Twitter for Dummies - Laura Fitton [111]
Breaking News
Twitter continues to grow as a resource for breaking news. Events like the recent earthquake in China, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, or the Hudson River emergency landing in January 2009 all broke first on Twitter and were then picked up by the mainstream broadcast media. Journalists and media organizations, along with consumers, now look to Twitter as a legitimate source for news.
Sourcing standards for journalism still apply, of course, and you can easily lose what really has happened until a definitive account is posted on a major news site, such as The New York Times or CNN.
CNN, in fact, is now one of the top Twitter accounts, at least by following. Anchors have integrated Twitter into their on-air shows, and @CNNBrk competed with Ashton Kutcher (@APlusK) to be the first on Twitter to get a million followers. (Ashton won, by the way, and donated 20,000 malaria nets to charity.)
Travel
Airlines, trains, car companies, and more all use Twitter to keep their corporate finger on the pulse of a lot more than just brand perception. Some airlines, like Southwest (@SouthwestAir), have taken it one step further and use Twitter to track flow at various airports, monitor problems in real time, report delays, and so on.
You can connect with many travel-focused companies using Twitter. If you lose a bag or are experiencing flight delays, some airlines, like JetBlue (@JetBlue), are trying to reach out and help customers through Twitter. You can even find cab companies on Twitter that offer more innovative ways to find a ride once you’re on the ground, especially if you have an iPhone.
Finance
As new Web applications like StockTwits, Xpenser, and more crop up to help you manage your money, Twitter has become a more viable method to track spending. Add in helpful financial advice from your fellow Twitter users, and you can see how Twitter might become a genuine force in the financial world.
Food, Wine, and Spirits
Yelp, Chowhound, food blogs, and endless Web sites that aggregate reviews or impressions of the restaurant industry are on Twitter. They’re looking to consumers, many of whom are sharing thoughts on where and what they’re eating in real time, right from the mobile phone.
If you’re wondering about a specific restaurant, increasingly you’ll be able to search for the name and see what people are saying about it.
Wine lovers have found a whole new world for their passion for the grape on Twitter. Whether it’s Twitter Taste Live (#TTL) by Bin Ends Wine (@binendswine), live streaming of tastings from personalities like Gary Vaynerchuck (@GaryVee), or just on-the-fly commentary about what and where people are drinking, Twitter is bridging serious gaps in the wine industry. More people are discovering wine or spirits that they might not have encountered before, thanks to the real-time recommendations of Twitter friends.
Books
Authors and readers alike have discovered new books to read and recommended books to others on Twitter. Famous writers, such as Neil Gaiman (@NeilHimself) or Paolo Coelho (@PaoloCoelho), actively engage fans around the world. Some authors have been able to land publishing deals through Twitter. Others release serials, one chapter at a time on Twitter. One service, 140Story, actually uses tweets to write stories.
However you look at it, Twitter is full of readers. When you start listening, you’ll find book clubs, writing groups, and more. And when you begin contributing, you’ll often discover a phenomenal amount of instant connection and support available on both sides of the pen