Thursday
Nov202008
Freedom of Tweets
Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 1:21AM
Image via CrunchBaseUPDATE: I HAVE DEACTIVATED MY MAGPIE ACCOUNT AND USED THE MONEY EARNED TO SERVE A FEW CHARITABLE ADS OF MY OWN...including the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/jessicaknowsmagpie
However, I will still continue to try new platforms and tools on the interwebs on my terms.
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When people are scared of something they do either one of two things. They try to control it or they educate themselves and learn as much as they can to mitigate the true risk.
My observations over the past week have been that people are getting scared on Twitter. I can only speak from my own personal experience so I'm going to share that with you today. At the end of June, I think I only had 600 followers. Now, I have over 4,000. Is that number overwhelming sometimes? Yes. But at the same time, as my number of followers grows along with the number of people I follow, I have engaged with people I might not have never met otherwise that have enriched my life and helped me learn.
Having a large number of people I'm following and followers on Twitter has also opened me up to scrutiny in a big way. I've been criticized for setting a bad example for not following the quality vs. quantity rule and for not being "real" on Twitter anymore. I can't blame people for thinking that especially since I think that if that is what they're feeling then those feelings are valid. What I do have a problem with is telling me I should change how I use Twitter. Umm, excuse me? Let's face it, the majority of us are on Twitter for the conversation, the learning experience, and the connections with like-minded people. Bonus? It's fun. But when you start telling people how to use a tool or devising what number of followers is good vs. bad then that's setting a bad example for those new to Twitter.
Look, I get the whole, "How could you possibly have enough time to connect with all those followers on Twitter? It's impossible!". Well, it's the same reason some people choose a large university over a small, intimate college setting. I went to University of Maryland and at the time, they had an enrollment of 30,000 students. Obviously, I didn't know each and every one of my fellow students, but by the time I graduated, the campus that once seemed large and overwhelming, seemed very small. Some will argue that it took four years to get that way (and actually I was on the five year plan), but everything in the digital world moves much faster, especially when we're comparing it to the late 1990's.
As for monetizing Twitter, I'm starting to become more open-minded about it. A month ago I was in the camp of "we should never allow ads". But now I'm rethinking it. We monetize our blogs and for some of us, we write on those blogs every day just like we avidly tweet everyday. I agree, ads on Twitter sound a little scary. But rather than trying to control it, let's learn more about it, share best practices, and make our own decisions. For people to unfollow other people based on the admission and transparency that a person is giving Twitter monetization a try is, in my opinion, scarier than the ads themselves. When people say they're "scared" to try something because of backlash or major unfollowing on Twitter, concerns that were expressed to me in both Direct Messages and in the comments here, that's when Twitter gets really scary. Yesterday, I had several people unfollow immediately after I tweeted that I had signed up for Magpie. Not one ad had been tweeted and the rampant magpie ads people were talking about had not been witnessed yet. These actions were based on mere speculation, on "what-if"s...has fear mongering really already reared it's ugly head on Twitter.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the concerns. But right now, they are just concerns. Instead of scaring people with the intent of preventing them from even trying something, why don't we put a little trust in our fellow twitter friends that if they've showed good judgement and good intentions in the past, that they will do the same when it comes to advertising on Twitter or building their followers base? Because when people start using Twitter as a tool to ostracize or scrutinize people's methods of using it, that's when it gets scary.
Last I checked, the folks at Twitter weren't handing out Sheriff's badges.
Oh, and I'm checking out Twittad, too
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Reader Comments (10)
Interesting reading here! I do have to say it is by far not a "fear" of magpie that turns me off but the whole advertising thing in general on Twitter. I go to Twitter to meet people, to grow my thoughts and to just learn. I am not there to be spammed (I unfollow those people pretty quickly), or to see advertising. It is hard enough keeping up with Tweets that have actual value, then to throw in ads just makes it more complicated.
Ads on a blog are understandable, and if you are using adds correctly on a blog then people will appreciate that you are bringing products/services to their attention that they may not know about in a niche that they enjoy.
When I am on Twitter the conversation can be about ANYTHING, there are no niches...which means i will get hit with ads that are completely irrelevant to me, and I do not think that is fair to me.
It is like going ot Starbuck's for coffee with a peer and then having McDonald's try and jam an AD in my face while enjoying my friend and a cup of coffee---just not cool....too many other ways too make a few dollars out there! To me any advertising on Twitter is more or less spam....
I would not unfollow someone because of the ads..only if I was getting them too often...everyone has there own thoughts...that is what makes Twitter such a great place!
Great discussion though...and great post....
Jill C.s last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CoolPhotoIdeas/~3/453282450/" rel="nofollow">Fun Photo CD Is Well, FUN!
Great post!
Agree 100% as I'm a "learn every you can" about it person. One thing you have to remember is the people that stopped following you are the ones you don't want following you anyway. They aren't there to learn as you and I are.
Keep doing what your doing. If people don't like it then they can stop reading/following... THAT is what's awesome about the web/blogs. :~)
ronis last blog post..http://ronisweigh.com/2008/11/ask-roni-_v16s1-all-exercise-questions.html" rel="nofollow">Ask Roni _v16s1 - All Exercise Questions
nice magpie gesture. would like to go on record here about your twitter use re: followers. i find you very response and one who fully embraces the idea of sharing. enough with the judging people! let the medium take those where it does and stop setting rules.
do what you love, love what you do. (life is good)
amyz5s last blog post..http://icouldcrybutidonthavetime.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/ahh-the-mansierre/" rel="nofollow">Ahh… the Mansierre
Jessica, thanks for this thoughtful post. You are opening my eyes to what else social media can do for me.
I have asked pp on twitter how they engage and create meaninful conversation when they follow so many.
I've found that Twitter and social media, in general, for me is truly like friendships in real life. But, this is what I want from it at this point.
There are the few followers that you check-in on daily, weekly, whatever frequency with the standard "family and life" discussions. We all have real life friends like that, I'm sure.
Then, there are those few that (as followers or friends), you keep your sunglasses on in public hoping they don't make eye contact. And, if you do see them, you could play like you didn't see them but you totally did in your peripheral view. But, of course if they started a conversation, it would be cordial and you would go into family talk probably but not one that you check up on, ya know. Maybe we could compare these to the "unique" followers we get and do the good thing and follow back :-)
To each his own on how they use social media. I just appreciate you sharing how you're using it to provide interesting points of view to consider when/if my use of these networks change!
Andrea @ Mommy Snackss last blog post..http://mommysnacks.blogspot.com/2008/11/snack-time-freebies-for-moms.html" rel="nofollow">Snack Time: FREEbies for Moms!
As my followers and those i follow grow, I've found that I am not able to catch every single update. There comes a point when I cut off how many Tweets I back check. That point currently is about 1-3 hours back depending on Tweet volume.
There are many people that I value their opinions and interactions in this community. There are many people that I value what they share as purely a Newsfeed rather than conversation. I share whatever I can that I feel will be of use to others, and give credit where credit is due.
I've made some valuable friends through Twitter that I wouldnt have if not for it. People follow each other for different reasons. I don't expect everyone I follow to follow me back as we all have different wants and needs from Twitter.
As far as ads are concerned on Twitter:
I WANT my friends to tell me about things that concern me. If they can get paid for doing so, GREAT. My one caveat is this: Don't allow someone to speak as you if what they are saying doesn't sync up with what you say. In this case Magpie fails to deliver. When they get down the right mix of delivering what a persons Tweeple want, then we can talk again.
My lesson learned out of Magpie's situation:
When speaking, tailor your message for the audience you are speaking to. Don't change your message just modify it accordingly.
@damienbasile
Damien Basiles last blog post..http://thecauseisthehabit.com/hardcore-show-as-social-media-model/" rel="nofollow">Hardcore Show as Social Media Model
A few things I noted here, (some of which have been covered admittedly)
1. People fear change. Look at when Facebook updated their UI. Look at the iGoogle update, every time there is change, people initially get upset by it, even if it for the better.
2. I agree w/ somebody above that said, everybody including those that dissent have the same right to disagree with it as you do to agree with it, it doesn't make them "police" in doing so, they opted to follow you because of the value you add to the conversation, they have the right to unfollow you if they do not believe that value is worth having ads thrown into their twitter stream.
3. You invited some of the discourse by trying to justify magpie. In typical terms, ads and content are easily separated. (Note some people do not visit blogs with ads at all either). But when the content/ad line is crossed, people often get upset. Just look at the backlash that was caused some time back by PayPerPost. It can cause some to question content vs ad and makes some uncomfortable.
4. I think that perhaps (obviously I don't know, I can only go by observation) you took some of the dislike for Magpie perhaps bit too personal. Most of what I saw on the conversation dealt with the dislike for Magpie, except again where you try to justify it by comparing it an ad in a sidebar. Those that were most interested in what you had to say, are probably the ones you are most upset with, because they were the ones that cared enough to try and tell you where they thought you were erring in your logic.
5. Some think it is unfair, when Twitter itself hasn't tried to monetize the number of eyeballs it has, that somebody else should come along and "mess it up." After all in theory Magpie "could" louse up Twitter plans to monetize, and at a time when venture capital is tough to come by, that could seriously hurt Twitter, and the last thing anybody wants is for the Twitter platform to go away.
I commend you for being willing to try new things and to put yourself "out there" in those efforts, but I think you may in the end need to be understand that in doing so, in being a "front runner" you are always leaving yourself open to those that are vocal in their opinions (especially those mentioned previously that are afraid of change).
I for one am one that started following thanks to this conversation and despite my dislike for Magpie. Like everything people come and go, so I wouldn't worry about it quite so much.
JayMonsters last blog post..http://tripleventi.com/2008/11/18/blu-ray-psa/" rel="nofollow">Blu-Ray PSA
[...] seems lately that everybody is ready to fight and/or to be mad at somebody. Whether it is people getting pissy (on both sides of the equation) about Magpie ads on Twitter, or the 48 scourge of Motrin Moms, it seems to me lately that everybody is ready [...]
Hi Jessica,
I know we didn't always agree on twitter regarding political views, but I never unfollowed you nor others for that unless they unfollowed me or were totally rude in some way. In result, speaking out on my beliefs and political views actually helped me meet more followers and I gained more than I lost. Sometimes a little controversy can be a good thing.
I have to agree with you on the magpie issue. I don't see anything really wrong with it, as long as it is done in a way that does not totally interrupt your tweets, but provides value to them. That is why it is important the ads are relative to the twitterstream/followers you have. Magpie claims to do this, however they are fairly new so the number of ads are limited. Until then many may see the same ad regardless of who is tweeting it.
I also wanted to say, I am giving magpie a try and am yet to see more than one ad from it. I am also following others that use it and the most ads I've seen are about three in one day/night. So far I don't find it to be a disruption, I didn't even realize they were ads until you brought up the discussion on twitter. I had seen the #magpie tag on tweets but thought it was to some other discussion going on as they are for conferences, etc.
Finally, it's a free market therefore everyone has the freedom to monetize anyway they feel is worthwhile. While twitter hasn't done this themselves I don't know, but that is also the power of capitalism. I'm sure they will eventually monetize it too, like with anything nothing is really free...there are ads everywhere online, so why not try to make a little while sharing some of your stream, especially during these tough economic times.
I saw that you said you quit magpie, but you didn't really elaborate on why other than the 'fear' factor and the fact that others threatened to unfollow you. Why did you quit magpie?
Pattys last blog post..http://littlebytesnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/we-feel-your-pain-moms-motrin-ad-do-you.html" rel="nofollow">We Feel Your Pain-Moms Motrin Ad, Do You Feel Our Pain?
I am curious too as to why you deleted your magpie account. I do like the free ads you decided to sponsor with the resulting money. However if MagPie was good for the money then why not keep going and keep using the money for good things.
Mels last blog post..http://mama4kids.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/woohoo-what-a-night/" rel="nofollow">Woohoo What a Night
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