Here are 3 reasons you should be using Twitter (www.twitter.com). Twitter is a micro-blogging tool that allows the posting and sharing of information 140 characters at a time. If you do decide to get a Twitter account, please follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ndbob. I'd love to know how many Agriculture and University Extension faculty and staff are using this tool.
Reason #1 - Information
Your colleagues, your customers, your students, your government and the media are all sharing information on Twitter. If you’re not on Twitter, you may be missing out on important information and conversations. I’ve discovered a number of valuable tools by following colleagues on Twitter. The National Agriculture Library is posting headlines and links on their Twitter account, www.twitter.com/National_Ag_Lib. Twitter is a quick and simple way to send and receive alerts, resource links and thoughts that you might not take the time to share through more traditional channels.
Reason #2 – News
Twitter users often provide first-hand accounts of and/or links to breaking news. Check out a search of Twitter posts about the pistachio recall at http://search.twitter.com/search?q=pistachio+recall or posts about North Dakota flooding at http://search.twitter.com/search?q=nd+flood.
Reason #3 – Communication
Twitter is a channel for communication that’s rapidly growing. People are using Twitter as a major source for information by following not only their friends and colleagues, but also their favorite newspapers, blogs and reporters. The Twitter posts users receive from those they are following is like a personal news wire that can serve as an alert to the latest news or as an inside look at a developing story. By sharing information on Twitter, you can get on those personal news wires and build a relationship with your audience.
Posted by Jim S. on April 09, 2009 at 01:14 PM CDT #