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The Social Networking Buzz: Twitterland

I signed up for Twitter this Summer after reading about it on ActiveRain. With only 140 characters and chatty conversations between people that seemed to know each other, I totally didn't get it.

As part of the social media webinar assignment, our homework was to log in Twitter and get our feet wet. I was ready to dive in.

First, here's a quick explanation from CommonCraft:

I started slowly by searching for and following real estate agents (including Missy Caulk from Ann Arbor and Teresa Boardman from St. Paul), real estate techies and local folks.

Gradually I started participating by "tweeting" (posting) some of my daily activities and people started following me (BTW, my Twitter ID is @MichiganMoves).

The more time I spent on Twitter, the more sucked in and addicted I became. I even found an application for my Blackberry (Twitterberry) as well as as another website where I could post status updates to multiple networking websites (Ping.fm).

Soon I built up a network of local "tweeps" and was ready to take Twitter and social networking to the next level...a "tweet up" (meeting face to face).

The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started, TweetBeeps & Tweet-Ups, Twitter Synchronicity

Posted by Debra Drummond | MichiganMoves Real Estate in SE Michigan on 10/26/2008 01:47 AM

Comments (11)

Technology, Tools in the ActiveRain Channel

real esate, technology, twitter, realtors, web 20

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11 Comments on The Social Networking Buzz: Twitterland

OCT

2008

Hi Debra - you didn't tell us how the 'tweet up' went! I've been on twitter for some time now, and you're right that it can become addictive. And then again, so can all of these social networking sites. Twitter is great fun and a great add-on for business as well.

Ann

that's it for me, I have not signed up for twitter, because I don't get it I see alot of talk about it, but don't understand the value.....so you do feel that it is a valuable addition to your social netowrking?

Deb, I think the more we write about Twitter the more people get intrigued on it here on activerain. Lately I have been getting lots of requests to follow me. If they are local Ann Arbor, or Michigan people I do, but some are people I don't know, and am just ignoring. When I look at their profiles they have thousands of people that they are following but very few follow them. What's the point? I think they are just spamming to get their products out.

Ann - The tweet up was great and I'm writing about that next

Konnie - Absolutely, but it took me awhile to get there. Have a developed business from it? Not yet, but I don't doubt the value and potential

Missy - I've was surprised by how many agents are already on Twitter...a lot of you 'got it' a whole lot sooner than I did LOL.

Hi Debra - My Twitter ID is LVRealEstate. One thing I really like about Twitter is the 140-character limit. It really forces people to get to the point. And because the Tweets are so short, you can interact with a lot more people in a shorter period of time.

OCT

2008

Whew, it is hard to keep up! I think I am going to wait to tackle this one until January! I will follow the posts that you write and maybe that will shorten my start up time :) Thanks for sharing.

John - I'm already following you ;-) I too was one of those people who thought the 140 character limit would be restrictive, but being a to-the-point kind of writer, it actually fits my style well. The challenge is trying to keep up with everyone.

Terry - It can be very addicting, but fun and exciting. As agents, we have to adapt & adopt new technology or we'll be left behind.

NOV

2008

I just taught my first "pupil" how to twitter. I spend about an hour with my brother-in-law going over the basics. He will pick this up much faster than I did because there is so much that seems unclear when you start. I think one point people new to twitter need to remember when starting on twitter, facebook or any social network is to interact.

Debra- i am dreading signing up for another on-line anything. After reading this and many others I guess i'll have to Twitter!

NOV

2008

Okay, the video helped me to understand more about Twitter. I am starting to understand it, but correct me if I am wrong - you need to be at a computer to send or view these tweets, or need internet access via your phone?

Carolyn - Yes, I think that's the point and the power of social media to make new connections.

Todd - It takes awhile to get the hang of, but once you start meeting people face to face, it becomes really addicting

Troy - You're right, either a computer or smartphone. If you don't yet have a smartphone (email/internet capable), I'd highly recommend it. I just got a Blackberry Curve 2 months ago and love it! I could not have participated in Twitter as much as I have without it.

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