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By Ethan Stanislawski of Prefix. Follow him @tynansanger.
As a music blogger, it would seem preposterous if I didn’t address Michael Jackson’s death in some way on June 25. As soon as I heard he was in the hospital, I knew it would dominate TwiTrends all day, not to mention the blogosphere, all major news sites, and CNN. Once Michael Jackson’s death was confirmed, I knew that it would go on for weeks. And yet, I stayed off Twitter that day because, well, I really had nothing to say about the matter that could ever be considered original.
Though I like just about everyone else had heard Michael Jackson’s music constantly throughout my lifetime, I was never that much of a fan of his music. I don’t even own any of his albums in any format. Ultimately, there was nothing I could say on Twitter about the news that would appeal to me, or, ultimately, my followers.
Of course, if I ran a music website that depended on traffic to make a profit; I would have had to address Michael Jackson, probably in as many ways as I could. In fact, every music site I have ever written for addressed Michael Jackson in more than just one post.
Personally, however, I make no money off twitter, and generally use it when an interesting discussion on music emerges to which I can make a significant contribution. Those who follow me for my tweets about music generally are interested in music that leans towards indie rock, though I certainly don’t limit myself to that. Nonetheless, if anyone was looking for me to tweet about music on that day, they would inevitably expect me to tweet about Michael Jackson, and I don’t blame them. If I let them down, however, I would lose more followers than I would gain.
To me, Twitter provides the flexibility in developing a conversation among likeminded people more than any other social media platform. I have followers who follow me for several different reasons, as I can post about things on Twitter I never could on any other platform. The problem many active Tweeters face is to get carried away with chasing trendy topics that produce little reward for the time and energy put into them. The important thing is not only to know what people follow you for, but do so while looking deeper than general categories (music, sports, restaurants in Brooklyn). The important thing is to develop a voice, and not belittle your followers by pretending to know about something you don’t in 140 characters or less. There isn’t enough time in the day.
Update: I’d like to request that folks keep the comments a part of the real topic here, which is NOT Michael Jackson’s life, his presumed guilt or innocence, or anything else… it’s about your niche on Twitter as a user, and how you use it. My choosing to publish this guest post when it was submitted was NOT to give people a forum for bashing each other about what their feelings are about Michael Jackson. Please let’s stick to the topic? Thank you. – Lara
@bjmendelson
Hmm.
I don’t think it’s belittling to touch on things the folks following you are talking about, whether you know a lot or not. That seems to defeat the purpose of getting involved in a conversation and learning, which is what brings many people to Twitter in the first place.
The other thing is, if you focus too much on talking to just like-minded people, you develop an echochamber. Then, you’re pretty much talking to yourself.
@VickiZLauter
I didn’t tweet about it; I get “the magic” but I just didn’t join the conversation
@wakish
Only one rule: “don’t say anything when you feel you have nothing to say”. Say it live and aloud when you are motivated about it and you know you are in it somehow (and want to voice your angles).
- Wakish -
@berget
I’m not sure if I agree with you, even though I certainly understand why you did what you did and it might be the right choice.
I addressed the death of Michael Jackson, and I am not a music blogger (I love music though). I did it because I was both surprised and a little upset by the news.
My problem is that I don’t have developed a voice when it comes to Twitter. I tweet mostly about Internet marketing, but sometimes I tweet about completely different topics. I am impulsive, and don’t have a strategy when it comes to Twitter other than to have fun, communicate and make friend.
I think that, if you had any feelings towards the death of MJ, you should have addressed it. But that’s just me
@sorenbreiting
Thanks Ethan, I agree very much with your point: ‘The problem many active Tweeters face is to get carried away with chasing trendy topics that produce little reward for the time and energy put into them.”
To be a smart and genuine Twitter you have to develop your own style and following – not to follow everything else, like Michael Jackson’s dead. As a birder I often see similarities with some people and scavengers like the vultures that jump over every newly dead to harvest from that. – The worst is when I see people jumping over cases and people who are only on the way down. Others cling to people on the way up – it isn’t that disgusting but it isn’t that original either.
@ChrisClayton
‘The problem many active Tweeters face is to get carried away with chasing trendy topics that produce little reward for the time and energy put into them.”
the question that should go with that sentence is… “Do all active twitter users tweet for the reward?” and “what do you consider an award?”
i did tweet about it… twice – not for the ‘reward’ or anything but because i love music and im a fan of MJ. – Once was a retweet to a post featuring videos from mashable.com (most of my followers arnt following mashable, yes i do check with custom tools ive designed). Second was my thoughts about MJ.
that day, i got more followers than usual. – a big reward?
The effort? how long does it take to RT someone? not much effort.
My result was actually the opposite than yours… my action was too…
maybe you should try it next time instead of making a guess if something works or not.