Someone suggested I write about what I’ve accomplished my first year on twitter, which is also my first year immersed in social media. I asked them to write it. I didn’t want it to be about my ego, but you know what? I have the best perspective. I will mention a few milestones for credibility, and to show what an average person can do, but what I really want to share, is what I’ve learned.

My twitter anniversary is 6/16/10. I joined Facebook after that, and Linkedin even later. I’ve administered my band’s Myspace since 2007 (but haven’t used it this year). I’m not very competent on Facebook or Linkedin, but I love The twitter. It fits my ADHD. Squirrel. Something shiny…

Our business has benefited from the exposure. We’ve generated leads and made sales. We have networked and colaborated with other businesses, and we’ve connected with people within our industry. Our social presence has also helped our SEO. Twitter has driven people to our blog, and most open a few pages on our site. Social media works.

Through twitter, I’ve been asked to guest blog, present, and attend events. That’s all fine and good for the ego, but what’s important are the connections and freindships I’ve made. I’ve met people and made friends I never would’ve met otherwise. I tweet with people on several continents. I have smart friends, and funny friends, and smart friends who are funny. I listen, learn, and share. I love The twitter.

What I’ve learned from The Twitter

It’s a place to make good friends with similar values.
You can find and meet friends F2F
You can make business contacts and generate leads
It’s a place to promote good content
You’ll learn if your content sucks
You can support and promote chariable events on twitter
Tweeters help each other
Courtesy counts
Grammar is important
Constructing 140 character tweets is a great writing exercise
There are not enough hours in the day
I really do have ADHD 😉
Listen first, before you speak (I continue to forget this one)
Somebody knows more than you do
You can meet people you never dreamed you’d meet

Maybe it’s the company I keep, or maybe it’s “The Twitter,” but this last year has been a whirlwind of learning. I’ve made good friends. I’ve learned so much about so many things. I’m more courteous, I’m a better writer, and I’m a better person because of twitter. Thank you all. What have you learned from twitter? Would you like some ideas on how to use twitter?

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Randy Clark is the Director of Communications at TKO Graphix, where he blogs for TKO Graphix Brandwire. Prior to TKO, he spent 13 years with Unique Home Solutions as Marketing Director and VP of Operations. He is an avid flower gardener, beer geek, and he fronts the Under the Radar rock & roll band http://bit.ly/9mJ59m