How to use Micro Communications.

Micro communication combines elements of blogging with instant messaging and social networking. Some people also call it micro-blogging. The clear leader in the micro-communication field is Twitter. You can check out my account here.

We have been doing a lot of research and testing with micro communications over the past few months, and I wanted to share some of our findings. Here are a few simple pointers:

• Micro communicate with macro messages. We live in a world where more and more is thrown at us everyday. We are exposed to more marketing messages through more channels than ever before. There is way too much garbage out there and not enough minutes in the day to sort through it. With that in mind, simply micro communicating your message to people is not enough…you need to front-load the micro with a macro message that gets attention. Hit them right away with that big clear idea.
• Lrn the micro lexicon and Mbras it. Punctuation, capitalization, and spelling simply get in the way. These old fashion rules don’t apply. What’s important is that you get your message across as efficiently as you can…short and to the point!
• Keep it simple. I am working with some of the Olympic athletes and talking about setting up their micro communications. They have way too much on their mind and all they want is a simple 1-2-3 solution to work with.
• Micro often, not long. Micro communicate in short quick blasts and repeat frequently. Stick to a single point and deliver the message without a lot of fluff. I have heard others warn of communicating too much, but if your content is relevant and on topic, people will eat it up and only ask for more.

• Think in multiple channels. Keep in mind that only 10% of Twitter’s communication comes from its site. The bulk of the conversation comes from IM or the phone, but as things progress look for updates to happen anywhere the user wants. For example, micro communication widgets you can take with you and put anywhere or audio updates sent through your car while you are stuck in traffic. (Reader: ‘micro-audio’ is going to be big. It’s easier to talk than type for most people, and being from Los Angeles I am always thinking of way to be more efficient while in the car.)
• Know the audience you are going after. Barack Obama micro communicates, CNN and ESPN have their feeds, and you would be surprised at how popular it is among those not in the office everyday, who see it more as a ‘virtual water-cooler’. Lots of different people use if for different reasons, so make sure you are speaking in the right micro language.
• Google indexing and privacy. Micro communication tools (like Twitter) can be indexed via Google. Like so much of the web, that indexing is open to the public so be careful when getting personal. Keep in mind that all communications taking place could become part of the communicator’s ‘permanent record.’

I hope those are helpful, and please let me know if you have other suggestions.

Keep in mind that how we communicate will change radically over the next 3-5 years. New protocols will (re)establish the meaning of words such as instant, micro, niche, and dialogue…I’m looking forward to seeing how quickly this post will be outdated!