Something has become very apparent to me over the last couple of months while using Twitter. It’s very valuable. While web sites and RSS feeds give us much of what we want, there is nothing like hearing news from someone standing next to you. It's more personal, more direct, and you tend to be gripped by it. This is what Twitter brings to the table. Granted, some people just don’t get it, but this is the same with all new thinking; you have to give it a chance.

Personal Live News

Is exactly what twitter brings you. My job is writing computer software. It's a constantly changing landscape, and if you want to remain employable in my profession, you have to make sure that you are keeping up with the latest trends in the industry. All of the people I follow are in the same profession as me. It may not sound very exciting or very social, but it is. Myself, and my fellow tweeter's are all in the same game, and as such, all of the information we share is related. A direct consequence of this is, that someone may tweet something that I have never heard of with a link. I can click that link and be taken to the article they were reading on the web. The effect; I learn about something I didn’t know, and I didn’t have to search for it. The news came from someone with similar vested interests as me and as a result, is valuable.

My top tip for using twitter: Try to connect with people in the same group as you. Whatever your group may be, I can guarantee  there are people on Twitter that like what you like and you may just get something valuable out of it.