Why Twitter Matters - And For Whom It Matters

While walking around in Austin, Texas at South By Southwest, the power of Twitter became obvious to me.  The number of social media websites is enough to make one's head spin.  But Twitter stands out from the pack, especially if you need to have instant updates on what a large number of people are doing. 

For those of you who are not regular tweeters, Twitter is a website that asks one question: What are you doing? Each person has a very brief profile and can choose to "follow" their friends or their favorite celebrities to receive instant updates.  In that way, Twitter is like an immediate newsletter that you choose to receive only from people who interest you.  Most people use twitter through a software application on their cell phones.  A tweet is limited to the same amount of characters as a cell phone text. 

At first, I thought that Twitter was another pointless technology for hipsters and high school kids. After all, Facebook has a status update function.  But Facebook has so many other features that take time to load on slower cell phones and get in the way of the very simple and distilled information that comes on Twitter. 

Still, Twitter is not necessary for most folks.  However, it is indispensable for anyone who either needs very fast information from a source on twitter or for anyone who wants to build and maintain followers (fans, blog readers, clients, voters, etc.).  Bands can use twitter to update fans on what they are doing and when they have upcoming shows. Politicians can tell their supporters about the latest fundraiser or rally. And businesses can alert customers to sales or Twitter code specials. 

At South By Southwest, I followed a Twitter schedule update.  With surprise performances, such as Metallica and Kanye West, Twitter was the only way to keep in the loop of what was going on. And EVERY person I met there was on Twitter.  In that way, by simply checking my phone, I had exclusive up to the second information about show changes and the latest news on where and when surprise performances would occur. 

If you are interested in maintaining fans, or just being in the know, you should strongly consider getting on Twitter. (Rhyme not intended, but I noticed it and kept it in anyway.) :)