The Zen of Twitter and Facebook

Almost everyday I hear the question “What is the difference between Twitter and Facebook and why do I need both?” They are similar in that both are the “water” that can help make the internet marketing of your small business thrive. But they are very different forms. A simple answer is that Twitter is an emotional flow like a river, while Facebook is more stable and retains inputs like a sea. Like rivers and seas; both are important, both are water, both are different. You need both Twitter and Facebook social networks to maximize your internet marketing ans SEO. They both represent different form of communication.

When contrasting Twitter and Facebook in this way I am reminded of a passage from the Tao interpreted by John Heider in the “The Tao of Leadership”

Imagine that the life force is like water in the river and in the sea. The sea, greater than the river, lies below, open and receptive. The busy, rushing river enters the sea, is absorbed, and is transformed.

Here is a great post by Kevin Marks titled “How Twitter works in theory”, which could in my opinion be more accurately titled “The Way of Twitter” . Regardless, if you want a deeper understanding of Twitter, go read, now. And you will learn how to appreciate and better use the Twitter phenomenon to present your goods and services on the internet. And why I think it is so important that your website be able to actively participate and manage both social networks.