August 16, 2007 78 Comments

Fixing WordPress with Twitter

Today, I used Twitter to fix a technical problem that my hosting provider couldn’t help with. I had FOUR people respond almost immediately and walk me through various suggestions. Each had a little something to add to the puzzle, and each really made it better a little bit at a time. (One reminded me that I hadn’t backed up my site in forever).

And then, I read this great article by Anne Zelenka from Web Worker Daily, telling about ways people use Twitter to friendsource information.

If you’re still wondering why you should use Twitter, it’s probably because you’re using it wrong. Want some tips?

Make a Smarter Twitter

  • Fish around for Twitterers who write intelligent twits. (No really!) Add them.

  • Look for @somefriend responses from YOUR friends that seem intelligent and point to someone smart. Add THEM.
  • Remove all the post-Twitter users like news and stuff. Use RSS for that.
  • Remove all the faux celebrity Twitterers.
  • Ask better questions with your 140 characters. You’ll get better answers.
    Use Twittersearch to fish for answers.

Do you have any further suggestions? How do YOU use Twitter better?

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

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Newer Comments →
  • http://www.cafn8ed.tv Adam Jochum

    Test. Is this thing on? :)

  • http://negativemargins.com Andy Stanberry

    Community is cool!

    Hope this isn’t a 500.

  • http://dayngrzone.blogspot.com/ dayngr

    Twitter is an excellent resource. Great information and happy to hear you got all the issues worked out.

  • http://www.artsyasylum.com susanreynolds

    Comment comment – Are you just tweeting for traffic? Nah. You really did want troubleshooters on the comment system.

    Twitter networking works, and works well. I’m living proof ;)

    http://twitter.com/susanreynolds

  • http://www.cafn8ed.tv Adam Jochum

    Test. Is this thing on? :)

  • http://negativemargins.com Andy Stanberry

    Community is cool!

    Hope this isn’t a 500.

  • http://dayngrzone.blogspot.com/ dayngr

    Twitter is an excellent resource. Great information and happy to hear you got all the issues worked out.

  • http://susanreynolds.blogs.com Susan Reynolds

    Comment comment – Are you just tweeting for traffic? Nah. You really did want troubleshooters on the comment system.

    Twitter networking works, and works well. I’m living proof ;)

    http://twitter.com/susanreynolds

  • Ashpreggo

    Just testing, you rawk Chris!… I can’t believe I just said rawk…

  • Ashpreggo

    Just testing, you rawk Chris!… I can’t believe I just said rawk…

  • http://ductapeguy.net Sean McGaughey

    Hey Chris. Your website seems to be working now. I’m glad that twitter came through for you.

  • http://KolbeMarket.com BarbaraKB

    Hello. Hello. Chris tells us he is testing for a 500. Really. Really. Really?

  • http://www.daphneandtamara.com Tamara Kirshner

    Skype breaker! It’s all you!

  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    I thought they were called “Tweets”, but I could be wrong. :)

  • http://ductapeguy.net Sean McGaughey

    Hey Chris. Your website seems to be working now. I’m glad that twitter came through for you.

  • http://www.kolbemarket.com BarbaraKB

    Hello. Hello. Chris tells us he is testing for a 500. Really. Really. Really?

  • http://www.daphneandtamara.com Tamara Kirshner

    Skype breaker! It’s all you!

  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    I thought they were called “Tweets”, but I could be wrong. :)

  • http://www.disruptiveconversations.com/ Dan York

    Knock, knock… anyone home?

  • http://www.disruptiveconversations.com/ Dan York

    Knock, knock… anyone home?

  • http://conversationbase.com/blog Critt

    Cows Rule!

  • http://embracingmyinsanity.blogspot.com Melissa

    I agree Twitter and Jaiku have improved my social standing/undertanding of the web.

    Use them for then what’s for dinner.

  • http://conversationbase.com/blog Critt

    Cows Rule!

  • http://embracingmyinsanity.blogspot.com Melissa

    I agree Twitter and Jaiku have improved my social standing/undertanding of the web.

    Use them for then what’s for dinner.

  • http://freistil-consulting.de Jochen Lillich

    So, come on out, 500! I’ll “Internal Server Error” your butt!

  • http://www.tmcamp.com T.M. Camp

    Hi Chris, just testing…

  • http://www.tommyvallier.com/ Tommy Vallier

    Shhh… Be Vewwy Vewwy qwiet. I’m hunting ewwor codes.

  • http://freistil-consulting.de Jochen Lillich

    So, come on out, 500! I’ll “Internal Server Error” your butt!

  • http://www.tmcamp.com T.M. Camp

    Hi Chris, just testing…

  • http://www.tommyvallier.com/ Tommy Vallier

    Shhh… Be Vewwy Vewwy qwiet. I’m hunting ewwor codes.

  • http://schlomolog.blogspot.com schlomo

    No 500 Error, only Love.

  • http://schlomolog.blogspot.com schlomo

    No 500 Error, only Love.

  • stewart mercer

    My hovercraft is full of eels.

    Yep, it seems to work :)

  • http://www.linkerjpatrick.com linkerjpatrick

    Thanks for sharing the value of Twitter and how to take it beyond the “Sandwich I had for lunch” post.

  • stewart mercer

    My hovercraft is full of eels.

    Yep, it seems to work :)

  • http://www.unravelingtounderstand.com linkerjpatrick

    Thanks for sharing the value of Twitter and how to take it beyond the “Sandwich I had for lunch” post.

  • http://jessicagoldharalson.com Jessica Haralson

    Testing testing, 1 2 3?

  • http://jessicagoldharalson.com Jessica Haralson

    Testing testing, 1 2 3?

  • http://christianburns.wordpress.com/ Christian Burns

    Yep, we are a go

  • http://christianburns.wordpress.com/ Christian Burns

    Yep, we are a go

  • http://jessicagoldharalson.com Jessica Haralson

    Also, thank you for the inspiration to not use Twitter for moronic updates — rather, for the community.

    Annnd check out the Nerve Video Blog today because I did a Rick Roll tribute to you. ;)

    Keep on keeping on, Chris!

    -Jessica

  • http://www.cleverclogs.org Marjolein Hoekstra

    When I reply to someone’s tweet, I try to refer to the key topic of that person’s tweet, so that my followers get a hunch of what I’m writing about. Otherwise they need to go find the original question, which is really a hassle.
    I like what @popquiz is doing, following him together with a bunch of others.

    A more solid Twitter search function is dearly missed. I won’t mention search to RSS. Oops. I think I just did.

  • http://www.idoitdigital.com Clintus McGintus

    check check, check. is this thing on?

  • http://jessicagoldharalson.com Jessica Haralson

    Also, thank you for the inspiration to not use Twitter for moronic updates — rather, for the community.

    Annnd check out the Nerve Video Blog today because I did a Rick Roll tribute to you. ;)

    Keep on keeping on, Chris!

    -Jessica

  • http://www.cleverclogs.org Marjolein Hoekstra

    When I reply to someone’s tweet, I try to refer to the key topic of that person’s tweet, so that my followers get a hunch of what I’m writing about. Otherwise they need to go find the original question, which is really a hassle.
    I like what @popquiz is doing, following him together with a bunch of others.

    A more solid Twitter search function is dearly missed. I won’t mention search to RSS. Oops. I think I just did.

  • http://www.idoitdigital.com Clintus McGintus

    check check, check. is this thing on?

  • http://rosevibe.me.uk/blog Vics

    I’ve a funny feeling this post may reach record comment levels *grin*

    I agree though, twitter is where it’s at right now, you just have to hope people are watching when you ask..

  • http://rosevibe.me.uk/blog Vics

    I’ve a funny feeling this post may reach record comment levels *grin*

    I agree though, twitter is where it’s at right now, you just have to hope people are watching when you ask..

  • http://www.podcast.com Duncan

    Test, test, test…. Hey Chris this is a test

  • http://aithene.net/ Aithene / Chris Wilson

    jumping on the testing bandwagon. Good post, by the way. Just sent it to someone who doesn’t “get” twitter.

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