BBQ ... Portuguese stylee by markdrasutis
Now that Twitter is all the rage (@Oprah is the tipping point), I have friends and co-workers asking about the difference between Twitter and Facebook.
After using the lame “Twitter is like your Facebook status update” analogy for a while, I think I’ve actually figured out a good way to explain it using barbecue culture.
FACEBOOK
Your Facebook page is like a backyard barbecue you’ve organized. You know everyone (at least a little bit), you’ve invited them and they’ve accepted your invitation.
The average Facebook user is online for about 20 minutes each time they visit the site. Switching back to the backyard cookout analogy: you’ve got time to get a beverage, show your pals some pictures of the kids while the food is cooking on the grill and chat about what’s going on in both of your lives.
For me, Facebook is a wonderful tool to keep track of friends and family when geography and busy schedules may otherwise prevent us from staying connected.
I’ve actually become fairly protective of my Facebook account. My rule is that I need to have had some kind of real world connection with you to add you as my Facebook friend. Our connection may go as far back as grade school, but I don’t normally accept a friend request from someone I’ve never met.
TWITTER
Instead of a cozy cookout in your backyard, Twitter is the World Championship Barbecue cooking contest held each year at the Memphis in May International Festival in Tennessee. It’s jam-packed with a multitude of people from all over the world. The air is filled with smoke, there are tons of different vendors, and thousands of conversations going on at the same time. There are people buzzing around to the different booths, trying things out, ranting, yelling, discussing, complaining and moving on to taste the next thing.
If you like ribs, chances are you’ll end up congregating with the ribs crowd and debating the best places to get ribs. Then the conversation may turn to whether beef or pork ribs are the best. Pretty soon, you find people who share your tastes and you may even spark a few friendships that last after the festival.
What are you good at and/or what do you like? Zeroing in on the answers is your key to Twitter success. Send out tweets about your passion and connect with others who share your enthusiasm and you’ll become a resource in your topic. Use search.twitter.com to find other people who are tweeting about your favorites.
If you like big dogs and live in Colorado, send out tips on good dog parks and where to get deals on food. Are you a hair stylist? Send out links to hair blogs you like and share ways you’ve found to make dyed hair last longer. Jump into the crowd and become someone that other people refer to and look to for cool stuff.
Lame analogy. You have too much time on your hands.