Stuffleufagus

[update - it is taking an EXTREMELY long time for comments to post - and many are being held in moderation.  I am NOT trying to censor anyone.  But it is almost 5am, and I can't watch the Spam filter anymore right now.  I'll unplug your comments in the morning.  But almost 9K comments on this post, almost all spam, have caused my system to clamp down in self defense]

Robert is a reporter.  But he is also "drinking his own Kool-Aid".  He loves everything new on the web and often tells us how great it is.

Then he moves on to the next shiny lure - leaving everyone else to figure out how the last lure adds value (often leaving the company behind the technology wondering the same things).

Robert is great at finding the new shiny lures, and sharing them with us.  I just wish he would make the next (logical, I think) step - offer me some analysis.  How can a banker, or a broker - a webmaster or a PR Pro benefit from the shiny lure?  What does the lure offer beyond the initial allure?

Yes, I want Robert to think deeper and analyze things more.

And I want him to do it because I know that he can - he just has no time.  He flippers from one shiny lure to the other so quickly that he never let’s the hook sink in.  Nothing lasts longer than the first, fleeting strike.  The last video was the last video.  The next lure is the next video.

With a few exceptions, like QIK.  Maybe FriendFeed (but I think that lasts another three months for Scoble, tops).

FaceBook was THE INTERNET as far as Robert was concerned - and that lasted a long time. But Robert sees a lot of shiny lures.

I would like him to spend more time telling me (based on real research) which ones I should strike at.  Where my time and money are best spent, and why.

The "RSS Aggregator of the week" just isn’t it.

Robert’s "Social Problem" is that he can’t recommend everything to us and have us still find him credible.  And like any other "Sales Pitch" - people need to know how it will help them.  Not just Robert Scoble, but his viewers.  His "Social Problem" is that he is not having the conversation with his audience that they want.  They don’t just want a cheerleader - they want guidance.  And examples.

And finally, they want something that works for "real people" - and not just Robert Scoble.

And the most cool thing about writing this is that I know it won’t piss Robert off -  He saves that for the Gillmor Gang!

written by rob tags: Gillmor Gang

I have several friends who "just don’t get" Twitter.  And I know why - they are not USING Twitter.  They are just looking at the Public Timeline and wondering, "Why do I care about this crap"?

And that is fair.  But that isn’t Twitter.  At least not the best of Twitter.

Twitter becomes interesting (and useful) when you follow people that have similar interests, people who make you laugh, people who make you think, or you get similar people following you.  To accomplish that you have to be actively involved in Twitter - that doesn’t mean running it 24/7.  It does mean getting involved though.

I have four uniquely different groups of Twitter Friends.  Those that follow me for a variety of reasons, those I follow for business, those I follow to learn from, and those I follow to have fun with. It is easy for me to separate the three groups - because I pay attention to them based on the time of day.  During the day, I focus on people I learn from, and people I am invested in from a work standpoint.  Late at night I like to have fun with another group (although many individuals cross-over).

If you are just starting on Twitter you need to find interesting, and interested people.  Two quick ways to do that:

1) Go to http://tweetscan.com and type in a keyword you are interested in - like WiFi, or Microsoft.  Follow some of the people you see Tweeting things you find interesting.  Rinse and repeat.

2) Find people close to you - it is always nice to know that a Freeway is closed, or that school is canceled tomorrow.  Or even that a tornado is headed your way.  You can find people in your area on http://twitterlocal.net.  Don’t narrow your search too tightly - search for your city, or the nearest large city to start.  Again, find people that say interesting things and follow them. Rinse and repeat.

Twitter will ONLY work for you if you follow people - and don’t worry - you can always UN-follow them later.

But don’t stare as the public timeline flies past your screen and tell me you "don’t get it".  You can’t learn programming by clicking on executables, and you can’t learn to bake by eating donuts!

If you "don’t get" Twitter then you are lazy - or scared of "following" - or you just don’t want to get it.

And if those three things do not apply to you, and you still don’t get it - call me - let me help.  But first you need to follow at least 50 people. If you can’t find 50 interesting people on Twitter you are not trying.

PS - Download a Twitter Client Application - like Twhirl.  It takes your focus away from the public timeline and focuses on you, and your friends, and followers - and their friends (which may quickly turn into your friends).

Really.  Don’t dismiss this too quickly. 

written by rob tags: Twitter