Gillian Swart included an amusing bit on her blog today that Twitter is mindless, adding she’s unable to condense her thoughts to 140 characters.
Fair enough, I mused to myself. With 50 residents and businesses who certify their location as Newburyport, I imagine there are countless other Twitter users who don’t specify the city.
Here are 11 examples from zip code 01950:
Kim Gobbi, owner of The Studio (@nbptstudio):
Business operations
Matt Landry, vice president of Matter Communications (@mattmatter):
Sports appreciation
Tom Summit, owner of Genotrope (@tsummit):
Ideas
Newburyport Trolley Company (@nbpttrolleyco):
Transit announcements
Newburyport Pedicab (@nbptpedicab) in reference to this picture:
Customer service
Anna Jaques Hospital (@annajaques):
Community relations
Plum Island Soap Company (@plumislandsoap):
Product news
Caldwell Banker (@nbptrealestate) in reference to this picture:
Employee relations
John Stack, IT consultant (@johnstack):
Product review
Trev Stair, art director (@trevstair):
Inspiration
Lisa Rex, web consultant (@lisarex):
Usability
The Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry is among the latest local organizations to join Twitter. You can follow their movements at @nbptchamber.
It’s my hope that the above indications of Newburyport residents and businesses using Twitter can be fodder for Gillian to resurrect her @pigal account and attempt to condense. Maybe she can’t do it, in which case, Twitter is not for her. But to call it mindless? Nonsense!
In related news, I recently announced my candidacy for the Newburyport City Council. I’m running for an at-large seat. With a campaign blog in development, I point Newburyport residents and businesses to my campaign page on Facebook, where you can indicate your support and/or ask questions.
One of my major policy areas will revolve around increasing opportunities for civic engagement, using both online and offline methods. Evident from the above post, it is natural that this policy will include strategy sessions to determine how, and whether, municipal government departments should use Twitter. It’s not as simple as creating an account, for an unanswered question is who are the best tweeting employees. In time.
– @ariherzog
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Ari,
Elizabeth, one of our leaders in the Newburyport Local Food Network http://www.gnlocalfoodnetwork.org wants our group to start using twitter regularly. OK the tech is here, but how to choose topics or themes which might usefully ‘build’ a direction and avoid those that are random chatter? Does it matter?
.-= New from Ron Martino: Waterside Picnic …………open to all Sunday June 21st, 4:00pm till Stars Shine =-.
Sure it matters, and not something I can answer in a blog comment. Shoot me an email and we can find time to discuss.
You’re probably right, Ari. I did, after all, get satisfaction from Bank of America after following your suggestion of tweeting to them, and I can see where someone who has a business, marketable product or skill can use it to their benefit (I think; do you know how many responses Kim got to her open question?). Perhaps I’m not thinking of myself in the correct manner (a product that requires marketing).
.-= New from Gillian Swart: Assume that I’m on it =-.
Thanks Ari. I find Twitter useful for all types of communication. I re-tweet when something resonates with me, I use direct messaging instead of email, use the search to learn about new ideas and events, and of course it’s great for interacting with friends and peers.
It’s fair to say that I’m a little bit addicted to Twitter.
.-= New from Lisa Rex: Recap of Design 4 Drupal Camp weekend =-.
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