Amusing Myself With Twitter

I had to check my blog archives to see where I’d mentioned Twitter previously and came up with just two occurrences. The first mention was in June 2007; the second one in December 2008.

That first occurrence was within an article I titled, How I Found You Online, where I marveled at the different ways I discovered people via the internet. At that time, I relied a lot more on forums such as Digital Point and Sitepoint as well as social media sites including BUMPzee, MyBlogLog and BlogCatalog to connect with people. Back then, I was a new user on StumbleUpon and was still stopping in on MySpace on occasion.

But it was my last comment that brought a smile to my face, particularly my comment about Twitter:

I plan on joining LinkedIn eventually, but I think I’ll sit Twitter out.

Yes, it just took me just seven words to explain that I wasn’t planning on using Twitter, likely for the reason that I saw no point in using it.  After all, Twitter was only a silly way for people to send one liners to each other all day, right? Who had the time for such nonsense?

Well, things certainly do change in the world of social media as I am basically forum free these days, choosing to meet up with people through their respective blogs and key social media sites. Yes, I even connect with a handful of people through email, but if you’re looking to IM me, that won’t happen — but feel free to send me a tweet!

It must have been an article I read, such as Mihaela Lica’s very first article on Sitepoint titled, “Twitter’s Little Known SEO Value,” that piqued my interest in Twitter. I’ve been following “Michi’s” writings for several years now and her candid explanation of Twitter caused me to revisit the site, digging a bit deeper to see what it is all about.

I joined Twitter long ago, have posted a bunch of links in the in the interim, but my network wasn’t much to brag about. But, this past week I invited a number of people to connect with me via Twitter, tripling my contacts and putting some life in my exchanges with other members. That move brought in a number of high end users, professional tweeters who add interesting stuff and make Twitter worthwhile.

Sure, there are some people who seem to be having conversations with nobody but themselves, but I’ve also come across a handful of really good articles that I probably wouldn’t have found had I not started using Twitter. In those cases I’ve read the article, posted a comment and, in a few situations, shared that information with someone else.

Mihaela’s article is a good read, making no silly promises that Twitter will do something that it won’t. But it was her last statement that I found most interesting (and true) — If you can make people come to your site via Twitter, then this is an SEO advantage you cannot afford to miss. – something I am taking into consideration as I tweet may around the site.

Oh, by the way, if you want to follow me on Twitter please click on the little tweety bird and you’ll be brought to my profile page for a connection.

Entrecard And Other Internet Mysteries

Yesterday, I began using Entrecard — you know, that online business card thingamajig you can drop on various sites and get a day of free advertising (if accepted by the blog manager). I set up four blogs with it and before I knew it four different email inboxes were being heavily bombarded with requests (betcha didn’t know I operated so many different email accounts, did you?)

Anyway, I quickly had to sort through scads of requests, some of which had absolutely nothing to do with what the respective blogs are all about. Yes, your bakery business looks great — I could almost eat your virtual Entrecard — but I’m not sure I have a place for you on my blogs.

The requests came fast and furious as I imagine that there were boatloads of Entrecard users who were just waiting for me to sign up and place the widget on my blogs. Talk about feeling wanted! But, I know there is another side to Entrecard — to get some free advertising and to push up traffic numbers (namely Alexa) on blogs.

Honestly, I’ve barely explored the whole Entrecard culture, preferring people to drop by and visit me before I do likewise. My cards are plain — you think I’m going to pay someone to create cards for me? Not a chance! And, I haven’t found a site that I absolutely, positively want to advertise on. Give me time, I’m sure that moment will arrive.

Some People Are Just Plain Weird

What is it about the internet that attracts weird people? Okay, that answer is anonymity.  If you’re a social misfit when it comes to meeting real people face to face, why not create a virtual version of yourself and enter a world that you have created?

I don’t have to suggest this — lots of people are doing just that. MySpace seems to be the biggest proponent of online weirdness — gee, you think I’m really interested in friending someone whose sole goal in life is to friend as many people as possible on every single social media outlet out there? All right, I admit it: I can’t stand the competition!

The worst place, of course, is YouTube where anyone can get their fifteen minutes of fame (or shame). I call the site Soap Operas For Sociopaths as not a few people have gotten their fame postmortem. Yes, inflict you tragedy on the masses, commit suicide, and you’ll live in infamy forevermore. Oh, by the way, there is a God.

Off To Entrecard Land

I’m off to Entrecard Land as I’m readying a fifth blog for this madness.  Drop on by — literally — and I’ll see if I can hook you up. Just try to stay on message as you’ll have a better chance of being approved.