Forget Elevator Pitches, Twitter is Taking the Escalator

Whether you "Twitter" or not, you need to know about Twitter.

Why? Because Twitter is fast becoming a powerhouse business and social tool that has the potential to change the way businesses (and you) communicate. Check out today's article in BusinessWeek "The Escalator Pitch" (coined "Twitpitch").

Twitter is "a micro-blog" that allows messages of just 140 characters. It's brevity forces precision messaging -- you'll need to start thinking in "essential vs. important" terms. And even then, you'll likely need to edit down. In fact, the article suggests that for the best impact, you get your Twitpitch down to 10 seconds and 8 words! Try that out -- NOT easy! I'm not talking about idle Twittering (the "I'm going to lunch with Aunt Sally today" 8-word messages). I'm talking about concise brand- and value-driven pitching for business, and even for employment.

Twitter is relatively new, and it's suffering some growing pains, but it has a loyal following of early adopters and a growing community of new and consistent users who are building buzz around products, creating networks, creating touch points with a legion of "followers," and delivering notices of blog posts and other activities. Yes, you've got the "I had spaghetti for dinner" crowd in there, but there are many individuals and business who are using Twitter as a serious business and social tool.

I'm a "Twitter novice" myself and just signed on today (I have to thank Jason Alba of JibberJobber and Sabrina Compagno of Netshare for leading me to that decision). I'm curious to see how I'll use it. So far it's a grand experiment. (Then again, so was LinkedIn and now I can't imagine doing business without it.)

For more on Twitter see an earlier CareerHub post by Barbara Safani as well as another BusinessWeek article.

poted by Deb Dib (http://twitter.com/CEOCoach)

Comments

[Barbara Safani]

Deb,

I experienced a great "aha" moment today on Twitter. I reached out to my Twitter network for some resources for an upcoming presentation and I received help from three career professionals, Walter Akana, Alison Doyle, and Anita Brusseze. I was blown away not only by their generosity, but by the speed of their response. Twitter's a keeper!

[Deb Dib]

Barbara, the very first day I used Twitter I discovered 3 new blogs I want to follow, got two tips on mac questions I needed answered, and connected with at least 30 "need to watch" professionals I've never met. Not bad for a day's work. (BTW, when I was first on Twitter I saw your questions and the answers from Walter, Anita, and Alison. Very cool!). I'm a Twitter convert!

[Gautam]

Welcome to the Twitterverse.
:-)

Lots of HR folks (including yours truly!) there.

Use summize.com to search for conversations you want to join in on twitter.

Gautam
http://twitter.com/gautamghosh

[Deb Dib]

Gautam, thanks so much for the welcome and the URL for summize.com. I am learning everyday!

[Steve Harold - Hypnotherapist]

I have find twitter just a great way of letting go of what's going on for me "good and bad". It is also interesting to see what people think is worth writing on twitter.