Complete Online Marketer

On The Fence About About Twitter

During my increased usage of Twitter, I’m noticing two things:

1)    People are forever posting drivel
2)    Online marketers never change

I’m not naïve enough to think that this online marketer’s take on Twitter will carry any weight so at the risk of sounding like a prude, let me just add that these observations pigeonhole Twitter as an archetypical social stereotype that sucks people into a black hole of meaningless interaction.  Unless of course, that’s why you’re online in the first place.

Because of these observations, I don’t automatically follow people who follow me. And, I’ve no compunctions about UN-following people who tweet too much about the weather.

I have a hard enough time keeping a “soft eye” on the tweets that TwitterFox interrupts my browser with, let alone adding to the load by reading irrelevant tweets about someone’s lunch, head aches or philosophical influences about iFart.

Why in the world does anyone take the time to write about hitting their head anyway?  And what makes it any more interesting to update the twittersphere that it still hurts one minute later?  If you’re in that much pain, shouldn’t you be lying down with an ice pack?  And if it’s not really as painful as you’re writing about, what’s the point in creating such melodrama?

And what in the world makes anyone think that I care what they have for breakfast or what time they’re going to bed?

Do people really think that redundancy is influential?

Really..?

Or if your ulterior motive is to build a list from your followers, do you think you’ll win people over with nonsensical comments?  You’re either wasting my time or groping for my wallet.  What makes you think that I think you’re sincere?

Guess I just don’t get it.

On the bright side, Twitter has managed to provide me with a refreshing new insight into a whole new genre of professional bloggers that actually have intelligible things to say – unlike the single-minded online marketer who is bent on selling me something with every word that comes out of their mouth.  I give some of these guys the benefit of the doubt but invariably end up UN-following them too. (*Sigh*)

From now on, when I want to know something RELEVANT and USEFUL (and btw, free) about social media, web 2.0, online marketing – anything for that matter that appeals to my preferred areas of interest, guess where I look?  Certainly not online marketers!  Nay, I go to professional bloggers (many of whom I’ve included in my blogroll for quick access).

After all, it’s not just about the quantity of followers you have – it’s about the quality of followers that reflect best on your own online identity.

So, in the process of continuing to use popular social media channels to build my online identity, the goal is to distance myself from the marketing mindset of the saturated, emotion-based, shock-ridden, push-button sensationalistic sales pitch fests that are a dime a dozen from the online marketing crowd.

I used to think that this was all there was.  But, no more!  I think I’ve discovered a whole new wave of “guru” influences that’s worth exploring…thanks to Twitter.

Living proof that, if used responsibly, social media really can be used for good.

Rant over.
Think I’ll nap now (maybe I should Tweet that ;)

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