My Social Media Love Story – Twitter (totes stole the title from (in)RL…ahem…)
Edit: affiliate links used
I remember when I joined Twitter..back in the early days when it was brand new and no one really knew what potential it held … and I had no idea why I would bother with it. But, I’m your classic early adopter (yes, I did just sign up for a Babblr account, even though I don’t use Tumblr and the function doesn’t even work anyway. But it’s new. And shiny.).
I’m not usually succinct enough to say anything in a sentence, much less worry about how to interact with a stranger in 140 characters (or less, you know, if you want them to be able to retweet your message and share with their followers). So trying to figure out what to say, how to say it, and whom to say it to? It was confusing.
I started off following all the people Twitter suggested for me. Let me just make a suggestion. Don’t do that. I ended up with status updates of celebrities, musicians, comedians and people who I just generally would never be able to (or would want to) connect with. Also. Don’t be an egg. Add a photo of your face. Soapbox over.
But somehow, slowly, God started leading to me to a community on Twitter. Bloggers. Writers for (in)courage. Companies like Dayspring. Strong women of God like Beth Moore. Hilarious women like BigMama and BooMama. Inspiring conferences like Allume and Declare. I figured out how to join in Twitter parties and not feel like my eyes were melting. I found communities like HelloMornings, women like Katie and Lara and Kat who are real, kind, encouraging and passionate about Jesus and sharing Truth. I joined link ups and stay up way too late every week laughing and chatting with the Five Minute Friday girls, brave, amazing writers. Some might even say I’m a Twitter ninja. I’m sending those 2 people cupcakes.
It might seem silly to some, but God has used Twitter to open doors to real life community my life. I have met these amazing people online, and then hugged their necks at Allume. I have introduced real life, life long friends to new online friends and now sit back and watch them connect. I help build online community now, and I love every moment of it 🙂
Dayspring has always played a huge role in my Twitter community. Between interacting with (in)courage, meeting Lisa-Jo, Stacey, Saul, Sally, and Mandy at Allume, being the recipient of MANY a Dayspring giveaway via Twitter parties, and being part of (in)RL…they are one of the huge reasons I stuck with it, and why I’m so thankful to have built a community that now includes over….over?…1,000 of you 🙂
What better way to say “thank you” to everyone who helped me reach this crazy milestone than with…you guessed it…a Dayspring giveaway! They have this amazing new line called “This Thing Called Family” and it is so beautiful. Designed by the lovely ladies at Things With Wings, they create gorgeous home decor pieces that are so fun!
So one of you lucky, lovely people will be winning the “Count Your Blessings” wall art, courtesy of my dear friends at Dayspring. It’s perfect, right? Since I count all of you as blessings! Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget & a winner will be randomly chosen on Friday!
The social media community has blessed me beyond words. I have met some wonderful sisters in Christ online as well as IRL from blogging. 🙂 I have found inspiration, encouragement, and support.
Social media has given me people who understand where I am, I don’t have to pretend I’m fine all the time!
Social media has blessed me so much. I never feel like I’m walking this journey alone. And it’s given me an opportunity to meet and be a blessing to others.
(in)courage has been the biggest blessing and opened so many doors for me to bless others in return. I just love that.
FB definitely fosters awesome community (plus you aren’t limited to the 140 character rule!)
“I love that this comment is all party banners & cupcakes to me :)” Well we’re celebrating your Twitter-ness! Definitely not quite where you are with Twitter, but I like it and am looking forward to becoming a ninja. Blessings to you!
Oh I just had to jump in here…Last week my phone was stuck in all caps and people kept asking me why I was yelling at them. In your case, Jen, people might ask if you’re a little confused?!? Ah…the wonders of some technology!
Love seeing two of my own personal inRL buds interacting – this is my social media love story!!
Ooh!! Banners, cupcakes and GLITTER!!! are exactly what you need. 🙂
I am not alone! People with my beliefs and values are out there, and they’re going through the same things I am!
I don’t use Twitter maybe like I should ….but I have seen my community of friends grow through FB and various groups there! 🙂
*snort*…how does that even happen?
Um. yes. this. all day, every day. keep it up girl, that’s what (in)RL is all about!
Not without wondering friends like you 😀
woohoo!!
Oh I love that! For me, I signed up for FB when it was still exclusively for college students, so it holds a special place in my heart 😉 and how I use it has changed significantly (for the better..definitely for the better)
well this just felt like a big ol’ hug…and YOU are a fabulous (in)courager 😉
aw thanks Amy! love this 🙂
I love that this comment is all party banners & cupcakes to me 🙂
it really opens doors..it’s a whole new level of networking!
amen! isn’t it awesome?
aw 🙂 even though I’ve lost all internet service at work at exactly the time I told you I’d handle responding to tweets via (in)courage? so glad you love me and I can bribe you with cute nail polish 😉
hehe..oh there was so much more I wanted to write in there but I would have lost all my followers. extra tip: don’t be your cat.
Bahahahahahaha! <-------- this is me, laughing out loud about the egg comment.
Social media has made my world smaller and bigger at the same time!
Social media has put me in contact with so many amazing people I would never have had the opportunity to get to k ow otherwise.
Woo hoo! 1K baby! Lucky 1000 recipients of your ninja-style awesome sauce.
I just wrote on my blog last week about how being a part of Bigger Picture Moments every Thursday through blogging and social media has made a huge impact on my confidence as a writer, a wife, a mom, a friend, a daughter. I’m so grateful for the beauty of the internet in connecting and weaving hearts together. Also, I’m so blessed to be encouraged by YOU through (in)couragers too!
Facebook has done for me some of what Twitter has done for you, bringing online friendships offline in meaningful ways. And yay, YOU!!!
Twitter starts my mornings off with truth and encouragement through the hellomornigs community.
Love ThiS Post! (Don’T Love That My PhonE Has A Capital Letter Malfunction. Haha)
lol..oh I could give a whole conference presentation about all the things I’ve learned “not to do” if you want to build authentic community online…but that’s my biggest one 😉
I don’t know what I would do without hellomornings 🙂
*hugs* love you 🙂
Keep on doin’ your thing mama! Love reading your words of encouragement and insight. Also? Favorite part of this post? “Don’t be an egg.” 🙂
Ahh….I love the prayer partners and my hellomornings group!!
Woo hoo! You are blessing many many people one tweet at a time <3 love ya!