July 8th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
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