This is the third of a new series which takes two well known twitterers, gives them 10 quick fire questions to answer (connected to Twitter) and then let’s them battle it out before your votes decide who wins the round.
I’ve picked two fabulous designer ladies on Twitter for the latest in the series:
Kris: @KrisColvin – A User and Brand experience designer and customer advocate for We Heart Studios.
Misty Belardo: @MistyGirlPH – A Graphic Designer and blogger and currently writes for Bitrebels and Minervity.
Without further ado, let the battle begin…
1. How long have you been twittering?
Since March 2008, but I only posted one tweet the day I joined. I began actually using Twitter that July, when I learned about following people from a great Problogger article that listed bloggers to follow and told us how to use Twitter. I became active very quickly.
I started last 2008-05-30 01:28:48 but became really active January this year. I did not quiet get the purpose of Twitter until some designers encouraged, inspired and taught me to share.
2. How many hours do you dedicate to twitter daily?
I have no idea. I am on and off of Twitter all day long, from everywhere, via desktop, laptop, smartphone or iPod Touch. It’s the way I work and live, like drinking coffee or brushing my teeth.
Hmmm, I tweet when I can, I really enjoy interacting with my followers and those I follow. I tweet less during the weekdays though because of work and tweet more during the weekend because time is more relaxed and i can concentrate on the links and the people i converse with.
3. Why do you use twitter?
Many reasons. I like the connectivity with others I’ve met. My best friend from Texas now tweets, so she and I stay connected all day more easily. I meet people who become clients via Twitter, and we work using Twitter, exchanging links and info through DM’s at all hours of the day. I am an only child, and I have no children (except pets) so I think I also just like the constant stream of chatter in my life.
I tweet because I am very much interested in learning from people in my field of interest as well as interact with people in other countries, I love the conversation and the friendships that have developed over time.
4. Describe your twitter stream in one word.
Fun!
Dialogue – People seem to enjoy conversing with me and sharing with me their thoughts. I love the way they ask for my opinions on social media, design and what is happening with me on a day to day basis.
5. How important is Twitter to you as a designer?
Semi-important. I do get a lot of inspiration from reading articles and trading links, but it is not as critical to my design as it is to my overall business in context of getting fast answers to questions from people who know something that I don’t.
I can say that as a designer Twitter has given me the opportunity to work with the best and learn from the best.
6. How does twitter fit into your overall branding strategy?
It’s not optional. Any venture we do, gets an account and we tweet about it. It’s just the way we do business now, and something that impacts us as a company because we are perceived (rightfully so) as knowing how to integrate social media into traditional marketing, in addition to customer care, lead generation and more for companies. The tools we use, this social media lifestyle we are part of now, reinforce our brand story these days.
I never had the opportunity to really shine as a designer/blogger before Twitter. Designing and writing is what i love to do. My passion. My work does not give me that opportunity to share my love for design. People never really knew what I could do before Twitter. I was more confined to doing events and video producing. Now more and more are interested in what i do and always a treat when they say they love my work and that they value my opinion.
7. Has twitter impacted your design business?
It has been a hero regarding my business. I moved from Texas two years ago to Kansas (to get married) and was supposed to keep my job with the employer I had in Texas. Instead, my boss abruptly changed his mind two weeks after I got here, and I went from having a nice salary and benefits to being on my own again. The difference here from being self-employed before is that I had no contacts, no network, and I didn’t live in Kansas City – my husband’s business is an hour away so we live in the country. Because of Twitter and blogging, I met people who became clients, met people who became business associates in Kansas City (at a local tech conference) and I now live in Kansas City part-time and office with them downtown. I honestly don’t know how I would have met these people without the online connectivity via social media platforms.
Business wise, it has increased my knowledge in terms of technology and the different avenues in which i can venture and improve on. Twitter is a platform that has helped me connect with the best designers in the world. Various techniques and valuable tips i learned from Twitter users.
8. What is the ideal way for a designer to create a loyal following?
It may sound trite, but “be smart.” Talk about things that interest you, show others you have an opinion, articulate your opinions well, help people solve problems (that one is huge) and reveal your personality quirks to others. Plus, follow people so they will follow you back.
Be yourself, and be helpful to those who are in need of your guidance. Share information and be a catalyst for creativity and inspiration.
9. What’s your favourite tweet?
As a vain Libra, I’m a sucker for adoration, so any tweet telling me I’m great in a unique way that reveals some insight about myself from others, I am fond of. I also have sort of a dry sense of humor (love British humor) and so when I see a tweet written to someone else in context to them, that can be taken totally out of context by others, that cracks me up. My friend Chad (@poweredbysteam) had a hysterical one I teased him about… I hunted and hunted and finally found it. I can’t tell you how hard I laughed when that came up in my tweet stream, not knowing what he was referring to. I hope he doesn’t see this!
Always look for blue skies. A friend of mine Rajesh @r27 always reminds me to look for the good in every situation. The value of twitter really for me is the connection and the encouragement that I get from people. No matter how bad my day is, someone in my twitter stream would always make me smile. I am pretty lucky to have such a good variety of people that are positive and very encouraging.
10. If you could only follow one person, who would it be and why?
@thebrandbuilder – Olivier inspires me, motivates me, makes me smarter and has great taste.
@adamsconsulting – Diana is a great source of inspiration, she lets me be me. She tells me how it is and always has a kind word. Knows when to listen and when to speak. She is very real and she gets me.
Voting will automatically close in exactly one day – Friday at 1pm, so get voting now! The Twitter Face-Off will take place once a month on a Thursday so make sure to check back next month!
Grace Smith is owner of the small but perfectly formed web design studio Postscript5, in Northern Ireland. To keep up to date with the latest designalicious content, then please consider subscribing.
wow grace.. i am so honored to be placed side by side with one my favorite brand designer on twitter Kris Colvin. This is such a fun post! Thank you for making me part of it.
This is the blog of freelance web designer Grace Smith, with thoughts on design, technology and social media. Along with interesting links and articles, freshly served from Northern Ireland.
Grace Smith is owner of the small but perfectly formed web design studio Postscript5, in Northern Ireland. To keep up to date with the latest designalicious content, then please consider subscribing.
wow grace.. i am so honored to be placed side by side with one my favorite brand designer on twitter Kris Colvin. This is such a fun post! Thank you for making me part of it.