Oct 27 2008
Jumping on the Twitter Bandwagon
I’ve been using Twitter a lot lately to follow what’s been happening in Haiti with Hands On, the volunteer organisation I’ll be joining in a week and a bit. They’ve embraced Twitter in a big way and following their updates has been a great way to keep on top of what’s happening over there and what I can expect. I think I like it.
Before this litter revelation I had been a bit confused by Twitter in a similar way I had been baffled by blogs before I started one. With blogs, I couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to read about the mundane, day to day exploits of other people. With Twitter I couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to read about the mundane, hour to hour exploits of other people.
I now see both as great tools for communicating and connecting with other people. Twitter is much newer to me so I’m still not sure how to use it to my advantage. It seems like it’s possible to connect with people on Twitter that you probably would never have been able to get in touch with in other ways. Plus you never know who’s reading and opportunities might drop into your lap as a result of your Twitter use.
So I’m jumping on the bandwagon and will updating my Twitter feed thing as much as I can. With a trip to Haiti in the near future, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to keep the updates at least a little bit interesting so feel free to follow along on Twitter.
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I've been travelling since January 2008 living off earnings from the web. Follow me as I bum around Asia and beyond, getting up to mischief and working online as I go. 
My unique way of using twitter is as a means of practicing my languages
Almost anything I “tweet” about in English, I do so in my other languages too (I use “twhirl” to manage multiple accounts simultaneously), so it forces me to think constantly about how to write things and keep my day-to-day and strangely used vocabulary sharp.
Also, I linked twitter to my facebook status update, and I have my close friends’ status updates come through my RSS feed reader. It helps me keep up to date with friends and let them know how I’m doing, while almost never actually logging in to that time-sucking blackhole
It’s also a very popular blog promotion tool, and amazing for networking - I “followed” some people I found interesting and they followed me back likewise and we talk regularly now. And people I’m a fan of or good friends of, I actually am interested in the mundane things they do every hour…
Yet another use that’s popular is to pose a question that’s on your mind to your followers and to the community in general. You get some amazing answers very quickly. I’ve only been using it for a couple of months, but I find it a very useful tool to be honest.
If anyone would like to add me, here is my English version (although you and I have been following eachother already Kirsty
- I tweet about interesting places I travel to and things related to my blog and other curiosities. It’s a sort of outlet for “microblogging” so you don’t have to clog your actual blog with small things you want to get off your chest etc. The character limit is what makes it such a great tool really.
Hey Kirsty I see your coming to town ! Miami - Jan 13th to Jan 15th
thats great hopefully we can meet up !
I have been meaning to get twittered up for ages but just haven’t gotten around to it. I’m going to put it on my to do list for this week.
Interesting itinerary you have here - I look forward to the updates
I’ve been on twitter for just a few days now (cultoftravel). So far, I’ve been using it mostly to follow my favorite travel blogs and travel related sites. I agree with Irish polyglot, there’s huge potential for blog promotion and networking on twitter.
It’s also kind of addictive as well.
Thanks for all those tips Benny. I know lots of people are using it in a lot of interesting ways for promotion and networking and I want to get in on it at some point.
Neale I will for sure be in touch.
QR I put it off for ages too and now I really enjoy checking up. I’m sure I will be picking your brain at some point about BA if you don’t mind.
Ya I think I’m a wee bit hooked too.
The other great thing about twitter is being able to reach a bigger audience– and getting to see who is following you. It’s nice to interact with those people who aren’t necessarily commenters.
“I’m sure I will be picking your brain at some point about BA if you don’t mind”
no probs - pick away!