One of the most significant benefits mobile technology has brought to us is the ability to access the internet on the go (IMHO). Why, then, do some twitter users feel the need to inform their followers of where they are when they tweet? How many times have you read “Just walking down such a street” or “Sitting in a coffee shop”. The later one is generally followed by “and drinking a cup of Coffee”. Maybe it’s just me but I think it’s pretty clear that coffee is available in such places.
Let’s face it people, as much as we might like to think that everyone on twitter is dying to know where we are when we tweet, some places are just not worth talking about. Ok, so if you are at some event or conference that you think might be worth tweeting about then all good, at least you are giving your followers some useful information. The useful information being what is going on at the conference not that you happen to be there!
Or how many times have we seen “just arranged a meeting with @john this evening”. I mean really! If you have to tweet to John to tell him that you have just arranged a meeting with him I think you might as well stay at home as John may not be too switched on! Add to that the fact that most people don’t know John or give a hoot who you meet then you are just wasting a tweet.
Now if it wasn’t enough to tell @ John you were having a meeting some people feel the need to tell @John that the meeting went well after it finished. It almost sounds like the love sick “screenagers” on Bebo who are whispering sweet nothings back on forth to one and other to show the world how much there one day old relationship means ! Again, do we really care how your meeting went? Now, if you were to tell us, “I just closed a deal for 100k with @John from Nike” then if I was in the footwear business I would be interested or even if I’m not in that business I can see how it would be worth tweeting about and I might even “RT” it with a little “well done”.
I suppose what we need to do is to take a step back with a tweet and ask “ Is this tweet any use to @my_followers”.
Is this relevant to my audience or just me?
Will this information be useful to anyone but me?
Would I care if somebody I follow tweeted this?
The problem with poor tweets (I feel) is that they disengage the follower and then when you do tweet something useful that person might just miss it as they are not paying too much attention to your tweets anymore. Feel free to comment with your own “tweet” frustrations or suggestions for ensuring you are engaging your audience.
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This post is part of the SugarTone: Sweet Business Blogging Contest.
