Why I spend time on Twitter

[Cindy Hartman]

My first response when people ask me why I spend time on Twitter is to say I'm not "spending time" as that term usually implies. To me, spending time means wasting time. I'm promoting my home inventory business by. I'm connecting. I'm marketing. I'm meeting people who I can help and who can help me.

For instance, I met J.Sewell Perkins (@TheSCICoach) on Twitter. She wrote her 1st-person (very hilarious) story about her house fire for our blog. She has a wonderful following, and she brought a high number of unique visitors to my site that day.

DeAnna Troupe (@deannatroupe), a virtual assistant, has a blogtalkradio show. I was her guest one evening; we talked about social networking and how I use the various sites to promote our inventory and turnkey businesses. Freelance writer Julie Roads (@writingroads) was offering prizes for her contest winners. I was fortunate to be chosen as one of the prize providers.

And most recently, Lori Feldman (@lorifeldman) contacted me. Though known as the Database Diva on Twitter, she is also the social media consultant for the 51st annual Indiana Flower and Patio Show. I am one of the Indianapolis area bloggers who will be promoting the Flower and Patio Show through Twitter, Facebook and other sites.

So, why do I spend time on Twitter? I have really cool people offer to guest blog, I get to be on the radio, I receive recognition by being part of contests, and I get to be linked to the Indiana Flower and Patio Show which will drive people to my blog and website.

I'm not 'spending time', I'm marketing, introducing my business and myself to people who might not otherwise know me or what I do, finding new prospects and new business associates - and of course, new friends. What does it cost me? A little time, and obviously a chance to pay it forward and help others.

How have you been 'spending' your time?

[Erik Deckers]

Cindy, you and I were at the same Confluence seminar where someone (Jeb Banner? Scott Henderson?) called Twitter a "cool, very useful waste of time." I've used that line ever since.

Yes, Twitter can be a time waster, but if it's used properly, it can be used to enhance conversations, start new relationships, and find new opportunities like you did. Well done!

[Stephen James]

Mostly personality spanning that leans toward whatever podcast I'm listening to at the time (it's difficult not to instantly publish a thought). Getting into a little work-related topics, but due to the technical nature (and the millions of other sites that say similar things) it's hard to pare it down to 140 characters without linking to a blog post--and who has an hour to two hours in their day for one of those?