Something very exciting and interesting came my way today. I got a DM asking me to send my email address so a report could be sent to me on how my Twitter Manifesto was reviewed by a government group in Washington State.
I was very humbled by the fact that out of all of the people on Twitter and all of the people who probably have a Manifesto, that my manifesto was the one they chose to pattern their entire department’s policy on how they will use social media in all social media channels on the internet. Yes, a government group… here is the email…
Scot,
So my team took your manifesto and really started to run with it.
Our county is pretty tech-savvy … we are the home of Microsoft, and our Executive has his own Twitter account. We use Twitter for topics ranging from general news to even some emergency management communications during some heavy flooding in January. The bottom line: My eGov team is progressive when it comes to government use of social media, and is starting to get some questions about the business benefit of these tools in general and about if we should have policies that govern employee behavior.
My team hates the idea of “policy” but a “manifesto” appealed to them. They took your draft, started tweaking it to fit into some government-specific scenarios, then started broadening it cover Facebook, YouTube, etc. They sent me a draft this morning. I would be very interesting in your reaction and comments, but I thought you also just might be interested in seeing what your document had “become” and where it might be going here in King County, WA.
Thanks!!
Trev.
So, there ya have…the power of the Twitter Manifesto… It only seems appropriate that I post the Manifesto again for your information.
There always seems to be someone asking..What does Twitter DO? I asked it for a long time and never got a real answer. Could that be because nobody knows? From my long experience out on Twitter I can tell you what Twitter does to people who use it and how it is being used by others, as well as how nauseating Twitter can be as a whole. It is really hard to get a grasp of how many people and/or THINGS are using Twitter and for a whole lot of different reasons. When you hear phrases describing Twitter’s millions post a second as
“Trying to get a drink out of a Fire Hose”
or
“PR People’s attempt to use Twitter to boil the Ocean with a Bic lighter”
I think you can get a pretty good picture of there is absolutely no way to get your arms around how many people and/or things use Twitter or how to use Twitter effectively. To make Twitter work for any reason, you have to set ground rules so others know how you are going to use Twitter and NOT use it. Soooooo, To set the example for others to follow and for those of you who trip over this nugget of intellectual logic, here is…
My Twitter Manifesto
In an effort to maintain my satiny and validate my time spent on Twitter, below outlines how I will use Twitter.
Purpose:
My purpose on Twitter is to build a community of likeminded people in hopes that they will want to learn more and become part of the larger community I am building that is not on Twitter.
My Mantra is:
- To “Keep It Simple to Get Things Done!”.
- I am inspired by the “Big Ideas” and the people that dream them. I choose to ONLY work and associate socially with honorable individuals who believe in making a buck while making a difference.
My Promise is:
I will..
- Only communicate and FOLLOW someone who I have found to be a REAL person and have had at least three intellectual conversations or responses to my @reply to their post on Twitter.
- Use the 80 – 20 rule in posting Tweets..which means 80% of my posts will be original or @replies with 20% of my posts having links to relevant information.
- Develop an “A List” of people I FOLLOW that I either have met in real life or who I have carried on a conversation on Twitter more than once. The others on my Follow list are just as important to me, but are Followers I keep track of or have not had a lengthy conversation with yet. Either group should consider your self lucky since I only follow people who are REAL people and interest me.
- BLOCK any Tweet that has
- Over 1000 Followers
- Following Over 1000
- Has only 1 Update and following thousands with any number of followers
- Porn Sites
- Direct Marketers
- MLM’s
- or any get rich quick programs based on questionable business models
- Anyone who posts for posting sake
- who only post LINKS
- only posts and does not reply
I will NOT…
- Follow for Following sake.
- Play the Follow as Many People as You Can Game
- Follow Anyone who @replies to my Tweets in an effort to get me to Follow them
- Use any program or BOT that automatically does anything to generate Followers or Follows Tweets for the sake of following.
I appreciate the fact that there are many people wanting to Follow Me for whatever reason, but I do not reciprocate with an Automatic Follow like many misguided people here on Twitter feel they need to do. I hope that I earn someone’s Follow for
- What I offer
- What I do not offer
- Making someone laugh
- Bring to their attention somebody really worthwhile
- Connecting them to someone who will make their life, personal or professional, better
I am not out to please everyone and I understand that everyone is not out to please me. I also know that there will be an exception to every rule including the ones I have outlined here..I accept that that and look forward to making an exception because it means I have learned something. This how I will use Twitter and will not apologies with the exception of this one time for anyone who does not agree with how I will be using Twitter.
So, let the Twittering begin and lets be safe out here while we are learning how to have fun.