Last week, Calvin came across a three year old post listing tips for getting the most out of Twitter. Some of the advice is outdated (#1 was written before Twitter launched its official Retweet feature, for example), but overall it holds up. The author even called the Upworthy-ification of headlines on the web, though I would argue we’re entering a period of backlash against those.
If you want the “too long, didn’t read” version, skip down to the last point: Be Conversational.
There the author hits on the essence of Twitter: it’s a conversation, more akin to a water cooler gathering than the tabloid magazine parallel the author uses. Twitter is like no other social media platform in its ability to capture the Zeitgeist of a given moment, whether it’s a TV premiere, award show, big playoff game, or the final inning of a no-hitter.
Most importantly, it can bring the world in on what is going on in a particular place or story that isn’t being covered or broadcast anywhere else.
If you plug and engage that conversation in a genuine way, the other tips for using Twitter will fall into place.
