I just fell back in love with Twitter!
As some of you might remember, I was once one of the world’s top 40 most followed people on Twitter. Then, in January 2009, after being swamped daily with hundreds of DM’s and junk emails via Twitter, I left. I later rejoined after totally wiping my account; zero following and zero followers. Over the past year I have built a small Twitter network, which as you are about to see, is massively more valuable!
Here’s what happened and why I fell back in love with Twitter yesterday…
Twitter contacts
I was in a small village pub last night, when David Spinks from Scribnia.com contacted me via Twitter. David and I have never met in person, though we have spoken on the phone a few times. Anyhow, David wanted to know if I could help him, to help a Twitter contact of ours, who is having some real challenges right now. By the way, you will be hearing all about this very shortly.
I called David and within an hour, I had spoken with a number of my Twitter friends, to see about getting our mutual friend the help he needs. Everyone I spoke with was eager to get involved. Each of these relationships were initially formed, via contact made on Twitter and I’ve never met any of these people in person.
Twitter at its best
In my experience, Twitter is at it’s best (from an interpersonal point of view) as a way of connecting with people; rather than as a way of building relationships. Once a connection is made, it’s super-easy to take that connection away from Twitter, so you can get to know the person better; either face-to-face, via the phone or email etc.
For example, each of the people I called after speaking with David Spinks, were people I met initially via Twitter, but had built a relationship with away from Twitter; including Scott Gould from Like Minds and The CEO of Headway Themes, Grant Griffiths.
The community of people I know via Twitter, are of massive value to me and last night, the way many of them wanted to get involved and help a guy they have never met, was breathtaking. REAL people, who right now are about to make a REAL difference to the life of a fellow Twitter community member. I have never been more impressed with the value of Twitter or more delighted that I rejoined it.
I’m no social media guru, but surely “people” are what it’s all about?
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I think you might just be right there Jim. What’s the point in having a massive following of people who will never use or need your help, when you can have a smaller but much more valuable list! As the old saying goes… It’s about quality, not quantity.
.-= Phil Johnson´s last blog ..The Real Deal, James Caan =-.
Totally agree, Phil – Quantity without quality is pointless. Thanks for the feedback.
Hey Jim
You know the honour for me was that you thought of me and called me!
I’m thrilled that all of this can go towards helping someone in need.
Ready to do what I can!
Scott
.-= Scott Gould´s last blog ..10 Dos and Don’ts for Social Media Campaigning in the General Election =-.
It’s funny Scott, how when certain things happen, we immediately think of certain people.
Thanks for your willingness to help and for taking my call at such an insane hour.
You’re walking the walk, Scott!
[...] Twitter, but it was his Top 10 Marketing Tips that got me blogging. By the way, Jim had a Twitter rebirth recently [...]
Hi Jim
I started off in the blogosphere thinking that the name of the game was all about number building. The more I learn, however, the more I realise it’s actually all about relationship building. Twitter really does help make connections that can go it all sorts of directions. I’m delighted that it has been of value to you in this instance and can’t wait to hear more!
Hi Christine. The only “value” in those numbers is that for some reason, some people STILL link follower numbers to value.
The reality, is that anyone can build insane follower numbers, using simple software and some people actually BUY followers.
Thanks for the feedback!
Bingo my friend. Twitter has been powerful in bringing so many of us together. Now, let’s harness the power of twitter and help out our dear friend.
.-= Grant Griffiths´s last blog ..Using Twitter Helps Businesses Generate 2x More Leads Than Non-Twitter Users =-.
Spot on my friend!
Hello Jim
, the word is “meragesh” coming from the word feeling, full of feeling would be a rough translation,and that’s what came up for me when I read this,touching, full of feeling and connection to other human beings. Thanks for this
In Hebrew we have a word that suprisingly doesn’t have an equivalent in English, as far as I know
You’re welcome Yael. Thanks for the language insight!
Spot on – people, people and oh yes, people. Without them, social media is worthless. Without engaging them – it’s even more worthless
.
Engaging on Twitter has furnished me 90% of our product testers – says it all really. They’ve signed up because they feel they “know” me and because I have engaged.
Thanks for posting.
.-= Barney Austen´s last blog ..A Golfers Guide to Project Management =-.
Hi Barney. That engagement with contacts made on Twitter is what this post is really about – rather than “just” the software. Thanks for the comment!
This is such a great post and is exactly how I feel about Twitter, which I love for all of the above reasons. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Brenda!
But you didn’t call me.
Or me
Well not this time anyway.
So glad you’re sold back on Twitter Jim. Its not everything by any means but it is great for getting to know people and getting things moving.
In the last month a crowd of us helped one of our mates get a new job after he was made redundant. We used a mixture of blogging, twitter and linkedin – Twitter provided the oomph…
.-= Su Butcher´s last blog ..Screencast – MrTweet Communities a Phishing Scam? =-.
Hi Su. I disagree slightly with something you said there.
In my experience, Twitter is pretty poor for getting to know people.
I see it’s power as a way to make that initial contact and then, when you have got to know the person away from Twitter, as a way to keep them updated and share.
Hope that makes sense. Thanks for the comment!
Long time no hear!
As I said in the post Hugh, each of the people I called were people I had previously spoken with knew (away from Twitter.) Thanks for the comment.
It’s more a representation of the people using these tools than the tools themselves. It’s amazing, when connected, what people can do.
You’re a great guy Jim. I’m so grateful that these tools allowed us to meet.
Let’s make it happen.
Hi David!
Absolutely, it’s the people NOT the tools. Though the connections happened via Twitter, the relationships and activities were conducted away from it – just people connecting like we always have.
Thanks for the feedback!!
Jim, you know that helping always gets my attention. I get tears in my eyes when I hear about people pulling together for a common cause. When I read this I felt the same way. I don’t know the back story but I am sure that I will learn soon. I look forward to hearing the rest of the story.
.-= Julie Walraven | Resume Services´s last blog ..Getting in the door: Networking with Informational Interviewing =-.
I agree Julie. With the news focusing almost exclusively on the negative side of life, it’s refreshing to see people working together on something positive.
Thanks for the comment.
Found this blog through @soulkirk and not only retweeted, because the title sounded like my kind of thing, but skipped on over to read how tweeps were helping each other.
Now, I’m waiting to hear “the rest of the story.” It’s a bit of a cliff-hanger, but we know it will all turn out well in the end.
Debby
What is #twitterlove?
http://hubpages.com/hub/twitterlove
.-= Debby Bruck´s last blog ..CANCER MEDICINE FROM SCORPION =-.
Welcome to the blog, Debby. As soon as we are allowed to get the story out there, I will be blogging about it. Thanks for the comment.
I so glad that twitter has been a beneficial tool to help your friend. It reminded me of a story at my local church. Our pastor’s son got sick and needed blood. Everyone helped out, the word got out through text, and facebook (and probably twitter too) People who didn’t even go to our church turned up at the hospital to help and donate blood. And as for having so many followers on twitter or friends in facebook that you don’t even know, but are just there so you have more people in your network. I don’t get it. Why put them in your network if you don’t build relationship with them. Phil Johnson is right, quality over quantity.
This story also reminded me of this http:/budurl.com/hw8s article I’ve read recently.
Thanks for the feedback Megan. Good to hear your story and to see the effectiveness of the blood donation drive. Always great to hear inspiring news like that.
Amen! A million amens! I couldn’t agree more, Jim. It is all about real people and real connections. We may initially come to meet someone through Twitter, but the real value is when we’re willing to step out from behind a tweet and support one another.
[...] Respond, engage, shoot the breeze, banter…. Yes, you need to take the time out to talk to the people you are following and who are following you. You never know when it can pay dividends. [...]
Hi James. Have been following the commentary on here for the last few weeks. Great to see people “getting” the fact that it is people meeting with people using twitter (and other social media forms). Oh, and twitter brought me here today as well
.
Cheers
Barney
Twitter id : @barneyausten
.-= Barney Austen´s last blog ..Surprise, how do you react? =-.
I agree Julie. With the news focusing almost exclusively on the negative side of life, it’s refreshing to see people working together on something positive.
Thanks for the comment.