Comm 361: Grant Paulsen

Chapter 4: Microblogging: Write Small, Think Big

Briggs links the popularity of blogging to what makes ‘Twitter’ work. We all want to have opinions, and we all want our opinions disseminated. But people don’t want to read lengthy text.

The author’s advice is to say whatever you want, but say it with few words. The smaller the paragraph, the smaller the sentence and the smaller the entry – the better the chance that somebody reads it all the way through.

The most popular form of micro-blogging is Twitter. (This seems like an appropriate time to provide a shameless plug. Follow me on Twitter @granthpaulsen).

Briggs says that the most basic use for Twitter is to break news. He makes the case, however, that the people receiving breaking news on twitter are just as important as the people actually breaking the news.

Rob Quigley, online editor at Austin American-Statesman, provided three tips for all ‘tweeps’: (1) Every tweet should have personality. (2) Ask for story tips from your followers. Pass them to reporters. (3) Keep control over the account.

I find the section on “Building your network” particularly interesting because Briggs says that it’s paramount to use micro-blogging as a form of networking. I think that’s obvious though.

Isn’t that what all social networking sites are for? To share information? To meet, or keep in touch with people?

Briggs is telling me to “go mobile.” I may have to. I have done everything in my power not to get Twitter on my phone. This chapter may change that, though.

Tweeting on a phone keeps you connected