Twitter changed the way we connect - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Seven years ago, a big event in the digital world changed the way we connect. Thursday marks the anniversary of the creation of Twitter.

Of course, with 200 million users, the social media site has had a big impact on the way we live and work in the Heartland.

Whether it's people, public organization, business or media, Twitter is connecting our area to the world.

It has become such a part of daily life-the fight for followers has even sparked a few friendly competitions.

In this case, two Main Street stores: Somewhere in Time Antiques versus Sloan and Themis in a battle over who can make the most connections on Twitter.

"We have kind of an ongoing duel about twitter fans," said Claire Bruce of Sloan and Themis, a vintage jewelry store.

"The competition is I have twice as many followers as she does," laughed Paula Haas of Somewhere in Time Antiques.

At last check, Bruce had 227 followers, and Haas count totaled 406.

"I can think of a lot of worse people that beat me on Twitter," said Bruce. "She's an amazing lady."

"To be my age, with is 62, everybody says I'm pretty tech savvy," said Haas. "But I learn things from her and she learns things from me."

Both ladies say Twitter has taken their Cape Girardeau stores worldwide.

"It's like dropping a rock in a pond - it's networking," said Haas. "My followers are everybody from stay at home moms to people in Britain. The world of antiques is very broad and it has helped me gather a totally different audience than I would have had without social media. One connection leads to the next and really helps make Cape a destination. I knew I had to learn if I wanted to reach people."

Haas first post everything to Facebook, which she says she mastered first as a platform for her business. Then, from there everything automatically posts to Twitter.

"So, it's really easy. It's kind of a cheat but it makes it a lot easier," said Haas. "I get new followers every day."

"It allows me to interact with others in my business that may be making similar products," said Bruce. "I can quickly convey information that people may be interested in."

Bruce says Twitter took her vintage jewelry to the pages of magazines like Midwest Living and international blogs as far away as South Africa.

"It only takes 4-5 words to get the point across," said Bruce.

Meanwhile, Stacy Dohogne Lane at the Cape Girardeau Convention And Visitors Bureau says Tweets from public and private organizations are bringing more people to Cape Girardeau.

"It's how I keep in touch with a lot of travel bloggers who to bring families here," said Lane.

She's regularly tweeting about the community on the CVB site. In fact, Lane sets everything up to post in advance so that she can be on more social media platforms efficiently. She says those 140 characters allowed per Tweet have proven to be more than enough to reach across thousands of miles to bring in people who never would have otherwise discovered Cape Girardeau.

"I wasn't a big Twitter user at first but now that I'm within it, I can imagine not having it," said Lane. "I tell people to think of it as a bunch of headlines or Facebook statuses. It is really easy after you get started."

If you want to connect with other users face to face, or learn more about how Twitter can help you connect SEMO and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship invite you to state of Missouri's first ever HootUP. It's part of CIE's Creativity Festival in Cape Girardeau. It will be at Lagniappe's (the old Mollie's location) on April 4 from 6-8 p.m.

Check out these links to learn more:

http://hootupcape.eventbrite.com/

http://www.semo.edu/entrepreneurship/student-entrepreneurship/45087.htm

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