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Finding friends from competitors on Twitter

Twitter 13 Feb 2009
13 Comments

I was on twhirl this morning and saw something really awesome (I am sure this happens all the time, but it was my first).

Notice the below image; a reply from @jmacofearth (Dell), @JanetATHP (HP) and @AMDOpteronPhil (AMD) all in a row.  I thought it was really cool and it got me thinking about the true nature of social media; and how competitors can follow each other, learn, share and even collaborate at times. And, maybe they aren’t even competitors. Maybe they are friends who work at competitive companies. Yeah, I like that much better.

I had to search the archives for this one; but here is Kevin fron Nvidia poking a little fun at me.

And of course, I cannot forget my good friend Wesley from AMD who will soon be contributing to Conversations Matter. : )

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About the author

Michael Brito

Michael Brito is a Senior Vice President of Social Business Planning at Edelman Digital. He helps his clients transform their organizations to be more open, collaborative and socially proficient; with the end result of creating shared value with employees, partners and customers. Prior to Edelman, Michael worked for Intel and Hewlett Packard in various social media marketing roles. Opinions posted here are his own. Feel free to follow him on Twitter, subscribe to this blog or read some more of his content on Social Business News.

  • http://uber.la John McElhenney

    Funny you would even use the word competitors. I mean if HP and DELL are not allies then what are we/they. [BTW: I left Dell as of 2 weeks ago. All good though.]

    But I WANT to hear about your idea. I am super curious. As an ally and friend. ;-) Now, AMD, I can see where the word competitor would ring true on that one. But me and HP, we’re dependent on your success.

    JMac

  • http://www.britopian.com Michael Brito

    Yeah, I mentioned Dell and HP to illustrate the diversity and the fact than many of them (you, well not anymore) can be friends too ..

    kumbaya my Lord ….

  • http://prmeetsmarketing.wordpress.com Csalomonlee

    Michael – thanks for raising a good point as I think social media is breakig down the walls of “competitors.” While one will argue that you have to be careful of your image when communicating with competitors, I think there is a way to listen and learn from “competitors” without saying that they are better than your company. Rather, I would argue that customers and prospects will have a more favorable opinion of you in the end. What do you think?

  • http://www.internet-marketing-online-plans-and-strategies.com Fred Roberts

    Though it is true but somewhere I feel as if competition increases as people get to know more about the businesses of their competitors. Does that really happen?
    Fred

  • http://www.britopian.com Michael Brito

    @Csalomonlee I agree with you 100%. I make it my point to try and connect with competitors in the same space who have a similar job function as I do. I think it’s good to nurture that relationship and even bounce ideas off of them.

    : )

  • http://www.marketleveragetv.com MLDina

    Just because we’re competitors doesn’t mean we’re enemies! I think it’s great that other networks are our Twitter/Linked In friends, and we’re theirs! We support each other in a healthy competition kind-of way.

  • http://www.britopian.com Michael Brito

    @MLDIna
    thanks for your comment! I really do appreciate it! AMD seems to think otherwise…lol (he is kidding).

    http://hugheston.blogspot.com/2009/02/know-thy-enemy.html

  • http://www.marketleveragetv.com MLDina

    LOL can’t we all just get along?! :D Will you be at Pubcon/SXSW?

  • http://www.brickmarketing.com Nick Stamoulis

    i think before sites like Twitter competitors really had no communication links besides phone and email. At least now their audience can see them communicate right there in front of everyone.

  • http://www.jackkeifer.com Jack Keifer

    Great point about the thinning of barriers between competitors. I’m fairly new to twitter and this is something that I have been observing myself.

    There are some great ideas that are being bounced around and shared among like minded people. I like your outlook on competitors actually being more like friends working at competitive companies.

    Thanks for the insightful post.

    -Jack

  • http://www.northstarcreative.net Laura MacPherson

    Great points! I have found Twitter to be a great tool for connecting to others in my industry, including competitors. It’s great to be able to share ideas and best practices, creating a friendly environment. We’re competitors but we’re also now friends.

  • http://www.dnaofsuccess.com Jack Zufelt

    Great points. Twitter is a great tool for bringing people, even competitors together.

  • http://www.spiritualpreneurs.com Sharon Wilson

    As someone who works from home, I’ve met many colleagues in my field that I might not have had a chance to before. It brings a bit of the office social scene back into my life.

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