TGI #FF - yep, Twitter again.

Welcome to FollowFriday.  This is the day when you select individual tweeters or company tweeters to share with your followers - to encourage your followers to follow - tweeters whom you have learned from or find value in what they have tweeted over the course of the last week.  No, it is not a popularity contest.  Not if you are doing it right.  I have never tweeted a #FollowFriday out about Steve Martin or Tom Peters, though I follow them both.  Nor have I tweeted out a #FF for my boss and you can bet I follow him and follow his rare tweets. 

Many of my friends do not tweet.  None of my family does.  It is not relevant to them - yet.  So, I understand when scoffers scoff and skeptics skep.  But I see the power and opportunity behind Twitter.  Communicate and with speed.  The other day, I was checking all my Twitter channels.  I, of course follow anything said about Broadbean, the company for whom I work.  I also keep track all of our competitors, I like to know what they are up to and those that follow them.   It is about awareness.

One stream I follow every day is simply titled "recruiters."  I am always surprised, though I no longer should be, by the individuals that tweet nonsense and complaints out about recruiters and the company where they just interviewed.  And I am also surprised, though I no longer should be, by the way recruiters have treated candidates and/or  applicants.  The tweets I have seen prove that there are still recruiters out there that have not changed their spots and never will. 

I like to follow tweets about my community and interests like theatre.  I have learned about events and "sales" that I never would have had I not been paying attention.  Additionally, I have made fast friends and business connections.  And when you expand your network, you expand your reach.  I don't bother too much with relevance.  I base relevance on me - on what I get out of it - on whether it is relevant to me.  Then of course, I am going to attract or find individuals interested in the same things. 

I have heard back from major corporations that have seen my tweets about them.  I have received thank you gifts in the mail and emailed coupons from companies whose products or services I have publicly touted or praised on Twitter.  I have helped people with questions, I have learned about myself and others. I have promoted my company and other companies.  I have shared blogs, information, and news.   And I enjoy it.  As much as many would like to have seen it, this star has not burned out.  As a matter of fact, it is getting bigger.  With 175 million registered users and 95 million tweets written every day, its impact and influence - its relevance - are undeniable.   And guess what?  They're hiring.  http://twitter.com/jobs   How much more evidence do you need?

by rayannethorn