I enjoy using twitter, I really do. More than this I love interacting with folks and hopefully getting to know them a little more. I’ve even managed to make a few friends that I would be happy to call upon directly or them me, if needs be but …
… I confess, I really don’t understand what (if indeed anything) I am doing wrong in my usage of twitter.
I took stock of a recent day’s usage and my twitter day consisted of a few RT’s; a few posts of my own thoughts and close on two dozen (I didn’t count that close so it could be more) responses I made to individuals that were of a helpful nature or in a manner to induce a reply or start a conversation.
Now, I accept folks are busy or have a reason to not reply or even don’t see the @’s but then what are they doing on twitter? Anyway, can you guess how many replied, continued the conversation, thanked or even just acknowledged me?
Well, no, it wasn’t quite zero but one!
One person took the effort to respond.
One person took the time to utilise <140 chars to converse with me.
The most stunning aspect (at least to me) is that the one person that did reply is a well known sportsman (in rugby union) and is a man amongst men. He’s a world famous name and probably revered as a god in his own country (New Zealand) – which not unlike mine is fanatical about their rugby. And what’s more, he took time to chat not just reply once.
I’m honoured – but I am thoroughly baffled and confused as to why nobody else could be bothered.
Am I getting it that wrong?
Am I a twitter fail and should just terminate my account?
Any clues folks?
Twitter is so ephemeral. As is much of the 'social networking' scene. And harder to 'track' than, say, blog visits. Did anyone spot it?
Having found it occasionally useful myself I suggested the use of FB to a rather isolated artist of my acquaintance as an additional means of support. It completely failed, as no-one picked up any of her comments or requests. It ended up making her feel even more isolated. FB fail too.
Impressed at your @reply from Upper Hutt! And there's nothing wrong with your twittering! Now I probably should have left this as a reply to your original tweet, lest you feared no one saw it…
I understand the ephemeral part of it and to be honest (as I keep telling myself) I'm not in this or twitter for fame or money but to network and to meet folks or make contacts that mean something.
Thank you for your response Alastair – but I shall continue to try and find the magic to unlock the replies ;)
By the way – have you come across my brother in law in your travels / work. He's a vicar in Thelwall nr Warrington.
I rarely reply (he says, hitting the reply button) – or at least I rarely reply on Twitter, because of the way Tw operates.
With FB, there are varieties of ways of interacting: status, comment, 'like', message, wall. In Tw, everything appears in the main Tw stream, and I certainly don't always want my responses to do that. So there are hundreds of great tweets I have failed to respond to, that had they been on FB I would have contributed in some way or another.
Thelwall? DJB? No, we haven't met, as it is a few years since I served in the north. Blessings all.
My recent post Vote Match
Indeed, DJB is he.
Your reply has me thinking now – perhaps I should re-vist my personal FB usage stratergy.
I rarely reply (he says, hitting the reply button) – or at least I rarely reply on Twitter, because of the way Tw operates.
With FB, there are varieties of ways of interacting: status, comment, 'like', message, wall. In Tw, everything appears in the main Tw stream, and I certainly don't always want my responses to do that. So there are hundreds of great tweets I have failed to respond to, that had they been on FB I would have contributed in some way or another.
Thelwall? DJB? No, we haven't met, as it is a few years since I served in the north. Blessings all.
My recent post Vote Match
I agree with you about the whole issue related to replies. For me, Twitter is about building dialogue and conversations. Generally, I will only follow someone if I believe there is a chance for meaningful dialogue. There are a few exceptions where I follow somebody or an organization for informational purposes.
My recent post Romania – Less Than Two Months To Go
I'm way past looking stupid so I reply hwoever far down the line, though I may need to add a hint as to the what.
I get the falling behind bit as well – working shifts my twitter use (and this blog) can get neglected and neither receive the attention they deserve.
As to networking / dialoguing. I think you and I are on the same page there. I apprecieate your time to reply.
If you want to measure the value of twitter, you need a much larger sample than one day. You need to look at trends over time. Also, were the helpful comments sent to people who are following you, or strangers? I send helpful hints to strangers often – some people don't respond. No big deal, because the interaction with people who follow, or will continue to follow, is most important, because that's what builds relationships.
My recent post 10 Twitterisms We Wish Everyone Would Stop Using
Ahh ha, that was but a small sampling of a more regular occurrence. My regular daily use of twitter is very similar to the one I took actual stock of. The fact that made this day stand out was my usage that day was magnified by the number of RT's, tweets, answres, general conversations I joined in yet got virtually nothing in return.
Were they strangers? In the fact that I don't know them personally yes but in the fact they opted to follow me and have for some time, then no they aren't.
I get that some folks don't respond – I even alluded to that. But in that order of magnitude then no I don't get that, at all. In fact, it's just plain ignorance or arrogance. Especially when you've taken time to share your answers to their questions – or are they just asking to appear to be sharing?
I can't really speak knowledgeably about your attempts, because I don't have enough background. There are lots of reasons why someone may not respond:
1. They're not on twitter when you send the reply, which may mean that by the time they come back, the data is "old"
2. Some people don't know that it's okay to respond to "old" tweets
3. They might not like the advice you've given them
4. They didn't really ask a question
5. They don't know how to respond
6. They are inconsiderate jerks
I don't care what the reason is. I follow people I find interesting. If they don't follow me, that's okay. However, if we're following each other, and they don't respond when I talk to them, I unfollow, because they're not really trying to be social, and then fit in your category of "asking to appear to be sharing." In the short attention span theater of twitter, I don't have time for people like that.
My recent post Falling on Deaf Ears
OK so I am summarising what is coming up for two years of active twitter usage and yes, I did pick out one particular day.
And taking into your points, well made, I still don't get the why behind some folks usage of twitter. When I penned the post I was admittedly frustrated as all the 'experts' tell us the deal with twitter is about networking.
However, my gut feeling is that folks just don't know what that means or how to engange in it. Is it an age thing? A technology thing? Or something else entirely?
BTW – nice blog and I'm now following you ;)
Man, that stinks! I always try to reply, but I’m a talkative, social person with good southern hospitality. :) Maybe that’s it! You need more tweeps from the south… Texas is the friendly state, ya’ know. ;)
I'm like yourself – from the South but not the USA – Britain! But I am a social animal and love being in groups even if only listening.
Tx for the visit and comment :)