The Good & Bad of the 'Twitter Effect'

Way back in April, we published a post titled “Is Tweeting for the Birds?” That was when Twitter was just becoming the phenomenon it is now – thanks to lots of press from celebrity endorsers.

Our open-ended question to you then – despite the star-studded brouhaha over the brand – was if you thought Twitter would become a relevant and reliable tool for marketing businesses on the Internet.

It seems – and our apologies to the naysayers – that the answer is yes.

Several months have passed since Ashton Kutcher and CNN famously duked it out for the most Twitter followers (Ashton won) – and the celebrity endorsements have consistently subsided (and, in fact, some of those same celebrities who sang Twitter’s praises have threatened to turn on the microblogging service if it went through with a rumored Twitter-based TV program).

The Good & Bad of the 'Twitter Effect'

Way back in April, we published a post titled “Is Tweeting for the Birds?” That was when Twitter was just becoming the phenomenon it is now – thanks to lots of press from celebrity endorsers.

Our open-ended question to you then – despite the star-studded brouhaha over the brand – was if you thought Twitter would become a relevant and reliable tool for marketing businesses on the Internet.

It seems – and our apologies to the naysayers – that the answer is yes.

Several months have passed since Ashton Kutcher and CNN famously duked it out for the most Twitter followers (Ashton won) – and the celebrity endorsements have consistently subsided (and, in fact, some of those same celebrities who sang Twitter’s praises have threatened to turn on the microblogging service if it went through with a rumored Twitter-based TV program).

Twitter – By the Numbers

We didn’t want to do it so soon – since we just published a post about Twitter a few days ago – but we had to share with you compelling new numbers about where the microblogging phenomenon is headed.

Since it’s better to cut straight to the chase, here’s what reputable sources are saying:

Is ‘Tweeting’ for the Birds?

With all the buzz surrounding Twitter these days – namely the showdown between Ashton Kutcher and CNN – it’s hard not to think about how this new microblogging craze can impact your business.

But, like MySpace, Facebook and other social networking platforms before it, there’s a general feeling of caution for companies contemplating whether or not it’s in their best interest. And rightly so. Handled properly and with care, Twitter can do your organization a world of good. Used irresponsibly – well, there’s no telling how much damage you could do.

Still, if you’re on the fence about opening the Twitter gates, we suggest reading this article on ChiefMarketer.com. It contains some useful information and anecdotes about how and how not to use Twitter. Our favorite comes from the latter end of that spectrum, and it goes a little something like this:

Is 'Tweeting' for the Birds?

With all the buzz surrounding Twitter these days – namely the showdown between Ashton Kutcher and CNN – it’s hard not to think about how this new microblogging craze can impact your business.

But, like MySpace, Facebook and other social networking platforms before it, there’s a general feeling of caution for companies contemplating whether or not it’s in their best interest. And rightly so. Handled properly and with care, Twitter can do your organization a world of good. Used irresponsibly – well, there’s no telling how much damage you could do.

Still, if you’re on the fence about opening the Twitter gates, we suggest reading this article on ChiefMarketer.com. It contains some useful information and anecdotes about how and how not to use Twitter. Our favorite comes from the latter end of that spectrum, and it goes a little something like this: