Being a blogger, I've always encountered the term micro-blogging. And maybe you too. The first time I learned what micro-blogging is, I instantly realized I was already doing it.
What Is Micro-Blogging?
Micro-blogging, as the name suggests, is blogging in the micro level. To make it clearer, it is sending brief text, photo, audio or video updates through the use of a variety of means. Mobile messaging, instant messaging, e-mail or simply the web are some of the means on micro-blogging. Some people actually term it "shout outs" or simply "updates". Take note that micro-blogging can also be spelled as microblogging (in the blogosphere) but not in the dictionary. Listed next are the most popular micro-blogging platforms.
Twitter is the number one micro-blogging site across the web. Well, that's what co-bloggers are also saying. Twitter is both a micro-blogging and social networking site. From Wikipedia, Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and, by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008, a fivefold increase in a month.
Twitter is simply great and useful not only for bloggers but for the whole world as well. News has taken a different course nowadays and Twitter is one of those. Twitter is also available in SMS for some countries which makes it easier to send tweets (Twitter updates). Twitter also has a Japanese version which is second most popular to the English version.
You can find me in Twitter!
Plurk
Plurk is one of Twitter's big competitors though right now, Twitter is far far away from Plurk's level already. Plurk works exactly like Twitter except that updates are not listed ordinarily but comes in a cool timeline. Your plurks (Plurk updates) can also be replied by co-Plurkers thus starting a thread or conversation. In my personal opinion, Plurk is for a network of close friends while Twitter is for a network of business peers or contacts. Twitter's air is sort of serious. In Plurk, I had fun with people.
You can find me in Plurk!
Jaiku
Jaiku is another micro-blogging and social networking site. It works exactly the same as Twitter but you can ONLY join Jaiku through an existing user's invite. You need to be invited to join the network. I can't say much about Jaiku for now as nobody invited me to join such network. And Jaiku is less heard than Plurk in my observation. I guess the invite-only scheme is non-user-friendly.
Other Micro-Blogging Sites
Indenti.ca - Identi.ca is an open source social networking and micro-blogging service that works like Twitter. Looking at the site, it really looks like Twitter's child. This is based on Laconica.
Facebook - Facebook is more of a social networking site but its 'What are you doing now' feature gives it the micro-blogging touch.
MySpace - Yes, like Facebook, MySpace has micro-blogging as a side dish through its "status updates" feature.
Friendster - Like the previous two, through its "shout outs".
LinkedIn - LinkedIn is a social networking/micro-blogging site made for businessmen and professionals.
XING - XING is a social software platform and is not well-known.
MXit - Mxit is a free instant messaging software app using 3G/GPRS mobile phones. This is used in South Africa.
Final Notes
Those are some of the many micro-blogging sites that are being used by bloggers and non-bloggers alike. Bloggers use it to gain and spread information as well as to gain traffic and exposure. Non-bloggers usually use it to get updated on things.
Micro-blogging is good. I see no huge negative effects in using it. Its potentials are wide ranged. But wide as it is, we must also know how to utilize the features and services in the right and most effective manner.
A micro-blogging site is like your blog's business partner.
Photo by whiteafrican - Microblogging, Location and Emergencies
To receive updates on new articles, Subscribe to BRYAN KARL dot COM today.
Don't forget to add me on Twitter!
10 comments:
Saturday, January 24, 2009 6:36:00 PM GMT+08:00
Micro blogging is really something that is between instant messaging and the usual email. I like the way how microblogging works and I know this will grow more huge in the future
Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:19:00 PM GMT+08:00
These Social Media sites are very important in building your site's traffic. Though, it still depends on the type of site you have.
If you have a blog that its sole purpose is to have it monetized, then it is not recommended to use the social media sites in building your traffic.
Else, if your blog is a blog that seeks discussion, then, social media is right for you. It will help you gain traffic and friends as well.
Nice post bryan!
Sunday, January 25, 2009 7:59:00 AM GMT+08:00
@Melvin,
I believe so too. What I usually see in micro-blogging are all shout outs, just like what you're thinking or doing in one moment in time.
@Jesse,
Of course dude. But monetization and social media can also go together depending on your chosen strategies. Thanks dude.
Monday, January 26, 2009 12:52:00 AM GMT+08:00
I was surprised at the success of this type of blogging. Twiiter became so popular. So fast. It was likely connected to two things: simplicity in a Internet that was becoming more complex with Web 2.0 and a lot more people are busy or using mobile phones for blogging. A one-line blog in quicker.
Monday, January 26, 2009 1:02:00 AM GMT+08:00
One of the things that I find so interesting about microblogging is how it connects to blogging and many other social media sites.
I explore as many social media sites as I can and last August, I created a map showing how they are connected for my online brand.
Stop by and take a look at my Social Media Map to get a sense at how interconnected this can all be.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 7:12:00 PM GMT+08:00
@Gennaro,
Talk about Twitter's success. And other micro-blogging sites followed suit.
@orient-lodge.com,
Sure, I'll be stopping by that link in a while. Cheers!
Thursday, April 9, 2009 1:34:00 PM GMT+08:00
At this time, I only use Twitter, Facebook, Friendster and Myspace. Thanks for the links to the other sites. YouSayToo also allows microblogging. Don't know much about the site yet but checking it out.
Sunday, April 12, 2009 5:55:00 PM GMT+08:00
Hi Daily Mezze!
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll probably check that out too.
Sunday, May 3, 2009 1:11:00 PM GMT+08:00
Pretty good run down of some of the emerging microblogging services out there. I think Laconica is particularly interesting. I recently launched a site using Laconica at biggestregrets.com as an experiment to compile regrets being posted to twitter.
I think there are a lot of interesting innovations that will be happening in this space.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:49:00 PM GMT+08:00
Here is another micor blogging site:
http://whisper.lvnre.com
It's a do-follow site.
Post a Comment