Twitter - Just enough geek and plenty of cheek . . .
After reading a short post by Jason Theodor (thanks to @AnnaTarkov for sharing) on Twitter syntax, it got me thinking how Twitter got the combination just about right with the development of the application.
It's simple, 140 characters to get your message right and then click send.
But, it's more than that, after describing some of the finer points of Twitter syntax to several friends over the last few months, it got me thinking about some of the other elements on the interface.
Not only does Twitter have a simple web presence for users to send and receive messages, and dozens of mashup apps if you're not happy with the standard site interface, but it also has its very small syntax unique to Twitter.
What could be better for geek appeal than a few simple "command line" commands for getting the geek excited!
The addition of the RT, @, #, NUDGE etc . . . are great ways of initiating the additional functionality that Twitter offers.
What are now second nature to use, these little commands add an element of "know-how" to Twitter, than can give an air exclusivity for someone that's new to the interface.
But, after only short period of use, people are using the commands themselves without a second thought.
Mix this with some URL shortening, Google ranking (now happening), global networking and the whole host of apps I mentioned earlier and you've made a perfect little app that couldn't appeal any more to the tech'd up generation.
Maybe I'm over emphasising the importance of the Twitter commands in its success, but I think they are a commonly forgotten about element of the raging success of the platform.
Thanks to Jason for the original post!
Related articles:
Jason Theodor - Tweetsheet - http://jasontheodor.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/tweet_sheet.pdf
It's simple, 140 characters to get your message right and then click send.
But, it's more than that, after describing some of the finer points of Twitter syntax to several friends over the last few months, it got me thinking about some of the other elements on the interface.
Not only does Twitter have a simple web presence for users to send and receive messages, and dozens of mashup apps if you're not happy with the standard site interface, but it also has its very small syntax unique to Twitter.
What could be better for geek appeal than a few simple "command line" commands for getting the geek excited!
The addition of the RT, @, #, NUDGE etc . . . are great ways of initiating the additional functionality that Twitter offers.
What are now second nature to use, these little commands add an element of "know-how" to Twitter, than can give an air exclusivity for someone that's new to the interface.
But, after only short period of use, people are using the commands themselves without a second thought.
Mix this with some URL shortening, Google ranking (now happening), global networking and the whole host of apps I mentioned earlier and you've made a perfect little app that couldn't appeal any more to the tech'd up generation.
Maybe I'm over emphasising the importance of the Twitter commands in its success, but I think they are a commonly forgotten about element of the raging success of the platform.
Thanks to Jason for the original post!
Related articles:
Jason Theodor - Tweetsheet - http://jasontheodor.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/tweet_sheet.pdf
Labels: social media, social media marketing, Social networking, Twitter, Web 2.0
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posted by Ed Richardson at
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