Become a Valued Twitter User

September 3, 2007 · Comments

Scrolling through my Twitter friends, I mostly see conversation. Sometimes, a piece of news comes across Twitter, and when it does, it comes much faster than my finding out via other sources. But what has me thinking is this: where are the UTILITY twitterers? Where are the people using Twitter in a way that is actually useful?

It’s not that you have to use Twitter that way. It’s fine just as a conversational messaging platform. That’s how most of us use it. But what if. What if someone were out there figuring it out? Not just links. That’s easy. Linking to content that matters is useful. But what are some actual applications for someone Twittering that would be of general use?

For example, Shika reads out horoscopes. I get a kick out of it every time. It’s not exactly useful, unless you’re like me and consider your horoscope. Some folks are Twittering the weather. Others are passing on news stories as they get them.

What OTHER utility uses would be good for us? Not automated, but someone Twittering in a way that we come to value.

What do you think?

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  • Chris,

    We enjoy your RSS Feed on a daily basis, and would offer the LAFD Twitter as a unique and (we hope) potentially meaningful use of the microblogging platform.

    Please keep up the great efforts - and yes, mentorship that makes your feed one of our daily must reads!

    Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,

    Brian Humphrey
    Firefighter/Specialist
    Public Service Officer
    Los Angeles Fire Department
  • when i read twitter threads it often seems like "clutter", as if we need more random information. so as a musician ive been thinking about ways to use twitter that my readers/listeners might find useful and interesting.
    so far

    -announcing contests which tend to be time dependent so everyone get a fair run at it. twitter puts it everywhere at the same time
    -"happenings", if im in a city i can twitter that ill be at the corner of spadina and park to play 3 acoustic songs for anyone that can make it.
    -if im going on late i can email the audience from backstage and tell them whats going on (that seems like the strangest on for me, but interesting)

    140 characters is an interesting limitation.
  • There are small amounts of information that could be sent out via Twitter that would probably be defined as "useful" such as:

    - Stock market updates with short comments. Not just the amount of what the market is doing as that is easy to obtain but a quick summary of why.
    - More of a local application but sending out specials in the supermarket, cheap gas prices, other deals that someone may came across when out and about.
    - Lunch and dinner ideas. We are all thinking what should I make for dinner, maybe as a community we could share ideas and quick recipes (under 140 characters:)) via Twitter.
  • I have narrowed down my list off followers to people who supply content I find usefull ! To date Steve Rubel publishes good info for me ! Like any other form of communication there will always be a lot of Semantic Jazz ! Also by not allowing more thn 140 CH it really is nothing more than a micro blogging bill board ! An effective billboard only need six words ! I need a a few columns!
    140 CH leaves no room to create dialogue ! I wish Twitter had an interface like Scobles Kyte TV !
  • I think it depends what you think is useful, and the constraints of 140 characters.
    You can use Twitter to let people know of jobs- a "mini linked in"
    You can use twitter to let poeple know of issues as they come up, refer to news stories.

    But I think by implying that twitter might not be "useful", you short-change the usefulness of the connectedness twitter brings.

    Twitter's not going to do my dishes or laundry, but maybe through my friends I might find a cleaning lady.

    Twitter may not run my errands, but by asking friends what kind of video camera they use, I get instand product reviews which dramatically decreases running to every store in town to cpmare features and prices.

    Twitter's not going to help me move, but might help me find a reliable moving service recommended by friends.

    Twitter helps friends meet up on short notice.
    Twitter has helped friends at a distance source hotels and other things they've needed when they aren't fully connected to a computer.

    By keeping me in touch with friends at a distance, it has maintained and deepened connections that might have otherwise floated away.
    Twitter allows you to be connected in an ambient but meaningful way with your friends, and collect information from multiple resources, often in a very short period of time, which otherwise would have aken you hours, between making calls, sending emails, and guessing which person you know might have the info you need. instead, you broadcast a question, and "proof" an answer or many answers appear.

    I think these are extremely useful things about twitter.

    Do you mean something else by "useful" that I don't understand?
  • The other night I was live-posting an out-by-out commentary on the last inning of Clay Buchholz's no-hitter.
  • There's a thread on LinkedIn Answers on this topic (http://www.linkedin.com/answers?viewQuestion=&a...).

    I submitted an answer to that thread (and blogged about it here: http://thekillerattitude.com/2007/08/twitter-st...)
  • Most of my Twitter posts are attempting to share helpful info and less about what I am wearing. I believe that Pownce is even better suited to this.
  • What we need is Twitter-poets. Or stories, told in 140 characters. It'd be a whole new medium.
  • There's a world of possibilities for twitter and twitter users. I can see using twitter to connect users with non-users in need. People who need specific things that maybe a twitter user could provide virtually or physically. Just a thought and just one way that I could use it. I'm sure there are many others as well.
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