Twitter Needs an Elevator Pitch
Now that I’m using Twitter, I’m having the damnedest time explaining it to anyone else. When I describe it, I always get blank stares followed by “I don’t get it.” What I need is a short description (Tweet length of less) that describes the real value of Twitter. This seems so easy for other technology:
- Email - send letters and messages around the world, instantaneously, and for free
- Instant Messaging - real time online conversations
- SMS - send a short message to any cell phone owner without worrying about where they are, what they’re doing, or if you are interrupting them
- Facebook - easily keep track of old and new friends
- Hulu - quality TV online when I want it
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. What do I say for Twitter? “like SMS but mass broadcast?” “short conversations with anyone?” “status updates for all your friends?” “like a chat room on the web?” I’m drawing a blank, but any ideas would help. How do I pitch Twitter to a non-user?
Constantly share what you are doing with your friends and family, through the usage of a computer or a mobile device.
Or simply:
The blending of constantly maintained blog and sms. Short and ever updated.
Ok, so it’s not some convenient soundbyte, but it gets the job done and it’s relatively short:
http://www.commoncraft.com/Twitter
commoncraft also has similar videos on other potentially confusing techy topics, like wikis.