Comments on: Whenever Twitter Closes a Door, Google Opens a Window

By: Going Next Door for a Drink — Hidden Business Treasures

Going Next Door for a Drink — Hidden Business Treasures — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:42:23 +0000

[...] wrote on here recently that we couldn’t find a way to search Twitter – on Twitter (Whenever Twitter Closes a Door, Google Opens a Window). Turns out we were right. You have to go next door for your Twitter search. Dumb, [...]

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:54:08 +0000

Hi Cathy,

Wow, thanks for the web savvy feedback – and for taking the time to clarify things.

But, don’t you think it’s symptomatic of technology inability to see the forest for the trees not to have a button on Twitter that links to search.twitter.com?

No freaking wonder that average people have such a hard time with technology.

By: CathyWebSavvyPR

CathyWebSavvyPR — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:04:05 +0000

There are two twitter search locations. The part of Twitter search that has been down (and that I think was being referred to) is when you select “find people” at the top of your twitter page, then select the third tab over, “Search,” to search by name.

This is what’s been down. And it hurts Newbies on Twitter, because, surprise, http://search.twitter.com exists, but is not linked to from the actual twitter page. So if you are new to twitter, you don’t know that you can go to the link above and can use it to find and follow people.

To Do so, you type it into your browser (bookmark for later use), then type either the name of the person you want to find, or their twitter username @cathywebsavvypr, and it finds that person’s tweets, or where people have tweeted about them. You click the @SymbolUserName, and it takes you to their page – where you can select follow, or not.

You can also click on someone’s @username, (say someone who attended the conference, see who they follow, and follow them from there. That’s how I followed folks recently after a conference.

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:38:17 +0000

Thanks Rob,

Great suggestions – and we’re more open minded than we like people to think. But, kinda’ my point entirely – wouldn’t you think Twitter search would be on the links that say things like “Find People,” “Are Your Friends On Twitter” and “Search?”

ARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:48:47 +0000

Oh, and one other thing – Twitter search is actually at:

http://search.twitter.com

I don’t know that twitter does a good job letting their new users know that. There are some ways that Twitter search is better than Google – perhaps we could chat about that at defrag as well

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:44:04 +0000

Let’s talk about this again after the conference — I suspect you may change your mind about Twitter’s utility And Gina’s suggestion is dead on – don’t follow boring, stupid people. You should only follow people you know and smart people you respect. Otherwise, it just becomes noise. One exception – during defrag (and not after), try following @defrag08 and you’ll get a stream of the entire group conversation at the conference. I think you might find that interesting.

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:50:41 +0000

Thanks Gina,

See, I knew you would brighten my increasingly darkening view of too many new technologies. We need you to balance our life – and heck, I kinda’ liked the Tweets about your kids soccer games and the skunk.

Yes, and we may even have to get out of those island waters off the coast of Second Life and crawl to land. We try not to get too far ahead of our audience – or our learning curve.

By: Gina Schreck

Gina Schreck — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:36:29 +0000

You guys always make me smile (and sometimes laugh out loud!) Give it Twitter some time and tweak who you follow–some just blather on and on about their kid’s soccer games or their dogs getting sprayed by a skunk…oh wait that was me! You stop following idiots and you find new folks who have something interesting and SHORT to say. I have dedicated 30 minutes a day to scanning (and I do mean scanning) my Twitter page to see who has something of value to read. I learn about the latest technologies, the latest conferences, and even get a client along the way!

Twitter is about building relationships so it does take time do develop a following (or fan base). The search feature has been down for about a WEEK! COme on Twitter get on this! But this is a great feature when it is working. There has been a 400% growth in the number of people who are now on Twitter, and yet, like you so eloquently put it Michael (Perhaps you should be a professional speaker) “Normal People” are still not there…but then again thier still not in Second Life and that is another story all together!

There are realationships to be built and business to be had for those who are willing to explore! Let’s get our Golden Compasses out and set sail!

Gina (Here’s a shameless plug–watch my Gettin’ Geeky Show where I share tech tips and fun aps in 5 to 10 min videos– http://www.Gettingeeky.blip.tv )