You need Facebook and Twitter
- Monday, 13 December 2010 04:11
- Vince
I have this conversation often:
Me: “Are you on Twitter?”
Them: “No; I’m already on Facebook”
Every time I have this conversation an angel gets it’s wings…clipped.
It does go the other way…although less often. There are Twitter users who are above using such blue collar social networks like Facebook.
Truth is, when done right, Facebook and Twitter are very different spaces and it is my opinion that if you want to rock at social media you need both.
I’ve shared this analogy with a lot of people and even mentioned it in a post or two.
Twitter is your coffee shop
At the coffee shop you connect with both people you know already and people you don’t know in a public space.
Twitter is quite the same. You will most likely initially connect with people you already know and then be introduced to people you don’t know and eventually make your own connections.
Twitter works best when you are open to meeting people you don’t know and connecting. This will be the biggest hurdle for people who have been on Facebook for a long time before getting on Twitter. Truth is, if you’re not willing to meet people and network, Twitter will not click and you’ll give up.
Quick tips for Facebook-ers moving to Twitter
- Do: Follow people you don’t know
- Don’t: Post pictures of your kids in the bath tub
- Do: Engage in conversations
- Don’t: Just be a broadcaster
Facebook is your living room
Your living room is for people you already know. Sometimes the people you know will bring people you ‘kinda’ know to your living room but for the most part it is people you know that come over to your house. Not everything that happens in your living room should be made public and most of the conversation that happens there is only interesting to people who know you.
Facebook is at it’s best when you share content and interact with people you know. People who use it as a networking space tend to come off as spammers and get ignored.
Quick tips for Tweeps moving to Facebook
- Do: Upload lots of photos of your kids
- Don’t: Add people you don’t know, that’s not the point of Facebook
- Do: Connect with your mom
- Don’t: Play Farmville
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20 thoughts on “You need Facebook and Twitter”
awesome vince. concise and to the point.
December 13, 2010 at 4:26 amVince, Great post and perfect analogy!! I love it!
Randy
December 13, 2010 at 5:13 amJust read your post this morning…perfect!
December 13, 2010 at 5:14 amI'm giving you the slow clap in my living room right now. I constantly find myself trying to explain this sentiment to people, but have lacked the right words to really drive the point home. Your analogy is PERFECT! I'm stealing it for all future Twitter debates.
December 13, 2010 at 5:54 amGo for it!
December 13, 2010 at 5:59 amGood points. But, here's my question… what would you say to somebody who posts the exact same content in both places? Does that presume that the same conversations are suitable for the coffee shop and living room?
(I know several people who do that – and I typically end up un-following them on twitter or hiding them on facebook to avoid double-reading everything.)
December 13, 2010 at 10:12 amI was guilty of this until about a year ago and I started keep about half my tweets off Facebook and also posting content specific to FB.
I was on Twitter before i became active on FB so I approached it at first as a tweet dumping ground.
I'm considering moving back to the selective Twitter app on FB
December 13, 2010 at 4:06 amhey becky i was one of those people who posted content in two places for a while–and totally understand why you would unfollow or hide me!
i've converted to vince's tactics–lots of pictures and personal/family updates on fb, and lots of links, info, thoughts, and questions on twitter.
the reason i changed–i saw much higher engagement on both places.
December 13, 2010 at 10:41 amGreat analogy of Twitter/Facebook!
Not sure I'd agree with you on a couple of the Facebook do's/don'ts
1. I'm pretty sensitive when it comes to my kids and their privacy. They're young and I'm an overprotective dad. We may be Facebook buddies, but I may not know you all that well. You'll meet/see my kids IRL only; and when I'm good and ready.
2. Alluded to in #1, I don't necessarily limit my Facebook account to people I know. I may have connected with someone through someone else, but technically we don't "know" each other. I like to use Facebook for fun AND networking! Some of the best resources I've acquired have originated from my Facebook network (they rawk). More often than not, I'll trust a resource from a Facebook friend/connection more than from a stranger on Twitter ("more often than not" being key here).
3. My mom's not on Facebook. But if/when that happens, I de-list! (sorry mom)
4. Play Farmville all you want! I WILL block that from my newsfeed…OR I may kick you out of my list. Sorry Farmvillers (Farmers?)…frankly, there are WAY better methods of wasting your day away. That ain't one of 'em.
Thanks for this!
Sam Title
Chief Executive Cofficer
December 13, 2010 at 12:31 pmhttp://www.twitter.com/thecoffice http://www.facebook.com/thecoffice
1 –> totally understand that one. I am a public figure even outside of social media so I have lived in this reality a long time so I'm OK with it
2–> I would define know as someone who i have interacted with IRL
3–> hehehe
4–> true.
thanks for commenting!
December 13, 2010 at 12:37 pmTwitter is your Coffee Shop & Facebook is your Living Room – http://www.nikao.ws/2010/12/13/you-need-...
December 13, 2010 at 3:05 pm@m_vince is your website your bedroom? http://www.nikao.ws/2010/12/13/you-need-...
December 13, 2010 at 3:16 pm@chadthehuff hehehe. It's your platform – http://www.nikao.ws/2010/11/11/personal-...
December 13, 2010 at 3:20 pmRT @m_vince: Twitter is your Coffee Shop & Facebook is your Living Room – http://www.nikao.ws/2010/12/13/you-need-...
December 13, 2010 at 11:24 pmREPOST: Twitter is your coffee shop/Facebook is your living room http://www.nikao.ws/2010/12/13/you-need-...
March 3, 2011 at 4:47 pmRT @m_vince: REPOST: Twitter is your coffee shop/Facebook is your living room http://www.nikao.ws/2010/12/13/you-need-…
March 3, 2011 at 9:49 pmSo true RT @m_vince REPOST: Twitter is your coffee shop/Facebook is your living room http://www.nikao.ws/2010/12/13/you-need-...
March 3, 2011 at 5:01 pm[...] Prolegomena: Twitter is a mostly open public forum if you are not interested in connecting with people you don’t already know then you should stick to Facebook because you are missing the point of Twitter and breaking the internet. I wrote a post about the Facebook and Twitter¬†relationship. [...]
May 2, 2011 at 8:12 am[...] Prolegomena: Twitter is a mostly open public forum if you are not interested in connecting with people you don’t already know then you should stick to Facebook because you are missing the point of Twitter and breaking the internet. I wrote a post about the¬†Facebook and Twitter¬†relationship. [...]
July 25, 2011 at 10:49 am[...] and Facebook and I treat both spaces very differently in terms of content. I have said in the past; Twitter is your coffee shop and Facebook is your living room. If you’re still posting all your tweets to Facebook you need to read [...]
August 8, 2011 at 4:33 pm