I have this conversation often:

Me: “Are you on Twitter?”

Them: “No; I’m already on Facebook”

Every time I have this conversation an angel gets it’s wings…clipped.

It does go the other way…although less often. There are Twitter users who are above using such blue collar social networks like Facebook.

Truth is, when done right, Facebook and Twitter are very different spaces and it is my opinion that if you want to rock at social media you need both.

I’ve shared this analogy with a lot of people and even mentioned it in a post or two.

Twitter is your coffee shop

At the coffee shop you connect with both people you know already and people you don’t know in a public space.

Twitter is quite the same. You will most likely initially connect with people you already know and then be introduced to people you don’t know and eventually make your own connections.

Twitter works best when you are open to meeting people you don’t know and connecting. This will be the biggest hurdle for people who have been on Facebook for a long time before getting on Twitter. Truth is, if you’re not willing to meet people and network, Twitter will not click and you’ll give up.

Quick tips for Facebook-ers moving to Twitter

• Do: Follow people you don’t know
• Don’t: Post pictures of your kids in the bath tub
• Do: Engage in conversations
• Don’t: Just be a broadcaster

Facebook is your living room

Your living room is for people you already know. Sometimes the people you know will bring people you ‘kinda’ know to your living room but for the most part it is people you know that come over to your house. Not everything that happens in your living room should be made public and most of the conversation that happens there is only interesting to people who know you.

Facebook is at it’s best when you share content and interact with people you know. People who use it as a networking space tend to come off as spammers and get ignored.

Quick tips for Tweeps moving to Facebook

• Do: Upload lots of photos of your kids
• Don’t: Add people you don’t know, that’s not the point of Facebook
• Do: Connect with your mom
• Don’t: Play Farmville

Comments

Twitter v. Facebook « Caleb LaPlante 22-08-2011, 18:16

[...] Twitter is Your Coffee Shop & Facebook is Your Living Room [...]

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Vince Marotte (@m_vince) 22-08-2011, 20:10

Twitter is your Coffee Shop & Facebook is your living room http://t.co/6t1H4nu

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Dear Snyder Churches: Re:Social Media | Jim Drake.Me 01-09-2011, 08:08

[...] Page Social Media More Than A Tool Using Social Media for Ministry Social Media and The Church Twitter is Your Coffee Shop: Facebook is Your Living Room Is Your Church Social? 8 Ways To Use Social Media for Your [...]

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