How to keep busy until Twitter can beach the Fail Whale
(Long Island, N.Y.) The Fail Whale has been out in full force since last week. Last night, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone accepted three Webby awards on behalf of the micro-blog — but problems still plague the site.
Business owners, social media marketing experts and anyone who uses the blog to stay in constant contact with their network may panic at the site of the iconic “Fail Whale,” the screen that indicates Twitter is having problems.
CNNMoney.com reports some of the reasons for the glitches: Twitter is currently working to strengthen its infrastructure and add new features. So far, users have been tolerant of the technical problems, understanding that it’s a part of growing pains.
In the meantime, Long Islanders are fortunate to live in a rich, diverse community of six million people and plenty of things to do when we’re not tweeting. Here are some productive ways to spend your time networking and enjoying life until Twitter gets back to business as usual.
1. Set up accounts on a few more social networking sites. You’ve got LinkedIn and Facebook down to a science, and the MySpace account you set up 10 years ago is destined to fade into obscurity. But why not explore some of the other social networks — places like Plurk, StumbleUpon, and even BlogTalkRadio, where you can set up an account and join a community of people with similar interests. Don’t neglect networks exclusive to your industry, either.
2. Re-vamp your blog. I’m not talking about anything drastic. Just a few tweaks here and there to create a fresh new look. Bonus: You’ll have something new to promote when Twitter’s Fail Whale finally floats away.
3. Grab a book and hop a train. It might be a long ride on the LIRR if you can’t tweet your location at every stop, but that’s why you should take a great summer read with you on the rails. I recommend Eckhart Tolle’s Power of Now, because a train ride is such a Zen experience, Seth Godin’s Linchpin (because you can’t go wrong with books by Seth), or for pure escapist non-fiction from a Long Island native, read Vicky Ward’s The Devil’s Casino: Friendship, Betrayal, and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman Brothers. What to do once you hit the city? That’s easy. Anything you want!
4. Attend some real-life networking events. I shared my top picks for Long Island Networking Events last week. Of course, you can also seek out fundraisers held at catering halls on the water to really appreciate all Long Island has to offer.
5. Support local businesses — shop on Main Street. When I think of Main Street, U.S.A., Sayville, Lindenhurst, Bay Shore and Babylon Village all come to mind as top spots to eat, shop or enjoy a pleasant walk. (Can you tell I’ve spent most of my life on the South Shore?) Each of these areas has successfully combated the spread of chain stores and the Wal-marts to support thriving local businesses. Buy ice cream, antiques or health foods in one of these areas, or impress a client by taking them to lunch at a mom-and-pop restaurant where mostly locals go.
6. When all else fails, go to the beach. If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner, take advantage of your proximity to the country’s top beaches and just take a break for a few hours. Hitting Robert Moses at 1 PM on a Tuesday afternoon isn’t something you want to make a habit of if you want your business to succeed. Just think of it as making good use of the time you’re NOT spending checking your Twitter account.
Let’s hope Twitter gets its problems straightened out soon and the world of social media can return to normal. In the meantime, take a few minutes to enjoy life — off-line.
