Guy Kawasaki is a pretty influential guy and when he says “Twitter is a weapon,” in an interview I did with him my ears perk up.
But he got more outrageous from there. He took on TechCrunch’s Mike Arrington with a challenge. Guy would rather give up his cell phone for a week than give up Twitter for a week.
Oh, Guy said a few other fun things. Which is what you’d expect from the first technology evangelist (a role he held at Apple back in the early 1980s).
Not to mention that he started a cool social media directory, AllTop, and promptly put his own name at the top of the ego page. Oh, he’s not just outrageous about Twitter. In reality we were there to discuss his new book, Reality Check: the Irrreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition.
“I’m so sold on Twitter.”(1 minute in)
“I think Twitter is, arguably, the most powerful branding mechanism since television.” (2 minutes in)
The essence of a good pitch (3 minutes in)
“I would sell to Toyota,” when I asked him what he’d do about GM (4 minutes in)
Twitter should be bailed out by the government (4:45 in)
“The thing that drives your competition crazy the most is when you are successfull and they are not.” (7 minutes in)
“Is your boss an asshole?” (10 minutes in). Leads to a fun discussion about Steve Jobs. Funny how that happens!
Why your company can’t be successful like Apple or Google just buy spending money on goodies (14 minutes in)
“For me, Twitter is more important than a cell phone.” (16 minutes in)
“Twitter is a weapon.” (17 minutes in)
Thanks Guy for inviting me over for a fun conversation. Now back to Twitter. Follow Guy @guykawasaki and follow me @scobleizer.
UPDATE: over on FastCompanyTV this video is getting more comments than any other in recent memory, which brings on this outrageous Scoble rule: get a famous Twitterer to say outrageous things about Twitter and you’ll get more comments on your blog.
Scobleizer 
So in essence, the more outrageous and controversial your remarks are – the more Web 2.0 press you will now get.
It has always been this way for Advertisers or PR people but cerebral Geeks – until recently – despised those tactics
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So in essence, the more outrageous and controversial your remarks are – the more Web 2.0 press you will now get.
It has always been this way for Advertisers or PR people but cerebral Geeks – until recently – despised those tactics
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These remarks don’t seem at all outrageous.
Regarding the remarks, case in point:
“I’m so sold on Twitter.” So are you, Robert, and me, and several million others and climbing.
“…the most powerful branding mechanism since television…”
I have dedicated a blog to Twitter (with some contextualizing to social media) where I advocate Twitter as a new paradigm in human consciousness — maybe that’s outrageous!
Sell GM to Toyota?
At least Toyota’s making a profit and cars that people actually want. Let’s get over our nationalistic pride and focus on the common good. Makes sense to me.
“Twitter should be bailed out by the government”
Does it need bailing out? Maybe it can serve a useful public service that deserves government money (unlike the auto and finance industries).
“drives your competition crazy”
If your success didn’t, they wouldn’t be much competition, would they?
“Twitter is more important than a cell phone.”
I spend significantly more time on Twitter than on my cell phone. I’d happily give up my cell phone (it’s not an iPhone mind you) for life. At least Twitter is free.
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These remarks don’t seem at all outrageous.
Regarding the remarks, case in point:
“I’m so sold on Twitter.” So are you, Robert, and me, and several million others and climbing.
“…the most powerful branding mechanism since television…”
I have dedicated a blog to Twitter (with some contextualizing to social media) where I advocate Twitter as a new paradigm in human consciousness — maybe that’s outrageous!
Sell GM to Toyota?
At least Toyota’s making a profit and cars that people actually want. Let’s get over our nationalistic pride and focus on the common good. Makes sense to me.
“Twitter should be bailed out by the government”
Does it need bailing out? Maybe it can serve a useful public service that deserves government money (unlike the auto and finance industries).
“drives your competition crazy”
If your success didn’t, they wouldn’t be much competition, would they?
“Twitter is more important than a cell phone.”
I spend significantly more time on Twitter than on my cell phone. I’d happily give up my cell phone (it’s not an iPhone mind you) for life. At least Twitter is free.
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Speaking of outrageous things said about twitter:
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/4189/Forget-Twitter-It-s-For-The-Tragically-Connected.aspx
Some people either just don’t get it, or say these things a link-bait. I guess it worked, in this case.
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Speaking of outrageous things said about twitter:
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/4189/Forget-Twitter-It-s-For-The-Tragically-Connected.aspx
Some people either just don’t get it, or say these things a link-bait. I guess it worked, in this case.
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I personally don’t see how the comments Guy said were outrageous.
The comment about him giving up his cell phone for a week over Twitter is believable. He uses Twitter as an unbelievable marketing tool, or ‘twool’ as he would say. He uses it differently than a lot of twitterers but it works perfectly for him and see why he would not want to give it up for a few days.
Great interview.
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I personally don’t see how the comments Guy said were outrageous.
The comment about him giving up his cell phone for a week over Twitter is believable. He uses Twitter as an unbelievable marketing tool, or ‘twool’ as he would say. He uses it differently than a lot of twitterers but it works perfectly for him and see why he would not want to give it up for a few days.
Great interview.
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Comparing Twitter to TV as powerful branding system:
Twitter is still limited to early adopters.
In 2009 it will be the year for Twitter of mass adoption or not (decrease).
If the masses come in millions to Twitter then it can be compared to TV as mass marketing medium.
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Comparing Twitter to TV as powerful branding system:
Twitter is still limited to early adopters.
In 2009 it will be the year for Twitter of mass adoption or not (decrease).
If the masses come in millions to Twitter then it can be compared to TV as mass marketing medium.
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@ David H. Wilkins
🙂 Nice one. While we say lots of things on our blog, we’re actually big believers in Twitter at HubSpot. We built Twitter Grader, have done a popular webinar (5,000 registrations) on “How to Use Twitter for Marketing and PR” and we have a page that lists all our team members on twitter (hubspot.com/twitter). We also have one of the top 100 Twitter accounts (@grader).
So yes… the article was more for link bait – just like this one from Scobleizer is 🙂
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@ David H. Wilkins
🙂 Nice one. While we say lots of things on our blog, we’re actually big believers in Twitter at HubSpot. We built Twitter Grader, have done a popular webinar (5,000 registrations) on “How to Use Twitter for Marketing and PR” and we have a page that lists all our team members on twitter (hubspot.com/twitter). We also have one of the top 100 Twitter accounts (@grader).
So yes… the article was more for link bait – just like this one from Scobleizer is 🙂
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Guy went further and more in-depth in our new ebook, The Twitter Survival Guide:
Q. In your experience, is Twitter a useful web marketing tool?
A. Does the sun rise? Twitter is the best web marketing tool I’ve ever used. Alltop wouldn’t be close to what it is without it in terms of the breadth of topics, feeds within the topics, and awareness of the topics. The Twitter community suggests topics, helps us build them, and then evangelizes them.
Over 400 people have allowed us to insert Alltop news updates into their Twitter stream via Twitterfeed. Admittedly, some received a copy of Reality Check for doing this, but about 180 signed up before the offer.
We’ve calculated how many followers they have, and the number is 100,000. This means that when we announce a new Alltop topic, 100,000 people may be exposed to it immediately. And this doesn’t count their retweets.
We liked this so much that we added a “Post to Twitter” button on each Alltop site, so that people who didn’t sign up to Twitterfeed can still help us.
As did Steve Rubel, Rafe Needleman, Jeremiah Owyang, Darren Rowse, Marshall Kirkpatrick….
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Guy went further and more in-depth in our new ebook, The Twitter Survival Guide:
Q. In your experience, is Twitter a useful web marketing tool?
A. Does the sun rise? Twitter is the best web marketing tool I’ve ever used. Alltop wouldn’t be close to what it is without it in terms of the breadth of topics, feeds within the topics, and awareness of the topics. The Twitter community suggests topics, helps us build them, and then evangelizes them.
Over 400 people have allowed us to insert Alltop news updates into their Twitter stream via Twitterfeed. Admittedly, some received a copy of Reality Check for doing this, but about 180 signed up before the offer.
We’ve calculated how many followers they have, and the number is 100,000. This means that when we announce a new Alltop topic, 100,000 people may be exposed to it immediately. And this doesn’t count their retweets.
We liked this so much that we added a “Post to Twitter” button on each Alltop site, so that people who didn’t sign up to Twitterfeed can still help us.
As did Steve Rubel, Rafe Needleman, Jeremiah Owyang, Darren Rowse, Marshall Kirkpatrick….
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why woudl twitter need bailing out its not like they employ a large number of people that is the reson the big 3 are getting a bailout becuse of the huge number of jobs that depend on them
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why woudl twitter need bailing out its not like they employ a large number of people that is the reson the big 3 are getting a bailout becuse of the huge number of jobs that depend on them
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The only reason I would be upset that I lost my cellphone is because I’d be disconnected from Twitter. Where else can I access and connect with so many amazingly talented people, breaking news, information and resources in one place? I certainly would not have time to gather all that info if I were placing actual phone calls.
I even find myself going to Twitter search before Google depending on what the topic is that I’m searching.
Great interview!
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The only reason I would be upset that I lost my cellphone is because I’d be disconnected from Twitter. Where else can I access and connect with so many amazingly talented people, breaking news, information and resources in one place? I certainly would not have time to gather all that info if I were placing actual phone calls.
I even find myself going to Twitter search before Google depending on what the topic is that I’m searching.
Great interview!
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Guy Kawasaki says outrageous things about Twitter
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Guy Kawasaki says outrageous things about Twitter
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Outrageous? I would have thought so just 3 months ago.
But in the space of that short time, I have went from unknown struggling copywriter to getting speaking gigs, mastermind invitations, and joint ventures with some of the world’s top marketers and influencers.
Even more remarkable, I had no online presence before that–no mailing list, no blog of my own, no name and heck, even no website.
Yet job and consultation offers were happening every other day. Kiyosaki’s right about it being the most powerful branding mechanism since television.
Jay Abraham once said that people are silently looking to be led. I didn’t know the full extent of that statement until I saw a personality cult before my very eyes.
Twitter changed my life, and I’m starting to share this story to the rest of the world in a video that’s in my link here. Do watch it if you’re compelled by what I’ve to say.
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Outrageous? I would have thought so just 3 months ago.
But in the space of that short time, I have went from unknown struggling copywriter to getting speaking gigs, mastermind invitations, and joint ventures with some of the world’s top marketers and influencers.
Even more remarkable, I had no online presence before that–no mailing list, no blog of my own, no name and heck, even no website.
Yet job and consultation offers were happening every other day. Kiyosaki’s right about it being the most powerful branding mechanism since television.
Jay Abraham once said that people are silently looking to be led. I didn’t know the full extent of that statement until I saw a personality cult before my very eyes.
Twitter changed my life, and I’m starting to share this story to the rest of the world in a video that’s in my link here. Do watch it if you’re compelled by what I’ve to say.
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Seems the world’s going Twitter mad and I still just don’t get it!
But it made me think, who needs Big Brother when we’ve got Twitter et al? Big Brother wanted to know all the time what we we’re doing. And that’s just what Twitter incessantly asks us too!
We happily tell the whole world, via the various social networking tools, where we are and what we’re doing. Big Brother by self; voluntarily giving up our privacy.
Inspired by this post, I’ve just written on my own blog about this desperate need for socialization.
Because, as one with Asperger’s, I just don’t get it!! 🙂
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Seems the world’s going Twitter mad and I still just don’t get it!
But it made me think, who needs Big Brother when we’ve got Twitter et al? Big Brother wanted to know all the time what we we’re doing. And that’s just what Twitter incessantly asks us too!
We happily tell the whole world, via the various social networking tools, where we are and what we’re doing. Big Brother by self; voluntarily giving up our privacy.
Inspired by this post, I’ve just written on my own blog about this desperate need for socialization.
Because, as one with Asperger’s, I just don’t get it!! 🙂
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The ONLY thing I find outrageous about Twitter (as much as I love it) is the 2,000 follow cap. I’m keen to understand some specific things and having only 2,000 semi-frequent points of reference just doesn’t quite cut it. The fact a work-around exists should bork this cap (and is my outrageous aim here on your bully pulpit).
I’d add Twhirl to your list (yes, now in the Seesmic stable). It gives me a means to route around Twitters artificial cap. I can have multiple identities up and achieving my end. Problem is, if I have a question it’s effectively retweeted through multiple ID’s (some of which have overlapping followers who get an echo’d msg). Not convenient, but it does get the job done.
So, Twitter, SET MY TWEETS FREE! @Buzz, tear down this wall! 😉
All our best from Tulsa to the Scobles!
Gerald
PS – I’d add Sifry’s Offbeat Guides. When David shared his plan with us on the London photowalk I was hopeful. It blows me away each time I use it and have recommended it to a LOT of chronic travelers and keep hearing the same from them.
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The ONLY thing I find outrageous about Twitter (as much as I love it) is the 2,000 follow cap. I’m keen to understand some specific things and having only 2,000 semi-frequent points of reference just doesn’t quite cut it. The fact a work-around exists should bork this cap (and is my outrageous aim here on your bully pulpit).
I’d add Twhirl to your list (yes, now in the Seesmic stable). It gives me a means to route around Twitters artificial cap. I can have multiple identities up and achieving my end. Problem is, if I have a question it’s effectively retweeted through multiple ID’s (some of which have overlapping followers who get an echo’d msg). Not convenient, but it does get the job done.
So, Twitter, SET MY TWEETS FREE! @Buzz, tear down this wall! 😉
All our best from Tulsa to the Scobles!
Gerald
PS – I’d add Sifry’s Offbeat Guides. When David shared his plan with us on the London photowalk I was hopeful. It blows me away each time I use it and have recommended it to a LOT of chronic travelers and keep hearing the same from them.
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Sorry… meant to type @Biz and had our buddy Buzz Bruggeman on the brain as fingers took over & did the rest. Now, taking shoe off to pound the podium 🙂 Take #2:
@Biz… Tear down this wall!
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Sorry… meant to type @Biz and had our buddy Buzz Bruggeman on the brain as fingers took over & did the rest. Now, taking shoe off to pound the podium 🙂 Take #2:
@Biz… Tear down this wall!
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Twitter is great. But too many social media types think Twitter is going to get them customers. The funny thing about Twitter is that it works great for clients but it will not get you any clients.
http://www.inboundinternetmarketingblog.com
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Twitter is great. But too many social media types think Twitter is going to get them customers. The funny thing about Twitter is that it works great for clients but it will not get you any clients.
http://www.inboundinternetmarketingblog.com
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The comments are outrageous because Twitter isn’t mainstream. Who would have said these things about the phone, the computer, Digg, before the mainstream phase?
And I got 2 clients from Twitter just in this month, December – waiting on a potential third now. Not indirectly, Directly. That’s like saying you can’t drum up business by using the phone. It’s all in *how* you use the phone. If you call everyone you know via the phone up and bang them in the head with your marketing message, they’ll probably hang up and block your number.
But if you use Twitter to build relationships, for the sake of relationships, and not solely to get cash out of someone’s pocket? Odds are you’ll make a lot more money.
As in all social media and communication devices, not being able to get it to work for you is a case of not knowing how to use the tool, not the fact that the tool is broken. I’ve been extremely guilty of this myself, so I’m putting it bluntly to you because that’s what made me see, and what helped my business so much.
Social Media ROI is spectacular if a- you’re not desperate for cash right now (in which case you should start with advertising anyway, and b- you want to build a business, rather than a series of one-time customers.
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The comments are outrageous because Twitter isn’t mainstream. Who would have said these things about the phone, the computer, Digg, before the mainstream phase?
And I got 2 clients from Twitter just in this month, December – waiting on a potential third now. Not indirectly, Directly. That’s like saying you can’t drum up business by using the phone. It’s all in *how* you use the phone. If you call everyone you know via the phone up and bang them in the head with your marketing message, they’ll probably hang up and block your number.
But if you use Twitter to build relationships, for the sake of relationships, and not solely to get cash out of someone’s pocket? Odds are you’ll make a lot more money.
As in all social media and communication devices, not being able to get it to work for you is a case of not knowing how to use the tool, not the fact that the tool is broken. I’ve been extremely guilty of this myself, so I’m putting it bluntly to you because that’s what made me see, and what helped my business so much.
Social Media ROI is spectacular if a- you’re not desperate for cash right now (in which case you should start with advertising anyway, and b- you want to build a business, rather than a series of one-time customers.
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