Why Recruiters should check out Twitter

Twitter falls under the categories of social-networking and micro-blogging.  I love my social networks and obviously can't get enough of blogging, so in theory, it ought to be right up my street.  However (like many people I hear from) it took me a while to "get it". 

How does it work?
It's nice and simple.  On Twitter you communicate to your network (and the general tweetosphere) via "tweets".  These tweets are text based posts of up to 140 characters (which can include URLs).  You can send them via the Twitter website or by SMS or Instant Messaging.  Your network is people who "follow" you.  You can also "follow" people (which just means you get to see their tweets). 

You can download an application like Twhirl (which was recommended to me by Matt Alder) so that new tweets pop up at the bottom corner of your screen.  I like that but I guess some people might find it distracting.   

Caroline Middlebrook (who has an interesting blog) has written the Big Juicy Twitter Guide - read that for a comprehensive overview and a list of other applications you can use with Twitter.

How to start

• Sign up to Twitter
• Follow me - I'll try to write some interesting stuff.
• You could also check out Matt Alder (he blogged about Twitter a month or so ago), James Parr and Peter Gold (fellow bloggers).  If you want to see who else I'm following you can view the list from my profile.
• Search for people you know, or who look interesting, to follow.  I am following about 25 people which seems plenty. I've just come across someone who is "following" 4660 people!
• Start to put out Tweets

Why is Twitter worth bothering with?
Loads of people love Twitter and they can't all be wrong, can they?!  At first I though using Twitter was like reading a feed of those (often too personal and self indulgent) Facebook status updates. Some people do post stuff like that.  However, many share interesting things they've read/heard, links to articles they've written, details of events they are going to, etc. Some people ask for referrals for vacancies they are handling, or suggestions on where to search.  Others are promoting their product/service/brand. 

Here are some examples of how Twitter has benefited me:

• Facilitating an introduction: I saw a tweet from Matt Alder saying he was preparing for a presentation at a conference.  Emma at Sky phoned me and mentioned she was going to a Barkers event the next day.  Matt is Head of Digital at Barkers, therefore, it was probably his conference. I suggested Emma hook up with Matt at the conference.  If I'd not seen his tweet I'd not have been able to make that introduction (hopefully for the mutual benefit of them both).
• Creating content:  Matt then made a comment on Twitter about his presentation and I asked him (via Twitter) if he'd do an article for the newsletter.  This way you'll all benefit from the great presentation Emma said he gave. 
• Keeping up to date:  I don't use RSS feeds to read blogs because I follow them on our UK Blog Watch page.  However, I haven't yet added the superb US recruitment bloggers and as a result I sometimes miss their posts.  Now that I'm following Jim Stroud and Jason Alba on Twitter I don't need to worry as I get the latest news from them as it happens.
• Inspiration and motivation: What can I say..... if you follow successful people on Twitter then you will benefit from their wisdom

Get tweeting at Twitter (and let me know how you get on)

Comments

[Andy Headworth]

Fantastic article Louise! I have just had Peter (Gold) been banging on to me about how good Twitter is this morning, and then this post arrives!! So on the basis that it was a sign, I have now joined the ranks of Twitter to experience it for myself!!

Andy

[Louise Triance]

Andy

Glad I've tempted you. Look forward to seeing you over there.

Regards, Louise
PS, I'm sure Peter would be pleased to hear you describing him as "banging on"!

[Louise Triance]

http://twitter.com/Infosourcer has put me onto (via Twitter) a video Tutorial on how recruiters and sourcers can use Twitter.

http://www.recruitingblogs.com/video/video/show?id=502551:Video:109137