Before you read this post, please check the LOÏC LE MEUR BLOG blog and read the comments.
I received a tweet from Ryan Graves this week about people who are buying Google Ads to acquire Twitter followers. I think for most folks, the initial reaction was: ‘Loser’, ‘Sad’, ‘try-hard’, etc etc.
I understand this perspective because it appears to be an attempt to win a popularity contest, which is of course doomed to crash and burn unless there is some substance and benefit to the those who click through the ad and follow…
…let’s pop on some spectacles with lenses with a slightly stronger lens power and look beyond twitter’s current application. I’m just thinking out loud and throwing down some scenarios here, but how about Twitter as an emergency storm warning system?
State and/or fedral authorities purchase Google Ads to promote the follow, and users can select a location and ‘opt-in’ to follow storm warnings for their region.
The next step is to extend this charitable example to a more commercial endeavour…
I hope I’ve changed the way you regard this concept and expect to see heaps more people doing the Google Ads thing on Twitter…post-haste!!!!
January 14, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Eric- It is a very interesting concept and application of Google ads however, I still think it’s kind of sad. Buying friends? However, I was in a fraternity and many will say that is buying your friends…oh well.
Nice post.
January 28, 2009 at 6:39 am
Haha. Funny comment from Ryan. I appreciate the different perspectives here, and see both sides for sure. It’s fun to build up a foundation of followers on twitter and get some traffic on your tweets. However, this post has made me think about how far you should go to do that… Isn’t engaging in conversation and putting substance and relevant content out there a better way to attract the kind of followers that will be a benefit to you? Just a thought.
May 1, 2009 at 6:38 pm
So Twitter is awesome for Taking traffic to you website . It is very
simple to setup and its a fun positive way to keep in contact with
people. To get more followers on twitter check out this amazing
tool.
May 4, 2009 at 9:16 am
Twitter has become the all new sensation, and lets start by saying people only tweet because they want people to see it. I can sympathise with those who want followers. It isn’t buying your friends…it’s simply having a taste of fame, and a feeling of want in society (even if it is not the case). People read to much into it and care to much about people having thousands of followers. Let people fill special for once. Obviously those making the remarks don’t.
My advice- get some followers.
May 4, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for your comment Selina and appreciate your perspective in terms of allowing people to do what they can to increase followers.
With respect to your comment about ‘reading into it’, I think that what you’re suggesting is that we shouldn’t be over-analysing peoples’ motivations, however I would argue that in the context of understanding what motivates people, thorough and exhaustive analysis of same through a community platform is a highly constructive forum for doing so and leads to greater understanding and appreciation of differing views.
Thanks again Selina. Hope to see you back again soon, got some really interesting topics coming up.