How #140Conf answers the question “What’s the deal with Twitter”?

At many of my seminars, I often hear “What is up with Twitter? I looked at it, signed up for account, but I just don’t get it”

And truthfully, when I first signed on as @diaperdisco (my first business), I only kinda, sorta “got it” but thought it was a pretty big “time suck”.

I’m a chatty girl in real life. I have real life friends.

Did I need to go online and meet more people? Did I have the time? The energy?

When PUNCH!media kicked into high gear, as a Social Media specialist, I HAD to learn what the big deal was all about.  How else was I going to train others on how to use it, if I wasn’t using it myself?

And then I fell in love….with my Twitter peeps.

The more I joined conversations, the more I shared my thoughts and opinions, the more I realized the true value of what Twitter has to offer.

This week, I spoke at the *amazing* #140ConfONT in Kitchener/Waterloo to share my story “The Day My Online Behavior Changed Forever” about being impersonated online.

Each speaker had 10 minutes to tell their story.

There was @tjzmommy who spoke about this online community who rallied to help her honour her son Zack’s memory and build an Elmo suite at the hospital.

And @touchbykenadie who spoke about her daughter’s primordial dwarfism, the struggles they’ve had as a family and how the online community can be both supportive and cruel.

There was @karmicevolution who spoke about being homeless and turning to Twitter where random strangers would show up at her house to give her necessities – like pillows.

And @tj who has been featured on ABC news, has just signed a book deal and is off to California because his website: http://dearphotograph.com is a wonderfully unique way to go down “memory lane” using pictures.

@BigDaddyKreative shared how Twitter helped him build a new business after he’d been laid off from his job.

@MattScobel , @Peter_Sweeney , @mmperspectives , @phdinparenting who are helping the world become a better place.

We shared tears, we shared laughter (@cocktaildeeva and @optimom are hilarious), and we shared LOTS of hugs. Lots of warm, squishy, heartfelt hugs.

People squealing with delight after they finally get to meet their Twitter friend – @WhateverTheirNameIs (we often know each other by Twitter handles, not by first name)

Twitter may be less than 13% of the population online, and it may not be for everyone, but the #140ConfONT personifies why Twitter is the powerful network that it is.

Real people, sharing real stories and having their lives changed by random acts of kindness and support from virtual strangers.

Strangers from the other side of a computer who reach out and say “Me too!” (as @mombizcoach spoke about).

Strangers who share they’ve been where you are. They understand what you’re going through. That you’re not alone.

So the next time you wonder “what’s the big deal with Twitter?”, take a good look at some of the conversations out there.

You just might find yourself saying “Me too” too.

P.S. For those NOT on Twitter – each tweet is limited to 140 characters, hence #140Conf

Click here to watch my 10 minute speech: http://bit.ly/oG5kRx  or http://youtu.be/ZmKtuOYESRk

BIG hugs and thanks to @jeffpulver , @juliarosien, @mumby, (who looks like the only audience member in this pict!) and the entire #140ConfONT team for a wildly successful event.