The document discusses microblogging and its potential uses and alternatives. It debunks myths about microblogging being just for broadcasting and instead emphasizes it is for conversation. It explores using microblogging both for joining wider public conversations through services like Twitter or for internal company conversations through hosted or self-hosted solutions. Questions are asked about why a company would join public or start internal conversations and benefits are discussed like knowledge sharing, collaboration and marketing. Alternatives like Yammer and others are mentioned and important factors to evaluate are listed. The document considers whether organizations are ready for the genuine conversations microblogging enables rather than just new ways to communicate downwards.

1. micro-blogging by Peter Lindsay myths debunked uses considered alternatives explored questions asked solutions mused

2. First let’s dispel a few myths… Twitter is just one of many ‘micro-blogging’ services / applications

3. First let’s dispel a few myths… There are web-based software-as-a-service and download-and-install alternatives

4. What can you do with this ‘Micro-blogging’ stuff then…

5. What can you do with this ‘Micro-blogging’ stuff then… Join the wider conversation with an open web based service like twitter

6. What can we do with this ‘Micro-blogging’ stuff then… Start an internal conversation with a local system or online service

7. Why would you join the wider conversation?

8. Why would you join the wider conversation? be an expert filter for news, build credibility market services to customers interact with customers market company to potential candidates recruitment

9. Why would you join the wider conversation? Twitter is the dominant service Should at least control the company brand

10. Why would you start an internal conversation?

11. Why would you start an internal conversation? messages from individuals / teams can follow those who they are interested in knowledge sharing unstructured collaboration virtual team building

12. Why would you start an internal conversation? various hosted or local-install solutions for doing this

13. Micro-blogging is not about ‘few to many’ broadcast communications, it’s a conversation

14. Would everyone follow a small team of ‘higher-ups’ communicating down?

15. For the benefits to be at all realised you’ve got to genuinely start a conversation

16. The question is… … is the organisation ready for that?

17. If you’re happy to start an internal conversation then…?

18. Check out… laconi.ca yammer.com … or many others

19. Evaluate it for… authentication security reliability scalability analytics groups interoperability

20. … and suitability for purpose; user acceptance ;)

21. So are you ready to start a conversation…

22. … or are you just looking for a new way to communicate at people?

23. Micro-blogging myths debunked uses considered alternatives explored questions asked solutions mused