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Do Recent Issues Signal an End to Twitter?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Second Self Virtual Assistance

Have you ever tried posting something on Twitter or even tried updating your Twitter profile and gotten the dreaded "Fail Whale"?  Earlier this week, I was trying to change the background on a client's Twitter account and was having trouble saving my changes.  At times, I couldn't even log into an account because the system was so busy.  That little whale has popped up on my screen so much lately that I was pondering the idea of abandoning Twitter altogether.  What's going on?  Is Twitter outgrowing itself?  Do the recent issues signal an end to Twitter?

Do recent reliability issues signal an end to Twitter?

Recently, Twitter announced that it was aware of the problems that had been occurring with the network and has made strides to rectify the situation.  Some of these steps include:

  • Doubling Twitter's internal network capacity
  • Improving the monitoring of the internal network
  • Redistributing the load of traffic on the internal network so it flows better
  • Improving its page caching so that the page load times of its more popular pages is faster

Twitter is also hoping to get a better handle on its service and become more stable and reliable for its users by moving into its own data center in late 2010.  While this may not cure all the problems with the service, it is sure to help curb much of it.

Do recent issues signal an end to Twitter?  Does this mean that Twitter isn't as popular or worth the effort for your real estate marketing?  No.  It means that Twitter is growing at a rate of about 300,000 users a day and, like your teenager, is experiencing some serious growing pains.  With that many people using it, Twitter is still a good marketing tool for any business, even real estate marketing.  Have you been experiencing problems with Twitter lately?  What do you think of it?  Please let me know.  I'd love to get your opinion.

Pamela Cendejas, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886
Not going away anytime soon - tweet away!
Jul 22, 2010 12:10 PM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hey Anna, my Banana!  Nice to see you again!  Thought you'd "split".  :)  What is your opinion of Twitter?  Has it been helpful to you in making or renewing new friendships?  What about business?

Jul 22, 2010 12:15 PM
Kathryn Acciari
Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA
Mortgage Loan Originator

I'm a fan of Twitter. It's fun, it's immediate, and it's easy to find people.  I've had great luck with hyper-local tweets and a couple of leads come in.  Hope it is here to stay for a while.

On another note, today we were beseiged by power issues.  Internet down, electricity on and off.  So perhaps Twitter had some of that going on too. Who knows!

Jul 22, 2010 01:13 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist
I'm not a Twit yet. Not sure when I will be. It just doesn't appeal to me.
Jul 22, 2010 03:36 PM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

I'm not a big Twitter user. Hopefully they will get past these isues.

Jul 22, 2010 03:36 PM
Dale Baker
Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH
New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy and morning to you Pamela

I've been mighty lucky, I have not ran in to any issues when I've login to Twitter. When ever a site is growing as fast as Twitter has been, theres going to be issues popen up at times. Twitter forever!!!

Have a good one
Dale
in New Hampshire

Jul 22, 2010 07:11 PM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Kathryn - All businesses have glitches.  I think they're just more noticeable when they affect us directly, right?

Jul 23, 2010 03:58 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Jim - I think Twitter is one of those things where you either like Twitter or you don't.  I haven't heard many inbetweens.  Maybe you should talk to Kathryn.  She says she's got a couple leads from Twitter.  Good luck if you decide to join the rest of us.

Jul 23, 2010 04:00 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Robert - Tweeting does take some time away from other important things.  Just like AR got past their issues, I'm sure Twitter will, too.

Jul 23, 2010 04:01 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hey Dale - My experiences with Twitter have been mostly positive, too.  Enjoy your day!

Jul 23, 2010 04:02 AM
Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon
Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO
Helping people Transition at all ages!

Pam....I'm sure that with Twitter like any other fast growing entity, there are bound to be capacity problems which will be resolved in a short time.  It is just very frustrating while we wait for the fix.

Jul 23, 2010 04:41 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Carra - I agree and I don't think these little inconveniences are going to hurt Twitter any.  It's way too popular.

Jul 23, 2010 05:23 AM
Barb & Sal Dragotta
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan

Pam...now I know just how low my Tweet account truly is; all I ever get is a notice that Twitter is busy, chekc back later. Never saw that whale before. :(

Pretty sad when one is rejected from using the site & not even presented "The Whale". Perhaps it is also an indication of my usage of this site-[not a lot]  
Have a good weekend.
Barb

Jul 23, 2010 07:53 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Barb and Sal - Many years ago, I had a near death experience and never saw the bright light.  So, not seeing the whale doesn't seem so bad now, does it? ;D

Jul 26, 2010 05:33 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
I'm sure you're right about growing pains - which are a symptom of growth, not failure.
Jul 27, 2010 02:13 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Brian - Good comment.  Growing pains can be a welcome part of business, right?

Jul 27, 2010 04:58 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Hi Pamela - exactly.  Just like the occasional login problems we have had with AR as they (we) continue to grow!

Jul 28, 2010 01:50 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Brian - It's just a matter of being able to exercise patience and understanding during that period.  Thanx for your comments.

Jul 29, 2010 04:35 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

I don't think these problems are new with Twitter.  I have been experiencing them for about 3 months now off and on.  More on than off lately.  As you said they need to expand to cover the workload.  Once that is done and done correctly hopefully the problems will go away.

Aug 18, 2010 04:27 AM
Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Hi Debra - Every business goes through growing pains.  Looks like Twitter is no different from any other business, huh?

Aug 18, 2010 04:50 AM