We keep hearing from some so-called social media “experts” that Twitter will ultimately kill blogging as a form of communication. That somehow, the firmly entrenched method of communicating complex ideas will be replaced by the 140-character text message.
ShinyShiny.TV said that Twitter could kill blogging back in June 2009, James Joyner said it in April 2009, and Andrew Wee speculated that Twitter would kill all of social media in April 2009.
Here’s the deal:
1) They all said this on their blogs. If they really thought Twitter should/could/would kill blogging, why didn’t they say it somewhere else?
2) I’ve said it before: if you can sum up your most complex, worthwhile and thoughtful ideas in 140 characters, then they weren’t that complex, worthwhile, or thoughtful to begin with. If you want to promote your best ideas, they’re going to take a whoooole lot more development than 140 characters. In fact, 140 words won’t even be enough. 
Your blog needs to be the center of your social media campaign, not some long-forgotten tool, like the foot-powered lathe or brace-and-bit. It needs to be the hub, the central location of your biggest and best ideas. The way you work out new theories, demonstrate knowledge, or expound on your beliefs. Because “hey tweeps, I think social media is a g8t way 2 reach nu cstmrs!” doesn’t demonstrate anything more emotionally complex or in-depth than a high school prom.
If you’re relying solely on Twitter to carry your deep thoughts and grand ideas to the masses — or at least your potential clients — just make sure you keep your résumé up-to-date. Or plan on having a client base that has the same intellectual depth and short attention span as you do.
Better yet, dust off your old blog, and put it at the center of your social media marketing. Make it the hub, and turn Twitter, Facebook, and other social media tools the spokes.
About Erik Deckers
@Erick – i think you missed the point of my post.
“But here’s why I think twitter might be self-destructive”
How would that be construed as me “speculated that Twitter would kill all of social media” ?
It seems like every few months the “Twitter is killing blogging” debate gets rehashed. I think this line of thinking is really just silly for several reasons.
1 – Twitter will not get you found via search engines, which is one of the top arguments for blogging in the first place.
2 – Twitter has abstract and unsubstantial conversion points. If we’re talking marketing this is a huge issue. On my site I’ve got multiple places where visitors can take the next step towards connecting with me.
3 – Most people are using Twitter as an amplification device for URL’s. Sure, there will be occasional 140 character blurbs that are funny or thought provoking, as well as the occasional back and forth conversation, but very often people use Twitter to raise more awareness and get more traffic for their blog posts.
I’m frankly a little tired of hearing that blogging will be supplanted by Twitter. There are simply too many benefits to blogging.
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