I’m a big Twitter advocate. It has plenty of benefits, and chief among them is keeping me connected to my online network. Justin Kownacki and Laura Fitton agree.
But when I’m not careful, Twitter can also take me away from important work that I need to get done. With that in mind, I posed the following question to my Twitter followers:
How do you stay engaged on Twitter without allowing it to become a huge distraction/time suck?
Here are their responses — in chronological and not reverse chronological order:
- pyyhkala @Bryper I don’t know. There are pages and pages of posts now even if gone for say 10 hours or less. Maybe @chrisbrogan knows.
- mrsb @bryper: by using twitbin, not going back to see everything I missed and just popping on the regular page to ck 4 @ and DMs
- randelaw @bryper: it’s like IM - you need to use it strategically. Also, only follow links if you have the time - that’s the real time waster for me
- connieblogger @Bryper I read twitter to/from work on my blackberry. Otherwise, periodically as a break from other work. I close it down otherwise, do …
- prblog @Bryper - only do it web-based and check it a couple of times a day (like you’re supposed to with email). that’s my secret.
- jangles @bryper, the only way, Brian, is not to be here all the time. Only check in from time to time, unless you’re in a deep conversation.
- DougH @bryper I use desktop app (Twitteroo), but turn it off if I need to shut down. I often find the discussion connects me to my work, though
- jangles @bryper, and web only (as Kevin noted). Also no SMS from phone. Keep control!
- DougH @bryper - also, as a diversion/break/procrastination aid, Twitter, is far more productive than solitaire
- danieljohnsonjr @Bryper I subscribe to the RSS feed for my friends timeline and then check in periodically.
- kamichat @bryper Twitter is like a stream, you dip in and out as you can and subscribe to your @
- LenEdgerly @Bryper - Taking a day off Twitter (and email) a week helps me stay focused on other work, but now, instead of working on podcast, I’m here!
- SteveCasbeer @bryper Great question! Twitter has some good nuggets, but the cost to catch those seems high in terms of distraction/time suck.
- SteveCasbeer @bryper I’m curious to see what tips to minimize “twitter-drain” people have.
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