Top 10 Twitter conversationalists - What’s their motive?
March 25th, 2008 by Andy Merchant
In my early morning RSS feed check I came across the Top 100 > Tweeterboard : Conversation Analytics for Twitter
As a consultant working within social media, i like to know who’s hot and who’s not, so when i looked at the list i was not surprised to see the usual suspects in there.
Then i asked myself why are these individuals at the top of the list and participating so heavily? Is it because they have some sort of social media relationship or vested interest, or are they just promoting themselves?
Or is it simply because they got on board early and have become authoritarians in a relatively new trend?
Top ten Twitter conversationalists: (scroll down to see my analysis on their relationship with the social media sector…)
Scobleizer
Location Half Moon Bay
Bio Tech geek blogger @ http://scobleizer.com
Name missrogue
Location
Bio handing out whuffie like it’s growin’ on trees
Name Chris Brogan
Location
Bio Social media type guy, passionate about communities
loiclemeur
Name Loic Le Meur
Location
Bio dreamy
Name Guy Kawasaki
Location United 2A Web http://twitter.alltop.com/
Bio Alltop, Garage, and Truemors
Name Wayne Sutton
Location
Bio New/Social Media Technology Evangelist, IT & Mobile Consultant
Name Mignon Fogarty
Location
Bio Podcaster, writer, fearless leader of the Quick and Dirty Tips network
shareski
Name Dean Shareski
Location
Bio likes soup and just got a haircut
jowyang
Name Jeremiah
Location
Bio Web Strategist | Currently employed as Senior Analyst, Social Computing, Forrester Research | How I use Twitter http://tinyurl.com/24lv65
Name OffBeatMammal
Location Redmond (WA) Web http://blog.offbeatmammal.com
Bio Englishman with an Australian accent living in the NW USA
Their connection with social media:
One look at the supporting biogs tells us that Scobleizer, Chris Brogan, Guy Kawasaki, Wayne Sutton, GrammarGirl, loiclemeur and jowyang are all well-known social media figures and have definite and obvious links within social media.
But what of missrogue, shareski, and OffBeatMammal? Names I hadn’t come across before.
missrouge
“I specialize in community marketing, which isn’t ‘building communities’, but rather, delighting and enchanting those people already part of your community - through product, communication and experience.”
shareski
“I specialise in the use of technology in the classroom. I hold a Masters of Education in Communications and Technology through the University of Saskatchewan. I also am a sessional lecturer for the University of Regina. I consider myself a digital learning specialist.
OffBeatMammal
“My blog Covers technology, toys and things that grab my attention. I’m a web developer (ASP and SQL) by trade and that tends to influence my outlook on life.”
My analysis:
The results are pretty conclusive…the people who converse within Twitter and are all at the top of the table in their chosen field, are indeed very clever technology and web 2.0-savvy people. Most have their fingers in the social media pie in some shape or form!
Some questions for you to think about:
Do they have a vested interest in being seen as top social media communicators? Or are they just spreading the love?
Why arent there many non-technology people conversing on Twitter and do they even know what Twitter is?
And are they using Twitter correctly or is Twitter just fast becoming a self-promotional tool called Twitpromo ?
-I’m just asking the questions, it’s up to you to decide!
Let me know your thoughts…
Tags: , liberate media, social media relationship, top 10, twitter
March 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I’m surprised brian wallace (nowsourcing) wasn’t in the list
Nice post though
March 26th, 2008 at 1:58 am
@missrogue is also known as Tara Hunt, who writes HorsePigCow, and does lots of citizen-focused stuff.
My motive? Meeting and connecting with great people. : )
March 26th, 2008 at 7:04 am
I embarrass myself with my rather flippant bio on twitter. That simply reflects the way I perceived this tool when I began using it over a year ago. I thought it was stupid and useless as do many. The tipping point for me occurred about 3 months after use.
I’m amazed that this simple, often unreliable tool is used is so many ways to for so many purposes.
For me, it’s the perfect mix of groups and networks. Groups being those you have closer, more direct ties and networks being broader and more diverse.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Thanks for the comment Dean, I have to agree - a lot of people I know signed up for Twitter, gave up on it then returned a few months later to realise what a great tool it is.