‘Tweet’ smell of success

LAHIRU SANJEEVA FERNANDO

Keep tabs on the latest happenings in the country, voice your opinion on a controversial topic, get to know where the tit bits on where the latest UFO was sighted or find out what Kareena Kapoor thinks of Priyanka Chopra.

All this and many more is available if you tweet your way through Twitter, a social networking and microblogging site which enables users to send and read messages.

Though it is not as popular as Facebook among Sri Lankan internet user, Twitter had now become an emerging champion.

The public are becoming more interested and curious about this social network.

While Facebook appeals to people hoping to keep contact with family and friends Twitter’s objective is based on updating about yourself or the incidents around you. A Twitter account holder will be able to update facts about him or herself in Twitter in 140 characters.

That is the maximum that the site allows you to tweet per update. These updates are referred to as ‘tweets’.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter does not contain many features.

There is a field where you have to answer to the simple question “What’s happening” to update your account.

If you have a Twitter account you can follow other people’s tweets as well as note who are following yours. The ‘Following’ area displays the profile tweets that you follow and ‘followers’ refer to the area which displays those who follow your tweets.

The moment you update, a notification is sent to your e mail. Now the notifications have reached your phone too via SMSs.

Twitter is also known as a fine blogging system because it allows you to connect with the world in an instant. Founded by Jack Dorsey, Twitter was introduced in July 2006. Since then it has expanded to many area around the world.

Benefits of owning a Twitter account

* You will be able to take part in interesting conversations. There are many upcoming events and interesting incidents posting by other twitters. You will be able to choose the tweet which catches your fancy and comment.

* Businessmen will be able to promote their brand simply by tweeting about it. It is a less costly form of advertising which had reaped positive results.

* You can overcome rivalry competitors. Since some competitors post details about launches, events and futures plans, you can read the information and alter your strategies to bring out a better product or a more effective advertising strategy.

* Twitter provides a platform to communicate with your target audience. You can monitor what others think about your activities by keeping tabs on the comments made for your tweets.

* The blog content, website and other important URL links will enable users to become aware on issues like human trafficking.

* It is easy to use the system on mobile phones. You can update it regularly while on the go.

* Twitter helps you to understanding about certain aspects. For instance if you are planning to introduced a new toy to the market, you will be able to get feedback and make a better product to cater to their interest.

* Twitter provides a space to evaluate your products and services.

* It is easy to clarify information is a short period due to its interactive messaging platform.

Compared with the interest generated towards facebook, Twitter has a long way to go. However with new features being added to the site and interesting personalities tweeting about their daily activities, Twitter had formed a new and more direct link to know the latest happenings of people who we find hard to access in real life.

Reading a tweet on their wall is a form of getting the news from the horse’s mouth.

The destiny on these communication tools will depend on the users.

As long as they find news ways to extract value out of the sites, they will be a part of the team. The upgrading process of the sites will decide whether they will fade with time or evolve with the era.