The Social Networking Buzz: Twitter Synchronicity

Fresh off the buzz of attending my first tweet-up, I noticed a tweet about a blogging class being given the next morning by Missy Caulk, Michigan's own online real estate superstar. Plus special ActiveRain guest Bob Stewart was going to be speaking. This was something not to be missed.

The next morning, the room was packed and overflowing. Not only were agents from her company there, but several of us from the Twitterverse were as well, including Edward Vielmetti, a well-known local blogger who 'live-blogged' the session. He had found out about it by reading a tweet just that morning!

The two hours went by quickly with everyone furiously taking notes and a few of us tweeting (including the photo to the left which appeared in my photo blog).

Many of those in attendance were just getting started and Missy's message was to be authentic, transparent, and personal. Bob demonstrated how easy it is to get started on ActiveRain.

From Edward's precise notes and real-time tweets to Missy's sage advice, the seminar was "happening". The icing on the cake was meeting people face-to-face for the first time

The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started, Twitterland, Tweet-Beeps & Tweet-Ups

The Social Networking Buzz: TweetBeeps & Tweet-Ups

Once I mastered the Twitter basics, I set up TweetBeep (kinda like Google alerts) to email me when someone wrote a tweet on something that interested me. For example, any time a tweet included the word "Plymouth". Do you know how many cities are named Plymouth in the world? Lots.

Next, I noticed people talking about "tweet-ups". I had no idea what they meant, but had a hunch it might have something to do with getting together.

As luck would have it, one of our local agents organized one last week and five people showed up. We met at a pub, enjoyed food & drinks, and shared real estate war stories and tech tips.

It was great to be in the company of others who "get" and embrace the same technology instead of looking at you like you're nuts.

Next, a little Twitter synchronicity.

The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started, Twitterland, Twitter Synchronicity

The Social Networking Buzz: Twitterland

I signed up for Twitter this Summer after reading about it on ActiveRain. With only 140 characters and chatty conversations between people that seemed to know each other, I totally didn't get it.

As part of the social media webinar assignment, our homework was to log in Twitter and get our feet wet. I was ready to dive in.

First, here's a quick explanation from CommonCraft:



I started slowly by searching for and following real estate agents (including Missy Caulk from Ann Arbor and Teresa Boardman from St. Paul), real estate techies and local folks.

Gradually I started participating by "tweeting" (posting) some of my daily activities and people started following me (by the way, my Twitter ID is @MichiganMoves).

The more time I spent on Twitter, the more sucked in and addicted I became. I found an application for my Blackberry (Twitterberry) as well as other websites to post status updates to multiple networking websites (Ping.fm).

Soon I built up a network of local "tweeps" and was ready to take Twitter and social networking to the next level...a "tweet up" (meeting face to face).

The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started, TweetBeeps & Tweet-Ups, Twitter Synchronicity

The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started

Last month I signed up for the first Social Media webinar series from the Domus Consulting Group mentioned on the ActiveRain network.

I had a website, I'd been blogging over the years, and even had profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn. What I didn't get was how to leverage that presence and take it to the next level...Web 2.0 or social networking.

What is social networking? Here's a quick Common Craft video overview:



So the shocking thing I learned in the first class? Email is for people over 30. That made me feel really old.

I was even more surprised to talk to a couple of 20-somethings and find out they don't even have email. The MySpace generation primarily relies on text mesages and notes on a friend's online wall.

First assignment: sign in and check out Twitter, something else I just didn't get

The Social Networking Buzz: Twitterland, TweetBeeps & TweetUps, Twitter Synchronicity