Okay, so lately I’ve been reading all this stuff about Twitter. First it was articles wondering why the heck anyone would be interested. Now, more recently, I’ve started reading that’s it a great way to build your personal brand and online community.

If you haven’t heard of Twitter yet, basically it’s a way to let people in your community know what you are up to by answering the simple question “What are you doing right now?”

Twitter claims it helps you stay “hyper-connected” (Hmmmm, definitely not sure I want that. I’m the person that loves to turn off the cell phone and email and get away).

They also claim “Twitter puts you in control and becomes a modern antidote to information overload.” Mainly because you can schedule quiet times on it.

Yeah, right. You can turn off your cell phone and email too, but how many people actually do (I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority on that one).

But clearly people are into it. In fact, there’s already a whole lexicon of words out there related to Twittering including, but by no means limited to:

• Tweeter - A user of Twitter (also Twitterer).
• Tweet: to post on Twitter
• Tweeple - Twitter people, Twitter members, Twitter users
• TwinkedIn - Inviting friends made on Twitter to “connect with you on LinkedIn” (why does this scare me a bit???)
• Twis - To dis a fellow twitterer. Bad form.
• Twitosphere - Community of twitterers
• Twittectomy - unfollowing friends
• Tweetaholism - the continued use of Twitter as an addiction that is difficult to control

I’ll stop on that last note as I see red flags rising, but if you’re interested you can find plenty more Twitter-related words with a quick Google search.

So, is it a useful marketing tool or simply another way to waste a day without actually DOING anything???

According to a recent article on WebPRoNEws, Twitter can help you:
“Understanding humans better benefits business
Think overall strategy, not just tactics
Twitter has good search placement (tactic)
Twitter is a goldmine of permission-based marketing (strategy)
Building relationships also builds trust and opportunities
Niches are inevitable (and present); find yours
One-to-many communication is efficient and on your terms”

For me the jury is still out on how valuable this tool might be to us marketers (that means every entrepreneur).

I already spend more time than I like on social networking sites, blogging, articles submissions etc. And I’m not so sure I want to add Twittering to the list.

Besides, how addictive is it? And do I really want everyone to know exactly what I’m doing all the time??? Personally I like to retain a certain air of mystery…

Have you tried Twitter?

If so, I’d love to know what you think, why you do or don’t like it, and whether it’s worthwhile as a marketing tool for small businesses.

Technorati Tags: Twitter, marketing, social networking tools, social networking, Tweeter, tweet, tweeple, twinkedin, twis, twitosphere, twittectomy, Tweetaholism, LinkedIn, blogging, social networking sites