Comments on: Twitter: are numbers or interaction better? http://urbanconversations.com/2009/03/10/twitter-are-numbers-or-interaction-better/ Communicating in an digital, urban age Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:19:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andre Natta http://urbanconversations.com/2009/03/10/twitter-are-numbers-or-interaction-better/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Andre Natta Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:39:52 +0000 http://urbanconversations.com/?p=82#comment-6 Hey Janet, I agree that the question of how many people are needed for a conversation is a major one to consider. I also think that those that come to use these tools without the intention of true engagement will miss out - a lot - on all that is available to them. Another question may be whether or not they've looked at what they want to accomplish before they set out into the virtual world. We may never know... Hey Janet, I agree that the question of how many people are needed for a conversation is a major one to consider. I also think that those that come to use these tools without the intention of true engagement will miss out – a lot – on all that is available to them. Another question may be whether or not they’ve looked at what they want to accomplish before they set out into the virtual world. We may never know…

]]> By: Janet http://urbanconversations.com/2009/03/10/twitter-are-numbers-or-interaction-better/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Janet Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:57:25 +0000 http://urbanconversations.com/?p=82#comment-5 Sure, you need to get some numbers to get enough interaction going, and maybe the more interesting question is how many people do you need to have a conversation. People with a lot of followers have more opportunity to hear and be heard in more conversations perhaps, but if there isn't engagement and it's all about getting numbers and not interacting then it's a loss in my book. You can have just as valuable a conversation with a carefully chosen few as thousands. It's all about choosing who you relate to. I see a lot of people with big numbers not saying much or simply self promoting. Is that an effective way to use social media? I don't think so. I use Twitter to find business for my web development/consulting business. Generally, that comes through referrals who have seen my work, been clients or had conversations that went deep into how we work and why. I take these conversations off Twitter and other social networks and continue them by email, Skype, phone or face to face as the relationship develops. Growing these kinds of friendships on and off social media is what has grown my business for a long time now, and it works for me. I'll be interested in see what works for other people too. Sure, you need to get some numbers to get enough interaction going, and maybe the more interesting question is how many people do you need to have a conversation. People with a lot of followers have more opportunity to hear and be heard in more conversations perhaps, but if there isn’t engagement and it’s all about getting numbers and not interacting then it’s a loss in my book. You can have just as valuable a conversation with a carefully chosen few as thousands. It’s all about choosing who you relate to.

I see a lot of people with big numbers not saying much or simply self promoting. Is that an effective way to use social media? I don’t think so.

I use Twitter to find business for my web development/consulting business. Generally, that comes through referrals who have seen my work, been clients or had conversations that went deep into how we work and why.

I take these conversations off Twitter and other social networks and continue them by email, Skype, phone or face to face as the relationship develops. Growing these kinds of friendships on and off social media is what has grown my business for a long time now, and it works for me. I’ll be interested in see what works for other people too.

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