Fascinating article and certainly something that needs to be looked into further.

I've seen a report on the friend/follower thing that I have uploaded to DropBox: (https://dl-web.getdropbox.com/get/Twitter/twitter.pdf?w=cebeeea3). It comes out of HP Labs. It's a decent explanation of the concepts but I think it misses a few tricks. So for example it doesn't address the issue of loose ties being formed and reformed, nor does it address the issue of ambient intimacy that is critical in these scenarios.

So, beyond “Twittersourcing” which does seem to imply a certain volume to get a comprehensive result, even a modest number of followers can be a huge asset, as you say, in a focused area. I’m really looking forward to seeing these folks in person at the next trade show because as opposed to pre-Twitter, we’ve really built up the relationship virtually in between the in-person events. That should make the in-person conversations much more powerful as so much context has arleady been established – all through a certain kind of intimacy that can only be achieved through this kind of daily exchange.

I guess Dennis I do owe you a cold one, the first time I really gave Twitter more than a dismissive thought was during a webcast replay where I heard you talk about your own skepticism about Twitter and how it had been turned around. Perhaps your latest entry will inspire others to give it a second look.

- Jon -

But you’ve done that to me before Dennis

Richard

With ESME, we have built 2 specific use cases and are working on others. That's really the only way to help managements understand the value proposition. But I would locate that in the idea that work can be fun. In that I see huge rewards. Check Euan Semple when he talks about making people's lives better. He advises some really large organizations.

If you can come up with a use case then we can certainly talk about how that gets articulated. As you might imagine, we have a lot to think about going forward, especially as we're trying to ensure ESME is located in the notion of business process.

I don’t know if the underlying implications of a service like Twitter (and the ever-growing Search pool) have yet been plumbed and fully realized. Traditional search (text on servers) and Search.Twitter (direct human input & exchange) produce vastly different results. Twitter is opening a new door to an old house.

We have gotten so accustomed to the traditional portal to the web (browsers and search engines that algorithmically crawl text on servers) that we’ve sort of forgotten that “brain search” is where it’s been all along. Twitter (with a 140 character limit and a simple tiny url) provides the server-bypassing mechanics needed for brain-to-brain connection and search.

Twitter changes the game I think. Enterprises tend to look at Twitter and see frivolity (Twitter is frivolous, and therein lies its infectivity). If enterprises understood the vast and almost hidden implications of the simple mechanics of Twitter, I think it wouldn’t be long before they would see the value.

A lot of the Kool Aide crowd who touts Twitter and other Social Media don’t understand the deeper and larger problems facing enterprises. They tend to ridicule the “suits” who “obsess over that ROI thingy” and pen endless ramblings that seek to explain it away as if we’re all complete morons. This crowd is probably compounding the confusion that the “suites” might be having. (I don’t blame them in a way.)

I’ll kiss your ass Dennis and say that it’s good to have someone with your experience to “get Twitter” (a condescension btw) – not in a faddish and trial sense, but in the potential you outlined in your post (although I’m sure many of your followers enjoy the occasional splurge of sardonic humor among your tweets).

‘Social Media’ needs to grow up. Enterprise, if it uses its brain well, may be the agent for needed change.

BTW: Are you aware of any Health Care suits interested in something like ESME? There’s a HUGE opportunity for such clients in that industry. Huge. Just a thought.

Phil

Cheers.

Since we operate in tightly defined niches, we will not necessarily garner large numbers but I do believe that we’ll attract the most ‘edge’ types – ie the most advanced thinkers. That of itself is a massive advantage over others trying to do the same thing by other means. IMO.

- Jon -