Micro-Blogging … What on Earth?
There is no doubt in anyones mind that the blogging and social networking scenes have taken the internet by storm and they are here to stay. Sites like MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn are no longer childish pastimes to keep your kids connected to their friends or the hottest friday night party.
Photographers are finally realizing the sheer marketing power that blogging and social networking can have on their businesses. If you don’t believe me just take a trip over to our friend Jasmine Stars Blog www.jasminestarblog.com and take a look at the AWESOME community of photographers, fans and clients that she has managed to pull together in her own little corner of cyberspace.
So you have reluctantly come to grips with running your own blog and MySpace page when along comes a new technology calling itself Micro-blogging. You are probably asking yourself what on God’s Green Earth is Mirco-blogging and where is this all going to stop.
Defined by Wikipedia Micro-blogging is a form of blogging that allows users to write brief text updates (usually 140 characters) and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, email, MP3 or the web.
So why do you need to Micro-blog? Truthfully you don’t, however building communities on the more popular Micro-blogging sites such as Twitter and Pownce will allow you to post brief messages making followers aware of a new Blog Post or new images on your website etc… Micro-Blogging is just another tool in the war to drive web surfers to your blog or website, because afterall isn’t EXPOSURE what it’s all about.
Setting up accounts on both Twitter and Pownce literally take 5 minutes, both have iPhone apps that allow you to Micro-blog from your iphone making it even easier to keep up to date. I myself have even set up accounts on both systems as a way to help create more awareness of PhotographersHandbook.com.
So if you are an active blogger who blogs everyday about everything or a photographer that feels they just don’t have enough to say to keep a blog interesting, Micro-Blogging might just the technology you are looking for. Remember, Micro-Blog posts are typically under 140 words making it incredibly easy to keep up to date. ie: Check out my new blog post on Micro-Blogging at PhotographersHandbook.com.
What have you go to lose, give it a shot. Make sure to follow me on both my Twitter and Pownce pages and i’ll be happy to reciprocate.
On Twitter you can find me at: http://www.twitter.com/crismitchell
On Pownce you can find me at http://www.pownce.com/crismitchell
As aways if you have further questions on Micro-Blogging or any other internet related topics feel free to comment here or in the Photographers Handbook Forum at ProPhotoResource.com
