I'm new to Twitter. Like you, I couldn't understand it's purpose, but it was recommended that I learn how to tweet in order to make myself more current during a job hunt. Then, I started using Twitter. Wow...the value is it's flexibility. I can use it in so many different ways. I should note, I don't tweet personal info or tweet with any friends. My tweets help me create a professional online persona for my job search, customize and organize (through lists) valuable online resources (much like a digitial recipe card box), connect with the ideas of innovators and newsmakers in areas of interest specific to me. The list goes on and on...The imposed brevity of a tweet is also a plus for busy professionals trying to share, market or search for unique ideas. I'm a converted skeptic of Twitter. I look forward to hearing the thoughts of others on this topic. Regards, "katmeis" on Twitter
Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
81–90 of 90 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#82I only read this interesting discussion because I clicked a link from Twitter.
Enough said.
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#83Because magic like TwitterArt #140Art happens, day in, day out.
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#84Because of #140ART #TWITTERART of course.
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#85Twitter succeeded because of the words people use on twitter the focus is like a laser when it comes to particulars. People choose to stay part of twitter and not just pull away from it what strikes them as meaningful as well. It shows that we all share a sense a communal culture that is not so selfish as to use the information and leave but it draws us to share how it affects us openly and efficiently.
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#86Twitter was in a position to succeed because they had the right timing. But twitter ultimately succeeded because of the cute factor of their name. It was fun to say and to coin variations of its predicate into other verbs. The segment of our population that doesn't understand twitter, by default, tend to make fun of it's narcissistic uselessness — and twitter was a name that already poked fun at itself; it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. Because of that, it was able to build a loyalty.
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#87Three things, which is the same thing, behind twitters success: Constant Updates of your so called "friends", our preoccupation with - what other people are saying, and getting news that relate to us - who is following me now? did anybody re-tweet my tweet etc.....
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#881. Twitter is RSS for the rest of us. To subscribe, you just click. No worries about which feedreader to use, no need for multiple feedreaders, no copy/paste of URLs.
2. Twitter is completely opt in.
3. Twitter got its timing right: People have very short attention spans and want immediate gratification. We have become a world of scanners (not readers).
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#89Twitter enables a call to action in real time during crisis. It establishes an open,and global community, unlike facebook. On twitter you interact with people who stimulate and share common interests, and, at least, common motivation to see & learn more than what's in front of them.
Twitter succeeded when Wave did not; one, because it already established credibility and users already built a follow base they most likely didn't want to lose. Also, like Coca Cola, McDonalds, FedEx - they were the first, and established a new standard and brand loyalty.
Even William actually states that twitter began organically; he had no idea it would grow into what it is now. You can see him present here at a TED conference: Twitter Founder Evan Williams at TED 09 Video http://ow.ly/2svVE Great presentation!
Hope my 2 cents helped! :) esta
Re: Ask HN: Why did Twitter succeed?
#90From: http://ycombinator.com/rfs3.html Twitter is important because it’s a new protocol. Fundamentally it’s a messaging protocol where you don’t specify the recipients. It’s really more of a discovery than an invention; that square was always there in the periodic table of protocols, but no one had quite hit it squarely. We could try to draw a small excerpt of this 'periodic table': LONG SHORT ONE:ONE email im/sms ON…
Equality and Access are two important factors behind Twitter success. Unlike Facebook and other social networking platform, I do not need permission from a celebrity to add him as friend, before I can send him message. It also doesn't stop me in following anybody. Without that permission, everyone is at same level. So reiterate, Equality and Access are two important factors behind Twitter success apart from some other points discussed here.