Nov 18th

If You Could Only Choose One

Welcome to nateriggs.com. Why not subscribe while you're here?

by @nateriggs

Every now and then I use social networks to ask people questions that I find interesting.

Here’s what today’s was:

Here are YOUR responses less than one hour after posting this. Be forewarned, this is a lengthy post, but I have some insights at the bottom that might interest you. Keep scrolling, okay?

From Twitter

Let’s look at the Twitter folks first, in reverse chronological order. Lots of people chimed in with opinions.

angiemeeker 2:55pm via Web @nateriggs @dogwatchohio I think FB is better for retention of a particular market. Back to teens, I think brands on Twitter will nail it.

angiemeeker 2:53pm via Web @nateriggs @elijahryoung Absolutely. I can deal with 140 characters, but give me some expanded media options that work.

Tedsells 2:52pm via HootSuite @nateriggs Absolutely. A year ago didn’t want anything to do w/twitter, now it’s a must.

dogwatchohio 2:51pm via Web @angiemeeker @nateriggs Plus we have a lot of fun on our FB page for dog lovers in general. We actually do very little straight mkting.

AndreaApplegate 2:50pm via TweetDeck Totally RT @nateriggs: Amen to that! RT @dogwatchohio: Love the relationship aspect. Make friends on Twitter & keep in touch on FB.

nateriggs 2:49pm via HootSuite Amen to that! RT @dogwatchohio: @nateriggs Love the relationship aspect. Make friends on Twitter & keep in touch on FB.

angiemeeker 2:49pm via Web @nateriggs @dogwatchohio Totally agree with that – participation in both is best right now. FB also easier to share the whole life of an org.

gotbins 2:46pm via Web @dogwatchohio @nateriggs same here twitter seems to better for connecting personally than FB, my guess is because i feel limited on FB.

dogwatchohio 2:46pm via Web @nateriggs Over the LT, we just can’t see where participation in both venues is going to hurt us. What do you do @angiemeeker?

ErikaPryor 2:46pm via HootSuite Great advice! RT @dogwatchohio: @nateriggs Love the relationship aspect. Make friends on Twitter & keep in touch on FB.

Digital411 2:46pm via HootSuite Great advice! RT @dogwatchohio: @nateriggs Love the relationship aspect. Make friends on Twitter & keep in touch on FB.

dogwatchohio 2:45pm via Web @angiemeeker @nateriggs Plus we heard CBus Dispatch used us an “Effective Use of SM” example in emp. Training seminar. Great exposure!

dogwatchohio 2:43pm via Web @angiemeeker @nateriggs We have classic “Kleenex” vs tissue marketing problem that we’re constantly trying to combat. FB seems to help.

dogwatchohio 2:42pm via Web @angiemeeker @nateriggs We have branding issue 2, so staying in front of current customers is important so they don’t refer wrong company.

elijahryoung 2:42pm via TweetDeck @nateriggs Highest rate of conversation. You can’t talk this much on FB, and video is still a hurdle for some. You can live here…literally.

angiemeeker 2:41pm via Web @nateriggs @dogwatchohio (con’td from before) (understanding of course that it’s not ALL about sales)

dogwatchohio 2:41pm via Web @angiemeeker @nateriggs We discuss this often. Direct sales, no. However, I think our FB participation has helped us close quite a few.

angiemeeker 2:40pm via Web @dogwatchohio @nateriggs (? might sound sarcastic, don’t mean it 2) Have those T-FB people led to sales? Do you sell via your FB page?

Tedsells 2:39pm via HootSuite @nateriggs Twitter is the social network I’d choose, for me it’s the best medium to be social and make genuine connections.

dogwatchohio 2:39pm via Web @nateriggs Love the relationship aspect. Make friends on Twitter & keep in touch with them on FB. Our customers are our friends.

dogwatchohio 2:38pm via Web @nateriggs We’ve had a few people tell us they’ve gone to website, but we’ve formed more of a relationship with Twitter-to-FB people…

elijahryoung 2:29pm via TweetDeck @nateriggs Twitter.

dogwatchohio 2:24pm via Web @nateriggs We try & direct people back to FB and/or our website. We have picked up some great people from Twitter. Love “meeting” tweeps!

angiemeeker 2:23pm via Web @nateriggs @dogwatchohio No, but mostly because I don’t personally use FB for my biz presence (though my clients are with me there).

dogwatchohio 2:22pm via Web @nateriggs FB responders said that because I’ll bet most aren’t on Twitter…yet. Can I “friend” you on FB? I’m one that follows that more :)

katie_mccartney 2:22pm via TweetDeck @nateriggs it’s what you use the most.

angiemeeker 2:21pm via Web @nateriggs @dogwatchohio I expect in future Twitter will take shape not so linear (one tweet after another), or some app using its API will.

katie_mccartney 2:21pm via TweetDeck @angiemeeker, @nateriggs twitter is still so open. People can still meet people freely.

creativespot 2:20pm via HootSuite @nateriggs How very true. Love the #worlddomination hashtag.

dogwatchohio 2:19pm via Web @angiemeeker @nateriggs Good point. We find most of our customers and potential customers are on FB, but very few on Twitter…so far…

angiemeeker 2:19pm via Web @nateriggs Same thing MySpace probably said about college kids using Facebook…

angiemeeker 2:18pm via Web @dogwatchohio @nateriggs I think RIGHT NOW if I had to choose one based on TODAY’S climate, I would choose FB. Looking to future – Twitter.

dogwatchohio 2:16pm via Web @nateriggs Okay, everyone else says Twitter…but wouldn’t it depend on your type of business and what you’re trying to accomplish?

katie_mccartney 2:14pm via TweetDeck @nateriggs totally agree with @angiemeeker.

dogwatchohio 2:13pm via Web @nateriggs Facebook helps us to keep a message up for longer and gives us the history to refer potential customers back to it. We love it!

jamiesanford 2:11pm via TweetDeck FB. Lots to do there. RT @nateriggs: Here’s a ? for you: If you had to choose ONLY 1 soc network to use going fwd, what would it be? Why?

angiemeeker 2:11pm via Web @nateriggs Twitter. More akin to texting than FB, and more teens text and tweet than FB.

creativespot 2:11pm via HootSuite @nateriggs Facebook. It continues to grow and offer features akin to other SM sites (like Facebook places) + it has Facebook connect.

alsage13 2:08pm via HootSuite @nateriggs Twitter. I learn so much from it, meet so many new people, & get a great global perspective on all things large & small.

Jay_D_Schmidt 2:06pm via Web @nateriggs twitter. brevity.

dogwatchohio 2:03pm via Web @nateriggs Facebook for our biz. Reaches more of our audience & conveys our message & more consistently. www.facebook.com/dogwatchofcolumbus

clowerpower 2:00pm via Tweetie for Mac @nateriggs The Tweeter, because my mom isn’t on it.

PhyllisNichols 1:59pm via TweetDeck @nateriggs twitter – wide reach, easy access and i just like it best. (probably because I’ve made so many great connections via twitter).

leslie 1:59pm via Seesmic Desktop @nateriggs Assuming they stay as is, Twitter. It’s been the most valuable to me in a variety of ways.

Same Conversation On Facebook

Insights from the Discussion

Here are some simple bullet points that seem interesting to consider:

The question was posted at the same time to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
45 total response tweets from Twitter in less than one hour (including my RT)
9 total response comments to the same post on Facebook
0 response on LinkedIn
Only one response on Facebook mentions Twitter
Responses on Facebook are longer and slightly more in-depth
Large majority of responses on Twitter mention Twitter as preferred, with Facebook running a close second
The response on Facebook generated little conversation
The response on Twitter generated a significant amount of ongoing, real-time dialog (I’m still getting a few tweets coming in sporadically)
The most re-tweeted comment on Twitter was from DogWatch of Columbus: RT @dogwatchohio: @nateriggs Love the relationship aspect. Make friends on Twitter & keep in touch on FB.