Twitter and the evolution of learning online media

Before we start, this will probably burn your eyeballs out and the starter in your brain if you haven't become familiar with the phenomenon known as Twitter. If you are ready for me to entertain your brain with a new front, read on PARTICULARLY if you are a self-employed individual ... and if you don't know what twitter is ... here is a bit about it and YOU SHOULD look into it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter and also here is Twitter's website.

BUT please note: when I first looked at the site, I thought, "what in tarhooties is this?" I didn't "get it." Nor was I sure how my role would play in this online dialogue or community as a graphic designer STILL with her business license, but taking on a permanent role working with her husband and loving it.

As the Muppets Kermit used to say ... on with the show ...

So last night, Wednesday March 4th I went to a "tweet-up." What is a tweet-up you ask? It is an event related to Twitter.com. Hmmm ... I am not 100% certain I fully comprehend and nor effectively explain in a concise fashion how to describe other than it is a social media networking gathering. I am still new to the twitter media so it was nice to speak to people how they use the website (or whatever you call it) and also learn some proper tw-etiquette. ;-) It was also an opportunity to put some live individuals locally and learn about other businesses. I don't care for the hard sale, ever and I can sniff a cheese-ball, slick willy from a mile away, but it really wasn't like that, which was my deep down fear. Nor was it a geek-a-thon, but hey I am a geek in some fashion and I take full pride in it. BUT I also know the limitations of my knowledge and it was quite refreshing to be around people with more or varying experience in other media tools and also expose myself to other ways to market myself. If anything a new perspective from others and how they approach marketing themselves and also how they effectively use the "twitter-tool" if and only if just for talking with others and sorting out thoughts and concepts.

So here's how my late afternoon continued prior to the tweet-up ... it's 6pm (it started at 6pm), and I was quite apprehensive to make the trek down to Sactown to go to this tweet-up as I had no clue as to what to expect or WHO. It was pretty nerve-wracking for a usual cool cookie with speaking to other people from a new media I was still observing and still figuring out. I am quite certain I told my husband Steve at least a half-dozen times I wasn't going to go. But I did give in and made a pact with myself, "hey I can always leave or turn around after I put my face up against the window and peer in to the joint."

So I arrive at Panera, where the "tweet-up" was being hosted and Panera was being mobbed. I was told there were 70+ over the duration of the couple of hours it lasted (or so). Almost standing room only, so I am afraid many innocent laptop users were face-to-face with a face-to-butt scenario if they opted to stay seated. Many people were inquiring, "what is this?"

So I peaked in to make sure my entrance was not a mistake. Initially I felt quite shy and went into my observation mode. I did a lap and grabbed an ice tea then went in for positioning. Luckily I met some kind and great people that took me under their wing to chat and from there it went great. I met so many interesting, intriguing AND funny people last night. I also learned how to effectively use Twitter (whether personal experience and literal use).

What a fantastic group of people and what a way to get energized again about your work. It felt so good to be so excited to be working again and also that I was willing to jump out of my comfort zone for the sake of learning and meeting new people. I have learned so much about new forms of online media these past two weeks then I have for so long. Thank you to all who made my night so much fun, enlightening and entertaining.

The next event is actually here in Roseville at the Boxing Donkey in Old Town Roseville. Here is the Boxing Donkey's website. I have been wanting to go there for so long, but with kids, outings take a bit more coordination.

So if you are looking for a new way to meet new business people and learn about Twitter and online social networking, please check it all out.

If you want to learn more about SacTweetUp: it is #sactweetup and/or go to this website where they post local events for SacTweetUp.

Thanks sincerely to http://twitter.com/successfool and http://twitter.com/sierrafriend for all of their efforts, organization and sharing their ideas with all of us. It was a wonderful event.

So wonderful to find new ways to integrate my different loves of new media, online networking and also discover new ways to market and brand my husband's line of work in real estate. You must keep swimming and learning!

Dip your toe in the water and take a swim!

Thanks,
Heather O
RosevilleAndRocklin.com: the Real Estate Marketing Gal