Comments on: Why Dismissing Twitter as “Babble” is Foolish

By: Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:32:59 +0000

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Margaret
http://businesseshome.net

By: rickey gold

rickey gold — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:56:03 +0000

I agree with Beth’s comment as well. Those of us who use Twitter “get” the point (recommendation, “don’t go there”, etc.) behind what those who don’t (use Twitter) might construe as babble.
The more you use it, the more you understand that these are “on the fly” comments.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:31:13 +0000

Beth illustrates a very good point. Take a line out of context and it’s babble. Read the whole conversation and it’s relevant information.

By: sasa

sasa — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:09:57 +0000

Some students prefer to buy essays
at the term paper writing service close to often

By: mark

mark — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:12:05 +0000

Michael, you hit the nail on the head. It’s all about sharing the experience…good, bad or ugly.

By: Beth Harte

Beth Harte — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:06:55 +0000

Michael,
I often wonder if marketers/business folks would find more value (or see the immediate value) if the tweets were:
“This fish taco [from XYZ] is great!”
“The checkout girl [at my local @WholeFoods] market absolutely made my day today!”
“The gnocchi was cold, but the manager comped our bill and gave us a free dessert. We’ll be back [to ABC rest.]for sure!”
They understand WOM and people talking favorably, right? It’s easy to grasp.
The problem is that they don’t see the conversation behind the tweets… For example:
Tweet: “This fish taco is great!”
[That could be construed as pointless babble if we don't see:]
Response Tweeter #1: “Really, where’d you go? Any recommendations?”
Reply tweet: “I am at 123 Smith Street at XYZ Taco Stand in San Jose.”
Response Tweeter #2: “I LOVE XYZ Taco stand. We go there for the burritos, they are great too.”
I think researchers are not digging down deep enough into the layers…they are focusing too much on the first layer, which to some may seem like babble, and that’s a mistake.
Beth Harte
Community Manager, MarketingProfs
@bethharte

By: Gemma Mahoney

Gemma Mahoney — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:09:07 +0000

Hi Michael,
Great post! You might be interested in an blog we wrote about this a couple of weeks ago – ‘Tweet is in the eye of the beholder’ (http://bit.ly/3nxt5B), as we had similar thoughts on this!
Also, Pear Analytics have just released a follow-up article (http://bit.ly/3TM0qF) which expands on their original research in case you’re interested.

By: Strategic Growth Advisors

Strategic Growth Advisors — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:09:34 +0000

Hey, Michael. Thanks for the great post.
In my personal point of view, I think that as our most common everyday communication tools, particularly mobile phones, progress in the digital age, the grasp of social media is taking hold of them tighter and tighter.
Now, this is one article that will give marketers and entrepreneurs — whether the run of the mill corner office variety or a digital one — a run for their money!

By: Elaine Fogel

Elaine Fogel — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:29:02 +0000

I chuckled at Kevin’s response that Guy Kawasaki and Seth Godin don’t necessarily need our retweets. But, on the other hand, isn’t the viral aspect of their posts what continues to keep them top of mind? Can’t hurt the next book launch.

By: Kevin Horne

Kevin Horne — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Michael:
While there’s no question Twitter has given many companies good insight into customer experience and customer care, i think you need to throw the word “some” into your post, in many places. I think the Twitter challenge for companies is separating wheat and chaff.
To me, the RT is a specific phenomenon I’d love to see some analysis on. How much of it is nonsense pass-along vs. real discovery? (e.g., if Guy Kawasaki has a trillion followers, why does he need RTs? Reminds me of the bloggers who post about Seth Godin’s latest post, as if he needs their help ).
For example, if Joe Blow has a bad experience at Best Buy, what’s to be gained by two dozen of his followers RTing it, when perhaps none of them have shopped at Best Buy in 3 months? All of a sudden, Best Buy thinks it is in crisis mode, when it really isn’t. Twitter is not exactly an unbiased sample.
Anyway, your points are well taken – there are two (or more) sides to the Twitter coin. Twitter requires closer attention from marketers.