I have gained a lot from using Twitter. I have met many people on Twitter that I now know in real life and are good friends: @lamiki, @shanemacsays, @ericschiller, @instigatingandi. These relationships on Twitter have led to some great opportunities that I would have never been available otherwise. For example, here is my Twitter success story. My involvement with Andi Norris (@instigatingandi) and the networking group Way Below Status Quo, would have never been possible. These relationships have been the my greatest benefit from using Twitter.
But, there is another benefit from using Twitter that is both subtle and obvious at the same time. Twitter has made me a better communicator.
Here’s why. Because of the 140 character limit on each tweet, I and all the other Twitter users are forced to get to the point. You aren’t allowed to add any addition fluff to your tweets that usually go into our daily conversations, blog posts and other forms of communication. For example, this post is under 400 words, when I could have written something much longer but probably not much more useful.
The practice Twitter has given me writing and speaking concisely is a valuable skill. Nobody wants to read a blog post that goes on forever, rehashing the same points over and over again. Nobody wants to be pitched an idea that takes 10, 5 or even 2 minutes to explain either. So for entrepreneurs, Twitter is a great way to practice your idea’s “elevator pitch.” Also, when I’m researching companies or people, I go to their website of course, but I find that their 160-character Twitter profile is a far better way to get the gist of what they really do.
In a world where there aren’t enough hours in the day and everyone is busy, the people that can get their post across in as few words as possible will be better off.
How do you use Twitter? How have you benefited from using it?
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Hey, there's some research to back up your point, too: “A report out today indicates that using Twitter trains people to be succinct in their writing, leading to interesting, eyecatching and short [curriculum vitaes] which appeal to recruiters.”
For me, at least, writing in as many different formats as possible improves my writing overall.
Ha ha, that's an awesome study! I knew I wasn't the only one with this experience.
You are right that being diverse in your writing format is crucial to becoming a good writer, as opposed to a good blogger or tweeter.
I do agree with you regarding “getting to the point”. But as a society, I think many of the younger kids are losing important real life social skills which are vitally important in interviews.
I don't think Twitter is the problem.
What important real life social skills are younger kids losing? And how young are they? Are they the kids who don't remember a world sans Internet?
You're right, it's not necessarily the single main reason, but it also teaches one to use TXT type typing and forgetting writing fundamentals.
More writing, more communication the better.
I think the kids growing up who are born with the Internet are so used to TXT'ing and being “the man” behind the computer that when it comes to a real life interview, their not sure how to conduct themselves. Helicopter parents don't help either.
I remember reading an article from teachers who are getting essays written using TXT'ing shortcuts like “WTF” and “LOL”.
Now I understand that's more of English/grammar thing, but there are hiring managers out there that have complained about how informal some candidates are. I think even on Twitter this one hiring manager tweeted, “If you say DUDE in an interview, you're not getting hired.”