One Can Only Do So Much…

If I were addressing my business internet marketing students, I would warn them not to make great swelling promises online that they are unable to keep! My hopes of launching a final version of our new e-book on this first day of April have been dashed. My schedule is ridiculous, yes. My workload too much, yes. But…I had still hoped to finish before the stroke of midnight tonight.

We are very close, so stay-tuned. I hope to set aside my Saturday to put on finishing touches, then I can upload and publish the needed files for perhaps a three or four-day-late launch. All the opening days of April are covered in the preview release, so you can start reading now, but we will be excited to send out the full version when we can. We appreciate your kind patience.

Twitter vs. Facebook: Connecting or Publishing?

I have a theory about the difference between Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is a platform for connecting with people we actually know. When we make these connections, we begin sharing things about our lives, families and hobbies. Interaction on Facebook is all about relationships. Twitter has become a format on which people publish items of interest for general consumption – yes relationship building is somewhat important, but these relationships are usually based on mutual interest. I mean, we may know very few of the people we follow on Twitter, but often care a great deal about what they say or whom they reference on a particular subject.

When I get online, I do so for the purpose of learning something, finding new information or being challenged to think. This means I rarely find Facebook compelling. Sounds harsh I know…but my idea of personal connection goes far beyond a simple status update or messaging session. This is not to say it doesn’t have value or even moments of helpfulness. However, generally speaking I find it incapable of fulfilling its purpose on almost every level.

Twitter has another appeal altogether. Follow the right people and receive an endless supply of quality links, quotes and ideas. The absence of need for personal relationship allows maximum potential for interaction on niche topics or industries. Those who fail to publish interesting items on a regular basis can be unfollowed – not because they are no longer your friend, but because they did not produce worthy content.

Before I go further, I should be quick to acknowledge there are many more relationship-oriented web users than content-consumers like myself. That majority will feel very differently about the two services. They will point me to Facebook pages to meet my informational requirements and ask that I interact more and give the format a chance. There is merit in both of those suggestions and I do indeed see their point. Still, I doubt I will ever find an appreciation for most of the activity on Facebook.

I must insist that those who sit down at their computers much like they would open their morning newspaper or monthly periodical will find Twitter far more appealing. Even in its bite-sized chunks, the format lends itself to ongoing learning and discussion.

In the end it depends on what your purpose is for being online. Do you want to publish and consume content or build and maintain relationships? I find myself very much in the former camp and will therefore remain a loyal Twitter user, while rarely accessing or using Facebook.