Twitter is Dead … Long Live Plurk (Or some other stupid named micro blogging platform)
I loved Twitter for its simplicity, its ease of use to communicate, its way of bringing instant friend referrals straight to my desktop (I did use Twitter Fox) then it got bloated and some executive or two never made the call not to keep-up with the data outage. Then Twitter died … almost daily, and my usage of the service curled up and withered with it.
However, before I could suck my last Twitteresque breath, some micro-blogging-evangelist leant before myself and began to chant “plurk, Plurk, PlurK, PLURK …” then my world greyed and became finally focussed on a headless something, I think it’s a pig but that debate is still open for argument.
So, what the hell does Plurk have to offer to an SEO … honestly, dunno, ask me when I’m sober, in fact score that don’t ask me at all. Because this is micro-blogging, its the time to get comfortable with each other, gain friends, listen and learn, show-off when called to do so, talk when no-one is listening, be yourself … which I find most encouraging of all social media sites.
There is no gain in gaming sites like Plurk or Twitter not in the long run anyway its about belonging, becoming and most of all being there. That’s it, just being in amongst a crowd,not really adding to or taking away from but your there sharing a laugh, a thought, a moment … just being sums up micro-blogging for me in a nutshell.
There are guys out there, like James who pick-apart expertly these social platforms, draw rock-solid conclusions and like to analyse these platforms for what they are really worth in terms of engagement. Me, I’m not engaged enough to make those calls but rather see it like a call-back to when I used to hang, nothing important was said much, nothing was ever really decided, but man we had fun just being together.
And that’s it, that’s Plurk, that’s its message or it should be … just here right now having a laugh, enjoying what you say but not really too interested, just me being me, just you being you, just plurking along and killing another few seconds of my time on this planet.
By the way you can follow me on Plurk at the following : http://www.plurk.com/user/northsouthmedia for all the good it will do you 
James Duthie said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 1:46 am
I think you nailed it on the head Paul. Sure, there are some benefits you can derive from Plurk from a business perspective. But for me it’s all about getting to know my fellow bloggers a bit better.
Paul said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 2:05 am
James , I absolutely agree, its about the friendship than anything else and rightly so.
Boydy said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 2:23 am
“and became finally focussed on a headless something, I think it’s a pig but that debate is still open for argument.”
Thats the oddest logo image I’ve came across in a while, Why on earth is it headless? To make the site stay fresh in your mind, shock style marketing much the the old tango advert, I’m loving it !!!
Steven Bradley said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 3:05 am
I agree. I posted about something similar a week or so ago. The whole point is all the unimportant stuff we share on Plurk or Twitter or wherever. We’re ourselves and we share a few things about our lives and get to know each other better as a result of sharing seemingly pointless things.
Paul said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 9:41 am
Hi Steven, just read your post and your bang on the money 100%
miguel said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
well I went… I plurked… I thought….
no not more worthless dross?
but yes, more worthless dross…
I just don’t get micro blogging…
I don’t get how people have so much time and so little to fill that time with. Have a conversation with someone you don’t really know, sure… but talking to yourself in the hope that someone else is interested.
IMHO it’s a sad reflection on society and the way it’s heading.
Like I say just my opinion.
Brian said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
For businesses, I’m still trying to grapple with the benefits of microblogging overall. Unless the microbloggers are to be your targeted audience, it’s really of no benefit to try and target them as buyers. B2B would derive no benefit out of microblogging as people on it are consumers. As far as SEO goes, I’m not even sure why Google or Yahoo would be interested in indexing microblogging sites. As you said, it’s here and now in-the-moment conversations. Indexing implies that the microblog will be useful for someone reading months from now. I just don’t see that. Like reading any instant message conversation, the benefit is only in the here and now, not months from now and definitely not as a relevant search query. As time-killing and addictive as platforms like Plurk are, I don’t really see the conversations becoming valuable to businesses.
Internet Marketing Joy said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
I agree with you..sure Twitter and other micro blogging sites give a nice venue for promoting your site but still the best part or function of this sites is for meeting people and sharing your thoughts and feelings..^^
Paul said,
Wrote on June 25, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
@ Miguel, all opinions are welcome, it’s what blogging, whether micro or not is about.
@ Brian, for optimided page ranking I’m of the opinion it’ll hold no water, perhaps your profile on micro-blogging sites is more important here than what you actually say.
@ IMJ, agree, as networking tools, they are vastly important, but to just have fun is the main issue.
Heidi Cool said,
Wrote on July 15, 2008 @ 12:27 am
Great points. I’ve only been a very casual Twitter user, but I’ve found that Plurk is so much easier to use and to follow that I tend to use it more often. My mainstay is still Pownce as I don’t like the 140 character limits of the others, but Plurk definitly serves its purpose.
As far as using Plurk as a marketing tool I think it is viable if that is not one’s primary goal. If one builds relationships in the community, participates in conversation, then shares a link to one’s blog or Web site from time to time, I think it is totally appropriate–if the link is to something that would be of interest to that audience. I’ve gotten blog traffic from both Plurk and Pownce this way, though it doesn’t compare to the traffic I get from things like StumbleUpon. That said, the posts I make promoting new blog posts or sites make up a very small minority of my regular posts. And that I think is as it should be.
Paul said,
Wrote on July 15, 2008 @ 1:05 am
Thanks for stopping by Heidi. Great points, although tbh I have never really given Pownce a chance, may try it once again though
veronicaromm said,
Wrote on August 16, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Great article. Objective, reasonable and very true. I love Plurk, it is simply fun and social. Thanks for a fun read.