Don't be Twittish: It's time to Twitter!

Danielle’s going to be late to the meeting, she’s got Twitterrhea. Say what?

Twitterrhea is just another example of the popularity surrounding the micro blogging phenomenon known as Twitter. It’s so popular that it’s starting to gain its own vernacular. Check it out here: http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Twitter+Glossary#A

Whatever you do, no drunktwittering. And if you become a tweetaholic, you better admit yourself to the Betty Ford clinic.

Geno Church writes a nice Twitter roundup for Tactics in the July 2008 issue, titled “To tweet or not to tweet: How and when to use Twitter in PR efforts.” Read article here.

The take home point: “Used effectively, Twitter is another word-of-mouth marketing tool that engages users in open communication.”

Twitter can be a great resource for PR professionals, when used effectively. Its real-time, 140 character limit, allows for quick and succinct communication. No flowery, or jargon-laden sentences in a tweet—well, as long as they’re not over 140 characters.

Church highlights Twitter successes across a variety of organizations from Barack Obama to CNN’s iReport. Do you really think Barack twitters for himself though? Be careful Barack: It’ll be a bad day when your intern ghost tweets for you and says you’re in West Virginia when you’re really in Colorado.

Church’s article got me thinking about ways I can use Twitter in my life and ways others can use Twitter, as well. Let’s face it, Twitter isn’t the end-all-be-all of communications, it’s simply an additional resource in communicating and engaging with your audiences.

Here’s a brief rundown of how I think Twitter can (and cannot) be used:

A great tool for students to discuss classroom curriculum. Have a question about tonight's homework? Tweet it to your classmates. Include a Twitter app in Blackboard and college kids would be set. It's study groups 2.0!

I love how corporations have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon, from Zappos.com to Comcast. On the other hand, I never want to see someone sending Tweets about their Mylanta usage.

Movie promotions: Fans of High School Musical would be logged on to Twitter 24 hours a day if Zack Efron was twittering about day-to-day production.

For agency folks, like myself, Twitter could be a great method in accounting for client work. Writing down time, in 15 minutes increments, isn’t everyone’s strong suit. Maybe it’s time to start twittering?

Of course, these are just Twitter suggestions from a non-twitterer. Have any of your own? Feel free to leave em’ in the comment box!

As my dip into the social media world continues, I plan to create a Twitter account, so I can send Twitticisms (witty tweets) in real time and find even more uses for the micro blogging juggernaut. Until then, tweet, baby, tweet.