Baby steps into a brave new world
Posted by Ian Armstrong on June 03, 2009 in Online, Social Media with 2 CommentsAfter hearing about Twitter for a while I finally gave in a few months ago and set up my profile in the micro-blogging technology everyone is talking about.
I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan of blogging up to this point but having been in new media production for nearly fifteen years I had to dip my toe in the water sometime and I have to say, after three months of using Twitter... I love it!
At first some of the restrictions seemed a bit strange, having to limit your posts to 140 characters being the main one. You quickly get used to limiting your banter to suit this, though. The time it took for me to follow over a hundred people went very quickly and even stranger the speed it took to have over a hundred people follow me really amazed me.
But what to talk about? Not considering myself to be very nosey, I started to get very involved with what people were twittering about, funnily enough. Even better I found Twitter a valuable research tool and creative inspiration medium as many designers in the same field as me regularly post ideas and links that proved very helpful on a number of recent projects.
I do have to admit not all of my posts have been work-related and have noticed an upsurge of people following me when I vent my disgust at Munster losing a rugby game or Sunderland not winning again!!! I have recently started posting on more general activity as well. I was never a big fan of keeping diaries but now I can see the attraction as in years to come this will undoubtably provide an interesting snapshot of what was going on in my life today.
I'm thinking that in maybe three or four years I'll be able to look back at what I am twittering today and... well, maybe I won't end up with a rival for Anne Frank's Diary but I'm sure it will be mildly interesting. Now there's an idea for a book: One year's posts to Twitter. Must remember that one. Could be the one to make me that million euro I so desperately need.
So anyway, I'm a convert and a follower at the alter of Twitter... until the next big thing hits, of course.
Ian Armstrong ’s areas of expertise include motion graphics animation and video production. He’s been working in the design and new media industry for nearly fifteen years. Find out more at Ian's Profile. Don't forget to subscribe if you'd like to hear more!
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Glad you’re enjoying it Ian but I must admit I’ve been getting a bit frustrated by Twitter recently. After an enthusiastic start, I found myself getting disillusioned by the number of complete randomers who started following me with the sole purpose of increasing the number of people following them! I came to the conclusion that it’s less about social networking and more about a popularity contest.
Yeah, I see your point Laurie but the popularity aspect of getting followers never really concerned me. I have a Facebook account (which I only use to share photos with friends and family) and use Twitter to update the status so its a lot easier to update in one place.
We’ll see how much use I make of it in the coming months. I do agree with you in relation to the random people who follow me though.
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