The Best Twitter Applications

Before you read this entry, consider how you use Twitter. The following information is most useful for the moderate to more advanced user. For a quick background, read the provided links:
- What is Twitter? click here
- What should I Tweet about? click here

Twitter is not only a streamlined method of communication between people, but a way for users to obtain news, ideas and information not previously available. However, finding the right users to follow (aside from your little buddies) can be a difficult task. A short user bio simply does not provide an accurate assessment of who you might want to keep up to date with.

There are thousand different ways to use Twitter to search for topics or relevant information, find users, and manage your own account. If you have not been able to try out at least one of these applications, now is your chance to catch up on more efficient technology! This is your invitation to come out of the Twitter stone age.

To be clear, there are countless applications. These are a few I have found to be some of the best.

Desktop and mobile applications: Stop going to Twitter.com!
1. Twhirl - The most popular and convenient desktop item. Similar to an IM box.
2. Tweetdeck - The most useful and efficient, includes a subject and keyword filter, separating information of interest without staring at the Twitterfeed all day.
3. Twitteriffic - The application for the iPhone and iPod Touch only - download it if you own either!

Search: Only read what actually matters to you.
1. TwitterSearch - Search by username
2. TweetScan - Search by tweet and keywords
3. Twitterverse - See tweets appear on a world map, by location
4. JustTweetIt - New, but is a self-selected submission directory organized by categories

User Information: Wonder what kind of Twitter users people are?
TweetStats - Get the rundown on peak usage times, what people Tweet about and to whom. Just enter their (or your) username.
TweetWheel - Find out which of your friends follow each other on Twitter

Make money on your account
WhatsYourTweetWorth - Find out how much your Twitter account is worth, literally.
TwittAd - Sell the background of your Twitter profile page to advertisers, or advertise on other's pages

A Complete List of Twitter applications: By platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
TwitterFan

Want to add more to the list? Thoughts on which application works best? Leave a comment or drop me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com.

Five ways to keep up with Social Media

Web interfaces such as Twitter, Facebook and Google have been stealing news headlines left and right, and there are now enough Social Media phrases to fill a modern dictionary.

If you chose to go on a social media binge, it can be a challenge to keep four personal profiles updated with accurate information. Much less, do most people have time to stay ahead of new trends and tools that become available. How does one stay on top of social media without inducing a coronary or aneurysm?

Five simple methods that require little effort:

1. Stop watching Lost. Obviously, you have to make SOME time to learn. One can only begin to fathom the amount productive free time possible if one stops watching mindless TV.

2. Start an RSS feed. Instead of surfing web sites, simply set up Google Reader (it takes 60 seconds or less, proven) and start following relevant blogs, sites and developers. Each day, check it once for new content and read what appeals to you.

3. Google Alerts. This is how it works: type in a few key phrases (Social Media and Web 3.0, for example) and have Google do the research for you. You will receive emails, at an interval of your choosing, listing links and sites where your key phrases have appeared. Companies also use this method as a way to keep track of who is talking about them in the blogosphere.

4. Del.icio.us and Digg. You're not going to find everything by yourself. Social bookmarking provides an enormous advantage to peer into what others have (dugg) up. The Internet is too big for anyone to navigate solo.

5. Talk to others and pose questions. Word of mouth is still one of the most effective communication tools. Start conversations with people who are interested in similar topics and ask questions. Even if you don't think they would know the answer, brainstorming is the first step toward original ideas!

Three blogs to add to your RSS feed (these are all PR, marketing and social media pros):
Seth Godin
Brian Solis
Todd Defren

There couldn't be a more appropriate video for this post:


Helpful? I hope so. Send me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com or leave a comment!

Cyberspace to Face-to-Face

This Friday, three other PRSSA members and I will be attending our first Tweetup in Cincinnati. I was turned on to this concept by head hunter, blogger, and "research goddess" Amybeth Hale. By loose definition, a Tweetup is a face-to-face gathering of people who have connected via the Twitter community. It is, simply put, placing a face with a tweet, and a fantastic way to enhance the networking process.

It is utterly astounding the number of ways that one can communicate and be introduced to people around the globe via the internet and social media. With the advent of the digital generation, however, the value of traditional modes of communication has increased. Three examples come to mind:

1. Letters and thank-you notes. Specifically, those written by hand. I wonder if my own children will even be taught how to hold a pen, or rather learn the "home keys" on their laptop. Maybe they'll be taking an iPhone typing class. When was the last time you sent a hand-written letter to someone... not on a holiday or birthday?

2. Phone calls vs. texting. Some of us spend enough time on the phone already, but simply calling someone versus emailing them can go a long way. Not to mention the response time is diced in half. Texting isn't always the answer. Podcasting and Utterz are also a nice way to make online connections a littler more personal.

3. Intra-office emails vs. face-to-face conversation. One consistentcy I have seen at several professional experiences - there is always atleast one person who would rather email you 10 feet away than get up and talk to you. There are exceptions, of course ('reply all' emails, invitations, the person is busy, and so on), but there are far more opportunities to stand up and approach them.

In any case, the concern should be in preserving the authenicity of online conversation and interaction.

Call it learning to shake hands and smile in cyberspace.

Comments and emails are read and appreciated. Leave one here, or please don't hesitate to email me at pauljmatson@gmail.com or message me twitter.com/paulmatson