Thanks for that – interesting use.

steve

You asked for comments on how one would use LinkedIn for business networking. Below is an example, but may be a different type of business networking than you are referring to.

When I was asked to research a topic for my employer, I used the search feature of LinkedIn to find people at similar companies performing the same type of work. I would connect with them, or ask for an introduction and finally meet them via phone for the discussion.

When a LinkedIn connection is made, it becomes much easier, in most cases, to write to contacts. I find it critical to keep my network active by periodically showing interest in my connections. This builds the relationship between people (within companies).

An alternative to searching through my network could have been to ask a question of my network.

As a newbie to Twitter myself, I am unclear how to get the same thing accomplished given the small number of followers that I have unless I send a tweet to my followers and ask everyone to retweet (I have seen this done).

There are many companies now on Twitter, but unless they follow you, I am not sure the companies will see your messages (tweets). If they do, will the right person get the message?

Thanks for starting this discussion. I look forward to following it.

I see your point more clearly now – and I was being literal about broadcast vs point-to-point.

Catching the right level between intimacy and publicity would be the thing that separates the fun-to-follow from the quick-to-unfollow now isn’t it?-)

We’ll see how that goes.

Again, my thanks,
steve

Thanks for asking me to clarify. When you labeled Twitter “broadcast” I wasn’t focusing on the technicality of it being a broadcast medium (which of course it is). I took your point to reflect what other new users or non users perceive: that Twitter is just a place to “broadcast” and not a place to create more intimate/meaningful relationships.

By itself, Twitter is simply a tool like a putty knife. In the hands of a skilled user it is a powerful one — like a Swiss Army knife.

As for StockTwits, those guys have created a set of services and network of blogs to extend the relationships initially found via Twitter.

Hope that answers your question.

Tamela

PS you might also enjoy this link to a post I wrote about content between blog>newsletter>LIn>Twitter>RSS as it will make the point about one of Twitter’s useful roles in the cast of communications players.

http://tamelarich.com/2009/business-writing/e-newsletters-business-writing/email/

Thanks for the comment – definitely beginning my use of Twitter.

While twitter may have the ability to send a direct message, it’s not IM, and is definitely a broadcast media…

Checking on the app you mentioned, they are still public in the sense that the conversation is generally open for all to see.

If I’ve missed that aspect, please help me understand how.

steve

You’re a new Twitter user, I gather, so you make the common mistake of thinking it’s a broadcast medium. A great deal takes place in the DM realm and through sites that build community using Twitter (StockTwits is my favorite example).

Twitter is more difficult to learn to use than LinkedIn and most people give up before they “get it.”

Keep up the good work.