What Did You Have For Breakfast - And Who Cares?
Twitter
Lately it seems I've been having this conversation over and over again: Isn't Twitter just full on people talking about what they had for breakfast?
The answer is yes... and no. It depends on who you follow and what they use Twitter for. Here is an example of three different tweets about breakfast:
1. "I had Cheerios for Breakfast - they were delicious.
This tweet is stated solely as a fact, a tweet like this might be followed by "Got to work late - a pickup truck cut me off, ugh."
2. "Cheerios for Breakfast - where is the cheer?" Tweet two is attempting to bring a humorous/satirical element to the event. A tweet like this might be followed by "Got to work late - a pickup truck cut me off - white males ages 25-55 don't belong on the road!"
3. "Always remember to check the portion size when looking at nutritional information. Half a cup of cheerios vs two cups of Cheerios can make a big difference."
Finally, tweet three is approaching the topic from a certain perspective, whether for business or personal interest. A tweet like this may be followed by "Got to work late because I decided to ride my bike - great way to burn extra calories in your day, just be sure to leave a bit earlier!"
What do these examples show? That the topic is not what matters, it is the person behind the topic.
Twitter is a powerful communication tool, both for businesses and individuals. More and more, Twitter is where you may find your next job - it is where you get your news from and find out what's happening in your community. People converge on discussions by using hashtags (#) that are searchable. This means that your love of breakfast cereals can be easily searched and discussions can be had with other enthusiasts.
So does anyone care what you had for breakfast? Maybe. It all depends on your goals on Twitter, your style, and your followers. If you haven't done so already, now may be the time to create your username and give it your 140 character best. Be sure to let everyone know that Cinnamon Toast Crunch is by far the superior choice for breakfast.
