Something unusual happened to me yesterday. I had a conversation on Twitter.
You might be surprised to hear that, after all, I’ve been a Twitter resident for a long time. But somehow the magic between me and Twitter has faded over the years.
When I first started using Twitter regularly back in 2008 I spent much more time there, especially after I was laid off in early 2009. Back then Twitter seeded many relationships for me – both in the association and Triangle communities. Many of those relationships were deepened during meet-ups and conferences and soon turned into friendships.
It’s easy to rationalize time spent on socializing and professional development, and easy to get sucked into long Twitter sessions. As I got busier with freelance work, I had to change my Twitter habits. I began scheduling my time there and even setting a timer so I wouldn’t spend more than my allotted 20 minutes.
I now use Buffer to schedule tweets and share good reads. I’ve always loved sharing information and resources, even in past careers – the frustrated librarian in me, I guess. Originally I intended those automated tweets to merely be a supplement to whatever I tweeted in real time. But some days, those seven posts were the only sign of my Twitter presence.
Sometimes I would get on Twitter for my 20 minutes, find a lot to read, but not see any opportunity for conversation. Sure, scores of tweets passed through my stream from the nearly 2000 accounts I follow, but either I couldn’t think of anything to say or the tweets were automated. Sometimes I would reply to someone and then never hear back. I don’t take it personally, that’s how Twitter is now.
Luis Suarez has also seen changes in Twitter and got riled up enough to write, Twitter is Where Conversations Go to Die. My tweet and Laura Talley’s retweet of his post inspired the Twitter conversation we had yesterday. The three of us had just a short conversation, but I’m hoping it marks a turning point for me.
If we put our minds to it, can we reclaim Twitter for conversation? Can we reclaim it in a sustainable way? I’m not going to spend hours a day on Twitter and neither should you. How do we make it work?
My first tactic is to create new lists for conversation with those I know, those I don’t know but whose brains I admire, and fellow writers. I already have lists for many of my professional and personal interests but these lists will be a bit more filtered. Perhaps by focusing on these new lists, I can find the conversations I desire amidst all the broadcasting.
I’ll continue to keep my All Friends stream in its usual place in Hootsuite because I love the serendipitous finds it brings me. Plus, maybe I’ll find conversation there too. I’m a dreamer.
One solution to my problem is to participate in more Twitter chats, but they’re a heavy investment of time. I used to always participate in #assnchat, the association community’s weekly chat at 2pm Eastern on Tuesdays, but if I’m in a good writing flow, and I usually am at that time of the day, I don’t want to break away for an hour-long chat. Perhaps another scheduling challenge I need to overcome.
What’s that you say? Yes, we know the #assnchat hashtag is odd, but we’ve come to love it.
I’m curious. Has your approach and use of Twitter changed over the years? Do you find yourself hanging out on other platforms because Twitter has become disappointing? How do you use Twitter to have good conversations?
August 23, 2012 at 5:47 am
Hi Deirdre, thanks ever so much for sharing along such a wonderful blog post! Very inspiring to see how that original article triggered not only a lovely conversation on Twitter, ohhh, the irony!, but also this lovely blog entry. I, too, try to keep redefining my user experience with Twitter and must confess I have taken a similar approach to yours as far as organising people in Twitter Lists to manage streams better. Not because of the overwhelming number of folks I follow, which is not the case, but because of the silly Twitter API limitations where I keep exceeding it time and time again, becoming a bit of a show stopper at times. But it’s certainly true that working with those Lists has made a difference. I just wish they were a whole lot easier to manage, as Google Plus Circles, for instance! Grrr
Anyway, I, too, miss diving into Twitter Chats some times, but the problem I have is that the vast majority of the ones I’m interested in happen at times when I am long gone from daily work schedule and duties and it’s tough to come back, specially, when private life kicks in. Perhaps I need to scan through those TweetChat events and find more appropriate times. I think that’s going to be my homework for the next few days and see how things would go further, but I agree with you that they would be brilliant to spark additional conversations on Twitter, so thanks for that tip! And for the reminder! 🙂
Speak soon!
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August 23, 2012 at 7:08 am
I’m so glad my post resonated with you. I’ve been a little frustrated lately when I go on Twitter because most of the tweets I see are automated tweets sharing a link/read. I’m not the only one who has gone astray! I have to do some research and find out if there are better times for seeing people there in real life.
I made time to participate in #assnchat on Tuesday but the topic was a recent conference I hadn’t attended, oh well, maybe next time. I think the time zone issue will be a challenge for you unless you find chats that are targeted at Europeans. Maybe you can start your own as an experiment!
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August 23, 2012 at 12:18 pm
You are welcome! Yes, indeed, I enjoyed it quite a bit and I think you are right with regards to the timezone challenge. Very few TweetChats are happening in Europe at the moment, and it’s a rather good idea getting your own going and see where it would take folks! Will give it some further thought!
Interestingly enough, after I have put together the blog post I have noticed a certain spike on the number of interactions and conversations as if the wake-up call was a good one! Hoping it wil continue, because we are back to basics 🙂
Thanks again for the lovely post, Deirdre! Have a good one!
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August 24, 2012 at 9:34 am
[…] A new paid platform, App.net, could be a rival to Twitter, after all, all the cool tech kids hang out there. And why not, the masses have invaded their precious Twitter so they need a new place to hang out and stroke each other’s egos. Life continues to have moments of high school. But I don’t completely blame them. I’ve had issues with Twitter lately, too much broadcasting (guilty) and not enough conversation. I’m determined to change my behavior and reclaim Twitter for conversation. […]
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September 12, 2012 at 11:10 am
My approach and use of Twitter hasn’t changed much over the years with the exception of my #SMFWE and #TFWE (social media free weekend and tech free weekend).
I dive in to say hello, share great posts I’ve read or interesting stories and even my own content. I find myself hanging out on other platforms, not because Twitter has become disappointing, but because it adds to my overall online experience. I often find something on Pinterest, for example, that I know a twitter or facebook friend would enjoy.
I use Twitter to have good conversations by being myself, not talking in textese and not spouting a constant stream of content 24/7. When I’m on I want people to know I will respond. Even though family, work & responsibility come first – I so my best to respond to each tweet!
Great post Deirdre! 🙂
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September 12, 2012 at 1:42 pm
I think you have a great Twitter style — sharing good stuff and always there for a chat. Twitter is definitely worth the effort for me too. Just now I was in touch with a few folks and found 11 things to read later — not bad for 20 minutes.
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