A Face to a Name

How many followers do you have on Twitter, and how many of those followers do you actually know? Perhaps the big question is how many of them do you actually WANT to know?

Over the past few months, for one reason or another I have found myself face to face with a person who I regularly engage with on Twitter. It can be quite a surprise meeting for the first time – rather like, in the ‘old days’, having a pen-pal in Germany that you meet after five years of writing to each other. Are you actually going to get on?

Twitter 1Surprisingly, it seems to me that very often, you do. I have certainly found this to be the case. I think this comes down to the fact that Twitter is a great platform for instant social hits. Tweets are often witty, and the tweeters that make you smile (or even LOL) are those you will probably connect with ‘in real life’.

Be warned – it can go the other way. I met two people I follow on Twitter at a recent event, and I knew immediately that I was of no actual interest to them. They didn’t make eye contact, and had no curiosity in finding out about the real me. To them, I am simply another number on their Twitter account. Well, shucks.

However, in the majority of cases it’s been a genuine delight to meet the person – it often results in laughter and even, on occasion, has led to business. And amen to that!

Flying Visit to the Devon Business Expo

It was great to pop into the Devon Business Expo last week and meet up with some of the most inspirational businesses in the county.

This was a flying visit for me as I’m up to my ears in that ‘orrible work stuff, but I was delighted to finally meet Mr & Mrs #DevonHour and admire the camper van lent to them by Devon Dubs. It was also a chance to catch up with some ‘old’ faces from the Deer Park Hotel, Cosmic Ethical and Devon Air Ambulance.

I arrived just in time to sit in on the media panel seminar and hear the latest from the good folk at the Express & Echo, Heart FM, Radio Exe, and event organiser, Best of Exeter. Also on the panel was Andy Cooper, editor of Devon Life, who wowed us all with his slightly controversial take on the power of the media!  

It was fun to chat with some of the Best of Exeter team – it may seem strange that I know the Best of Wimbledon & Merton crew better than the locals, but that’s another story!

There was much more going on – I didn’t have time to take part in the speed networking and would have liked to stay for the Tweet Met. However, I’m delighted to report that even in the short time I was there, I hooked up with two new potential clients – next time I’d better stay longer!

Well done to everyone involved, there was a lovely atmosphere at the event and good to see so many businesses taking part.