Why is Twitter Exploding? Because it's A Conversation Ecosystem.

Lot's of chatter happening round the blogosphere regarding Twitter, between Forrester's Peter Kim and Jeremiah (also of Forrester).  I've described Twitter as a "conversation ecosystem" in places like BusinessWeek and Markekting Profs because of the way it works with multiple touch points.  I've tried to explain Twitter visually:

I've speculated that Advertising could rear it's ugly head (it didn't—not as I thought it might)

And I've even called it the Crocs of the Web...

But I've ended up here:  Explaining Twitter is an act in futility unless the person you explain it to understands the intricacies of social networks (saying conversation ecosystem is a bit abstract to someone not participating in online conversations).  But, then it's up to them to investigate it to see if there is a business or personal application.  Personally, Twitter works for me + so does participation.  If you want to see how I use Twitter—here I am.

Comments

[Andy Kaufman]

I like the term "conversation ecosystem". I think it gets at why twitter resonates with so many people.

I'm still in the camp that believes that one of the reasons that Twitter is so useful is that it's a virtually spam free communication channel. Since I need to opt-in to follow a certain user, I can easily un-follow if I'm not getting value from their updates.

--Andy
http://twitter.com/andykaufman

[Charlie Anzman]

Valuable marketing vehicle as well as important networking tool at this stage. While others continue to push Mixx, the real 'action' is still at Twitter.

[Jason Falls]

Great post, David. As someone who has integrated Twitter into a platform for a brand, I can tell you we were careful not to cross your celebrity use-abuse continuim. There will be advertisers and marketers who don't learn the rules before they play. Fortunately, Twitter is an opt-in, opt-out playground. If they don't play by the rules, they'll get burned.

[Mark]

I've got to try to "get" Twitter (again). I get Tumblr, Twitter never did anything for me...

[alisa]

yes! i've been touting this for months now trying to get my colleagues on board...

http://alisaleonard.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-i-learned-from-twitter-this-week.html

[Eric]

This is a great post - not that you need the encouragement but sometimes its nice to hear a post stands out as good enough to garner some comments. I am on the twitter bandwagon again but always find reading everyones notes are great to keep in touch vs. writing my own. I have to generate discussion points vs. updates which I think is key to getting a response and truly making it a two way communication.

[Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten]

I had a few friends over for dinner and one asked 'What is Twitter??" and I started explaining. After a few seconds my girlfriend chipped in and said 'It's microblogging'. Blank stares. So I said 'It is basically chat with a lot of people and all the time. More blank stares. I gave up.

Now I read this and will forward it to everybody at the table! Hope that will help.

Sidenote: I came up with the idea for TwitterMail (and my friends build it for me) which means Twitter can follow you around and you can update via mail. Check it out on Twittermail.com

[Handsome Logic]

Good article, good companrisons. I'll be interested to see, however, if a Twitter traffic graph next year looks like the 1 year stock graph for CROX

http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:CROX

[Handsome Logic]

Good article, good comparisons. I'll be interested to see, however, if a Twitter traffic graph next year looks like the 1 year stock graph for CROX

http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:CROX

[Torley]

Cool to see the Second Life BlogHUD picture (by Koz Farina) as #7! Ordinal Malaprop's also created a TwitterSL gateway @ http://ordinalmalaprop.com/twitter/

[Michael Broukhim]

Very interesting...Fred Wilson wrote a post looking for a way to name tools like Twitter thinking 'Social Publishing'...I think conversation ecosystem works well...

Over at my site, Why08.org (would love to hear what you all think), we're trying to create a Twitter like conversation experience, all centered around the 2008 elections...with a lot more to follow...I think there's a lot of potential in finding outlets for users to create content that aren't as intimidating as starting a blog. Great post.

[Gavin Heaton]

I dont think I have seen so many links in one of your posts before!

Do you still think Twitter is growing? It seems to be going through a round of consolidation -- more of us connecting and following etc. Next phase will see the shedding of followers. Then I am guessing we will see more widespread level of adoption. That's if it makes it that far ;)

Nice visuals, my friend. Are you putting them on your Fan page?

[Brij]

Great post David.

Had many frustrating moments explaining to folks where twitter might be useful.

"Conversation ecosystem" is the right way to capture it.

[PJ Brunet]

If it's not worth blogging, it's not worth a Twitter.

[Gavin Heaton]

Hmmm ... and how does Jeremiah's effort affect my question? Perhaps it just accelerates the overall process.

[Martín Parselis]

"Conversation ecosystem" sounds good. May be it can be comparated with the, I suggest, the "broadcast ecosystem" as an opposite communication model.

[KMTO]

I love the term "Conversation ecosystem" - even if for me thats what the whole Web 2.0 thing is about. Michael

[Chris Brogan...]

Your use of graphics just knocks the skin off the ball. I love your Crocs comparison. Top shelf stuff. But then, your posts are always deep into the "makes me think" category. Rock on.

[Paula Thornton]

"I've speculated that Advertising could rear it's ugly head (it didn't—not as I thought it might)"

Those who are 'smart' enough to leverage this technology are doing so in reverse. Top account: BarackObama. They're following 15,346 accounts. Guaranteed they're analyzing all of that data.
[http://www.twitterholic.com/]

I mentioned a yogurt and soon was being followed by a cow [would post the reference but I'm currently under a twitter virus sieze and can't get to the site without accepting a virus, sigh]

Then there's total paranoia. Why would a guy who's interested in UFOs be following 30,909 people?

[Susi]

There was a decent attempt at explaining Twitter through video by these guys: http://commoncraft.com/
They make simple video explanations for clients who have a service that goes over the head of those not on the internet 24 hours a day. Poor things.

[Twila Marie]

Great post!

[Scott]

Per your comments re: celebrity/pr... as a radio DJ, I am shocked, shocked that more smaller bands don't use this as a promo tool. First ones in the pool will reap some rewards, probably.

[Alex Cone]

Ummm - that is "Lots" not "Lot's". Arguments are more persuasive if they don't start with a mistake...

[David Armano]

Alex,

Thanks for pointing out the typo. Any thoughts on the actual content?

[Jack ( twitter marketing ) Sinclair]

I was just in a shoe shop looking at buying some crocs (my first pair!) and was thinking about how you can buy these things in virtually every country now...just like you can twitter from pretty much anything, anywhere nowadays.

Filtering and connecting the conversations is really key now, especially with all the rss bots autoposting the world's content to twitter.