Microblogging and Helpful Cross Platform Tools

Well over a year ago I was introduced to Twitter through following Robert Scoble’s blog Scobleizer. Then I heard about and subsequently started using Pownce and a few other platforms. Both the Pownce and Twitter interfaces were really simple, almost too simple, I eventually got the hang of their basic uses. I wasn’t raised to be tech saavy, nor were any of my friends, if you don’t know or “follow” many people online, Twitter and Pownce can be really quiet. Follow me on Twitter here

Since my initial discovery of the microblog the microblogging world has really grown. There are more than a couple microblogs and quite a few mashups thereof (i.e. identi.ca, Rejaw, Kwippy, Plurk…). What started as a simple user interface is quickly muddled because of the competing sites, new and sometimes odd sounding site names, and new terminology like “tweet” and “kwip”.

If you’re confused with the microblogging world rest easy you are not alone. Here is a general overview of a microblog and three cross platform tools that you can use to manage your online microblogging accounts. If you have any tips of your own, please leave them in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

What Is a Microblog…a Micro What?

Much like a blog or website (with comments enabled) a microblog is a site that allows you to enter and post text so that is it readable and respond-able by other users around the web. It’s that simple, a microblog is just a site that allows you to exchange “posts”, “tweets”, or “Kwips” one user to another. The “Micro” indicates a limited amount of text much like Twitter which allows you to use 140 characters or less. The term “microblog” isn’t really an official word, you won’t find it in a dictionary. Words like “microblog” enter into our vocabulary over time in order to describe something that hasn’t ever existed before.

The Need For Microblogging Management

As multiple microblogs, Chat’s, and Social/Professional Networking services emerge it is easy to get lost because of all the options. You loose track of the conversation and waste a lot of time logging in and staying up to date with what is happening around the web. This need brings forth tools to syndicate (send out) the same messages to multiple sites around the web. Likewise the need for aggregating (collecting) content onto one page emerges. The syndication and aggregation of data from around the web is known as cross platform tools.

Two Tools For Syndication Across Multiple Platforms

Ping.fm offers a service to syndicated your content across a large and growing list of sites around the web. You can post on a variety of Social networks, microblogs, aggregators, and blogs all from one central log in. They are still adding new services that you can post to all the time. Read more about Ping.fm here in a previous blog post.

Another platform that syndicates across multiple sites is Hellotxt. They allow you to syndicate to quite a few services (a growing amount as well), and they also allow you to send updates to mobile phones using their SMS gateway.

If you are interested in checking out yet another service you can try out Switchabit.

Three Tools for Aggregating data

Tired of logging into all of your sites and reading up on all of the newest data? There are a variety of sites that offer you ways to read the highlights and feeds from a variety of sites including (but certainly not limited to):

Plaxo
Spokeo
Friendfeed

Utilizing these services you can more effectively gather content from around the web. I will be discussing these sites aggregating sites and more in the future. For now please take some time and explore them on your own.

Finding tools like the ones mentioned here greatly increase your ability to get around (and stay connected to) the web. You can gain valuable time, time that may be better spent doing other things that you have been putting off…i.e. Playing addicting video games or perhaps hanging out with your kids. What other tools do you know of that help you with sydicating and aggregating data across the web?