Edmonton Twitter evolution continues
I suppose I should have called this post “the Alberta Twitter evolution continues” to include the Calgary Twitter community and those around the province. That would have worked just as well I suppose. Over the last couple of days I’ve been thinking of how much I enjoy Twitter and all the new relationships I’ve built up.
In recent weeks the Edmonton twitter community has grown considerably. Why? Well, some members of the local media have decided to fire-up their Twitter accounts and publicize doing so. Even the City of Edmonton has gotten into the act. In fact, Albertans from many walks of life are joining Twitter, including those in political circles, but that’s another whole series of posts.
So, I’ve decided see where the Edmonton Twitter community feels it fits when compared to the generally accepted best practices described in the well-known social media standard Groundswell. You’ll notice that I’ve thrown in a bit of my own interpretation for good measure as well. Figure 3-2 on page 43 of Groundswell shows The Social Technographics ladder. Many members of the Edmonton Twitter community may fall into one or more of the following technographic groups.
Where are you in the Twitter universe?
Joiners - essentially, you’ve joined Twitter because you were encouraged by something you read, watched or a even more likely because you’ve been encouraged by another Albertan to join. You may also belong to at least one social network such as Facebook or Linkedin. In fact, to be considered a real Joiner you’re setting up profiles in several places.
Just for fun I’ve provided a short-list below of new members within the Edmonton Twitter community that may fit into this category based on current level of followers. These folks are at 100 or less followers (this number is a moving target so it’s not exact). There are many new users but these are a few that happened to use the #yeg hashtag at the time I was writing this post.
If you’d like to add your name to this list to increase follows just leave a comment with your twitter profile name and what category you feel you fit into best.
- http://twitter.com/JenCrosby
- http://twitter.com/michaelbridge
- http://twitter.com/jodinechase
- http://twitter.com/Carywill
- http://twitter.com/eglinski
- http://twitter.com/cfsmith
- http://twitter.com/DavidCronin
Spectators - After joining the community, a lot of observing Twitter and its culture takes place. This is of course a natural activity and, not to worry, everyone does this to some extent as this eco-system continues to evolve. We’re all learning…that’s one of my favorite things about social media in general. The opportunities to learn from others are immense and I consider myself to be a life-long learner. Having said that, as a Twitter user, your updates are very low as are your followers – you’re watching quietly.
Through observation and learning, confidence begins to increase and gradually this impacts activity type and volume. Conversations, exchanges of information, direct messages, link posting all increase. The newest members of the Edmonton Twitter community become more involved in terms of the types of Tweets and level of participation. Generally, an increase in tweet volume tends to happen and a need to “break the story” or “RT” (re-Tweet) interesting tweets also starts to take place. Possibly the courage to post links of their own blog posts or the first Twitpics start to appear – personality really starts to shine through.
Critics - As ones’ personality starts to shine more and more within their tweets. I believe a further diversion of grouping starts to happen. Commenting, taking positions on various subject matter that before may have been considered controversial like politics for example starts to happen. The person has much more confidence now and so rating, reviews and criticism tends to happen more. Further, if the person is sarcastic in nature, a skeptic or generally negative this also presents itself.
Collectors - Personality and confidence allows the newest members of Edmonton’s Twitter community who are remaining active to communicate things like hobbies. Music, photography are two top ways people start to demonstrate these traits. Links to other profiles on sites like flickr and Last.fm are used.
Creators - I’ve left this category towards the end because when it comes to Twitter I think that this group is really a catch all in a lot of ways. If you’ve created even one Tweet you could technically be considered a Creator. However, I define Creators in this case to be Twitter users who are active in almost all of the technographic categories in some way, have several profiles, share numerous types of content from video, audio, photos, links, opinions, etc. The most active of all the groups, Creators are separated by the reason they’re there: to build relationships, to build an army, to build credibility, to build intelligence and observe trends.
Autobots - (I’ve invented this last group.) Twitter naturally has this built in ego-meter that is your “followers” total. Some fall into the “I must have a million followers” mentality and I admit I watch my own numbers too. How can you not? Having said that, some go to great lengths to “monetize” their Twitter activity somehow. For example, let’s say you like to sell e-books, “not that there’s anything wrong with that.” However, an Autobot would then employ various automated software apps to auto-follow people and almost certainly auto-direct-message (DM) people with their affiliate e-book selling site link. Now just like with Viagra spam, if the 8% of people who got those spam emails didn’t buy Viagra via this method then the spam industry may not exist.
Be wary of those who are strictly focused on just creating a larger number. Jeremiah Owyang from Forrester Research tweeted this recently:
@jowyang bloggers are arguing about how much 100,000 twitter followers is worth http://tinyurl.com/c3z6nk I say earn trust, not buy it
Walter Schwabe
I like that Edmonton’s media community finally found twitter and is giving it some coverage. I think @mastermaq and @mobilemommy did a great job representing too. Yay for Edmonton
http://twitter.com/melanienathan
I’ve had a Twitter account for a couple of years, but haven’t put it to much use. The active Edmonton Twitter community is changing that for me.
Also had a twitter account for a while but didn’t start using it until recently. The smart phone makes it easier that is for sure! For me the initial use is to connect with other developers to get the latest buzz on what is going on in the development communities I belong too.
However with the push by the other local twitters my use is changing to keep in touch with local people that I would only interact every couple of months. It is an interesting tool and I’m curious how it will continue to evolve.
Tys (@tvongaza)
As a recent move to Edmonton (from Calgary) I would like to say that the Edmonton Twitter community has been extremely welcoming and friendly. I hope that I fall within the category of Creator and will continue to do so as I get to know other members of this vibrant community. Thank you for the friendliest of welcomes and I hope to meet as many of you as possible in the very near future.
Warmest regards,
Troy Wason
http://twitter.com/imparo
I think I’d qualify as a creator with a critical edge.
I’m really happy being part of the Edmonton Twitter community. There’s no better place!
I really enjoyed this post. Outlining and categorizing Alberta’s Tweeters is taking the sociological aspect of Twitter to another level. Good stuff.
The thing that floors me about Twitter is the high degree of collaboration. Over the past two months, I’ve connected with people I’m not becoming involved with professionally, and it’s opened so many doors to new opportunities.
A great example is the coffee fail whale I crowdsourced as a lark. It’s turned into a [very minor] phenomenon. Where else would this have been possible?
I want to apologize to those who posted comments and lost them here. We were attacked today and the site was down for approximately 30 mins or so…during that time we lost some comments. I’m hoping that you’ll return and let us know what you think of the above content. Clearly #yeg folks are passionate about social media and Twitter, which is exactly what I’ve witnessed…
Thank-you for your patience today…
Walter
Hahahahaha, my comment should say “… people I’m becoming involved with professionally…” I’m not sure why I threw the “not” in there. Must be the coffee-crack.
It’ll be interesting to see how it continues to evolve. I’m looking forward to future Tweetups and Twestivals both to see how much of an impact they see as a result of the recent attention, and to see how many different types of Tweetups emerge due to a larger audience representing a more diverse set of interests.
Good post!
@DougKyle
I am also very happy to be part of Edmontons Tweeters! i look forward to the evolution.
Oops @crystalsherris
I think i’m a Creator,
@adampatterson
Anyone that says they’re not interested in Twitter because they prefer meeting ‘real people’ obviously never attended a Social Web Meetup or Democamp.
http://www.meetup.com/The-Social-Web-Meetup
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/group.php?sid=56fddf5e76333283efec5d39c42556b2&gid=45468727190
I love Edmonton!
-Jerry
http://twitter.com/ZoomJer
I agree with the whole Twitter evolution in the local landscape – media in particular. At CKUA, we had two announcers – David Ward and Kevin Wilson – start Twitter accounts recently. And when you hear that Ken Kowalski is having a hard time controlling Twittering MPs – you know it’s going mainstream.
If I have to pick one category, it is Creator; however, I would like to have more choices. Perhaps that is leading me toward Critic
From my studies by and about distance learning, I became familiar with the development of learning communities. WIthin the Twitter community, I see a number of sub communities. For example, one financial advisor in the USA has developed a forum to bring us together. Others have offered advice on my research interests relating to the insurance industry. Also, I see the various hobbies (including photography) and the rapidly growing presence of the community of media personalities. Relating to the latter, those that participate will help the community grow. Those that insist on broadcasting with no interactive participation will be seen as just a news feed. When we have enough, we will stop following.
@TonyRatcliffe
It ate my comment yesterday — and it was much more well put… so I apologize as I try to rework those same thoughts out again. Probably incoherently due to the cold meds.
I find it interesting that everyone seems to be searching for these labels. What sort of twitterer are you? Do you post this sort of thing? Are you a linker? Do you connect with people? To what extent do you branch out to your surrounding community?
I’m not big on labels. One of the reasons I enjoy Twitter as much as I do is that it’s fluid. One week you’ll be very much a Joiner – then next you’ll be a Creator or Critic… The use a person gets out of it is very evolving, like Twitter itself is. A person can go from discussing their favourite flavour of Kool Aid to issues facing society in a matter of moments.
I think that sort of fluid nature makes Twitter, and the people on it, hard to label. (For the most part).
Labels or no labels, I’m very excited to see how this community continues to grow and where we’ll go in the future.
@britl
I look at my twitter stats and I think, who are these people and why are they following me? But as one of the legislatures early twitters and subject to some recent “house discipline” I find it a very interesting way to find out what’s on peoples minds without having to dig through a lot of junk. This is a useful tool and I am hoping to keep the dialogue relevant
Great comment Brittney!
I have to think that @iNews880 is concerned with ensuring that when it reports on the news it’s taken seriously as a trusted news source and not considered a joke. Yet, that particular account is simply about one-way broadcasting, it’s a “spectator,” I learned this because when I try to communicate with @iNews880 I get no response and so I accept that silence and continue to follow – that’s a choice based on understanding. The purpose of this post is less about the act of assigning some type of “label” and more about understanding the little things related to how we use the platform and associated tendencies. These details determine culture, expose levels of influence, credibility and codes of conduct etc…this information (i believe) helps us make decisions.
Thank-you to you and all others who continue to comment.
Try again with @iNews880 Walter… we’re working on getting it more interactive. We’ve been responding, posting pictures, and taking news/traffic tips through the account lately. We can’t respond to all… but we’re getting better.
Brittney, love it…now if we can get the same smart reaction to happen with other media outlets we’d have a ball-game. I knew you guys were a breed apart….way to go @iNews880.
Correction to my post….I meant MLA’s not MPs (though that’s likely to happen too). Thanks to Tony for noticing!
I refuse to fit into any group. Unless there is a non-conformist group.
Seriously though, I just tweet.
@AllieW
Each day I am on Twitter I am also struck by the thought of how much I enjoy Twitter BECAUSE of all the new relationships I’ve built/am building. So many interesting people, many of whom have great passion and vision for the things they are involved with.
Re: Social Technographics Ladder, I find your take interesting – I am constantly thinking about this myself as my background is in social anthropology/digital ethnography.
I want to be a Creator, but I’m a Joiner, I think. I really need to install my new digital camera software on my ailing laptop…
As a new Twitter user, I’ve found the rate at which news spreads to be incredible. I received info from Lynda Steele and iNews880 about the Edmonton fires over the last week as it was happening. Those of us in #yeg actually managed to make the tag trend as a result!
Twitter is awesome, and I wish I’d joined before!
@CarlaPR
I’m a twiter lover, distressed at the use of a hashtag which should be used to represent the airport, being used for the city of Edmonton. #edm would make SO much more sense.
Jon, I had the exact same reaction initially. Airport codes are being used across twitter in much the same way. One thing is for sure #yeg is universally and solely recognized as Edmonton. Outside of Edmonton, #edm could be applied to other things…thanks for stopping by.
Have your say here regarding the #yeg vs #edm debate once and for all… with a vote: http://you-vs-me.com/yeg-vs-edm
I like YEG – or using the aiport codes. This way if people didn’t know what #hashtag to use they could look it up. In fact Google recognizes them immediately.
I vote for #YEG
Greg for YEG!
We are taking a little different approach to how we use twitter. Our website hosts an audio feed for the Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, letting people listen in to emergency crews as they battle a fire, deal with a major accident on our roadways, etc. What Twitter has brought to the table is a new way for us to let people know that something is going on and they can tune in and listen to news in the making.
Not everything that we post is a 4 alarm fire and we aren’t at the computer 24/7 so not every event is posted to our twitter account. But we hope that people are able to use the service as a heads up that something is happening and avoid that particular area so the men and women that put their lives on the line to keep us and our families out of harms way can do their job.
http://twitter.com/EdmtnFireRadio
Also had a twitter account for a while but didn't start using it until recently. The smart phone makes it easier that is for sure! For me the initial use is to connect with other developers to get the latest buzz on what is going on in the development communities I belong too.
However with the push by the other local twitters my use is changing to keep in touch with local people that I would only interact every couple of months. It is an interesting tool and I'm curious how it will continue to evolve.
Tys (@tvongaza)