Twitter Connects You to Your Passions
Social Media and Search Engine Optimization are common words at my workplace. You may wonder what have I learned from all of this “SEO & Social Media talk?” More importantly, what can I help YOU learn from it so you don’t make the same mistakes? Here is ONE simple lesson I have learned. It’s more of a thought-provoking reason for those who are not using Twitter to leverage their personal interests.
Social Media Lesson#1:
The boundaries and limitations of connecting with others are falling down. Twitter makes it easy to learn from experts.
Communication is now easier. Twitter communicates across several platforms. When I mention, direct message, follow or list someone within Twitter I know they receive the notification. Usually these notifications come to their personal email… an email they will check and work to read more than their work email. This communication medium allows me to directly interact with “thought leaders” I would have never interacted with.
For example, last week I started following several executives at large nonprofits with cool mission. For example Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, an international relief and humanitarian organization (aka CARE), Joe Iarocci, Chief of Staff at CARE, tweets regularly about his passions and work of CARE. Another example is Amy Smith, President of HandsOn Network, who tweets about volunteering and tends to add funny tidbits.
I’ve also been able to follow several thought leading magicians – yes, I am an amateur magician… I promise I’m not too nerdy. I am able to follow magicians I admire like Penn & Teller, Chris Kenner (David Copperfield’s Executive Producer), Joe M Turner (Atlanta Magician), Jason Alford (Slight of Hand Ninja), and Chad Long (funniest magician I’ve seen lecture). As you can see the walls of communication are coming down… even for magicians.
Years ago I would not be able to have this direct line of receiving thoughts from expert minds of the best nonprofits and best sleight of hand artists in the world. Beyond better understanding of nonprofits and the art of magic, it gives me insight into the industry and direct access to the inside minds of thought leaders. I am able to better understand what they are doing to serve their mission (and audiences). This direct access, when taken seriously, is a very valuable tool.
So if you are not on Twitter, go ahead and join up. Take some time and learn from someone or something you are passionate about.
UPDATE: Laura, my beautiful fiancée, said Twitter can be used to follow John Mayer and other celebrity crushes… I mean stalkers… umm… celebrity “fans.”
–
John is a marketer for an Atlanta start-up. Connect with John on Twitter or LinkedIn.
