Microsharing: Research Reports from @pistachio and O'Reilly worth your attention

A couple of recent reports worth your attention.

Laura Fitton (@pistachio) has an extensive (free) report on enterprise level micro sharing applications. You can download a copy or read it online here.  In the report she compares 19 applications based on different criteria into a succinct consumer reports like analysis. She looks at survey results, independent web research, verification of new features and analysis of how the 19 applications relate to one another and the marketplace. She has also compiled an excellent enterprise reading list on micro-sharing.

Sarah Milstein was kind enough to send me a report called "Twitter and the Micro-Messaging Revolution that she co-authored for O'Reilly.   It is a synthesis and contextual presentation of Twitter - from primer, selected resources, and case studies of how Twitter is being used.   It covers the following:"

• Best practices for micro-messaging in business
• Pitfalls to avoid in this instant, very public medium
• New methods for customer service and quick market research
• How micro-messaging can help you reduce email and eliminate unproductive meetings

It doesn't cover nonprofit use of Twitter in depth (although they do touch on the Red Cross on page 7), but other ways Twitter is saving the world are not covered, partly because it is directed at a business audience.  But much of the points are definitely transferable to nonprofits.  The report isn't free either, but Sarah has kindly offered to give away a copy to one of my nonprofit readers. 

So, leave a comment before November 17th and you'll be entered into a lottery to win a copy of the report.   (I'm using this as a test to see how closely you read my blog -- I don't mention free in the title) ...<grin>

Comments

[Chris Bartlett]

Thanks for this post, Beth. One of the nice things about Twitter is that it allows a nice convergence between the non-profit and for-profit worlds. I love that. So I'm looking forward to reading this report soon. (Perhaps you'll send me a copy of the shhhhhh free one.)

[Stacey Monk]

Very funny. Did I pass the test? ;)

[Thomas Ho]

I should get an advantage by being FIRST :-)

[The Girl]

Definitely interested in reading the Twitter report. It seems like it's every day where I find myself identifying another Twitter opportunity. But that said, not a lot or groups are ready to dive into something that seems a bit more out of reach than basic blogging (regardless of whether that's true or not). It's great to see research on this topic and hopefully the non profit world will follow with case studies of on-the-ground uses of Twitter to deliver humanitarian messages and the use of the tool to mobilize folks for good.

[Thomas Ho]

I'll use Laura's report to keep me 'busy' UNTIL I win the O'Reilly one :-)

[Caryn Stein]

Thanks for the lead here -- very timely. I'm always fascinated by the infinite ways in which people (and businesses) are using Twitter.

[Beth Kanter]

Thomas, looks like you weren't first! I use random.org to select windows and we have until November 17th.

[Beth Kanter]

Stacey - ha! I guess so .. but more I'm testing a theory about number of words in a post ..

[Windy Hovey]

My org, WREN, has been tweeting for a few months to get our feet wet. Our curiosity about the potential of Twitter for nonprofits is piqued and Sarah's report sounds fantastic!

[Cynthia]

Beth, as the only one of 3 employees in our hard working organization who is even a bit comfortable with the internet beyond email, I've taken it upon myself to learn what I can. I've recently joined Twitter (PeepsHelpPeeps & Hyacinths4)and have already connected with some great people.

Best practices, pitfalls, new methods - hooray! I'll be hoping that I win a copy of Sarah's report!!

[Kris Hoots]

I work with small non-profits who are trying to figure out how to step into social networking. We are beginning with Facebook and LinkedIn and are now looking to get into micro blogging. Laura's report is so thorough and easy to understand. I would love to have a copy of Sarah's report most particularly to learn how micro-messaging can help "reduce e-mail and eliminate unproductive meetings."

[Brian Hendrickson]

I wrote one of the two, compatible, openmicroblogging-protocol implementations, and I would love to see that O'Reilly report! Am very interested to learn about how microsharing will affect business and culture going forward. I have the excerpt of the report! It's short. Anyhow, thanks for your kind offer.

- Brian