What are the benefits of Using Twitter?

[Joyce Boadt]

I'm new to Twitter and was initially reluctant to sign on because I really hadn't gotten any good feedback about it. I see lots of potential but would like to get some input from you veterans? What do you see as the selling points? It'd help to have a better business case if I'm going to convince people to join me.

[Kevin Makice]

There are many, many uses for Twitter. The eclecticism is one of it's many strengths.

I have found Twitter to be invaluable for identifying, meeting and bonding with other locals. It is a great way to connect the many smaller social circles that form in an area.

Twitter is great for breaking news and to gauge the resonance of a certain event (by seeing how many people bother to tweet about it). It is also a great way to share resources and ask questions.

Following tweets are a great way to establish a sense of connection with someone you meet offline before you do so or while you are apart. It doesn't replace the small talk; it makes it more directed and meaningful.

[Rodger D. Johnson]

Joyce,

For public relations counselors like myself, we're finding Twitter to be an extremely effective media relations tool. Journalist are latching on to Twitter like nothing I've seen in years. And that's making it exceptionally easier for PR counselors and journalists to connect and build relationships with each other. One of my digital colleagues in North Carolina has been creating a list of tweeting journalists.

I've also found that is is a blog traffic mega-machine. The trick is to use some third-party tools to feed you blog posts into your Twitter environment, then enter the environment and begin engaging other's in conversation about that. Sometimes the controversial the back-and-forth, the more followers you'll attract.