From the Shorty Awards interview with BallHyped.com. If you like BallHyped.com, please vote for us at http://shortyawards.com/BallHyped before the end of January.
What’s your best tweet?
Our first, announcing the launch of @BallHyped on Sept. 13 — the anniversary of Tupac’s death oddly enough #StraightBallin’
What are six things you could never do without?
Sports, blogs, twitter, facebook, iphone, fans
How do you use Twitter in your professional life?
We use it to Hype the amazing bloggers who make up the BallHyped.com community
What’s your favorite Twitter app?
Our own of course! Ha. Every app has it’s place, but we really like the ones — like ours — that integrates twitter nicely into your site
Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter, by far. At least for bloggers wanting to get the word out about their blog and connect with others in their niche.
What was the funniest trend you’ve seen?
The Betty White stuff was pretty funny when she was on SNL, but that was all Betty White
What feature should Twitter add?
I wish there was a better way to display saved search tweets and direct messages. Like a your inbox with (#messages) waiting for you
Who do you wish had a Twitter feed but doesn’t?
Tupac Shakur
What are some words or phrases you refuse to shorten for brevity?
As a writer, I try my best to write around short phrases just because I can’t stand anything that resembles a typo. Use bit.ly for the rest!
Is there someone you want to follow you who doesn’t already? If so, who?
We have a number of pro athletes who follow @BallHyped but it would be cool if our boy @the_real_shaq joined the gang
Have you ever unfollowed someone? Who and why?
Spammers and strippers. No disrespect to strippers, but naked avatars are a little spammy. But we try to follow back good bloggers, content
Why should we vote for you?
Because we are what the Short Awards are all about. Unique, original, independent, real time content in the #sports category
Terms you wish would start trending on Twitter right now?
#BallHyped #BallHypedWinsShorty
What’s the most interesting connection you’ve made through Twitter?
We’ve made some great connections w/ high-profile bloggers and sports stars. Watching Patriots right now, and two of their players follow us
Hashtag you created that you wish everyone used?
#ballhyped
How do you make your tweets unique?
Well, it starts with a unique community of the best independent sports writers/bloggers on the web. We just hype their unique content
What inspires you to tweet?
The games people play and the great content our bloggers write about those games, athletes, fans
Ever get called out for tweeting too much?
Some people have unfollowed us for too much content I’m sure, but not the die hard sports fans. They want even more out of us!
140 characters of advice for a new user?
Connect. There are hundreds of tools that help you connect with users in your same space. And be real when you make those connections
How long can you go without a tweet?
Probably an hour or two, but then I start getting ancy. Twancy?
What question are we not asking here that we should?
What’s the best way to build a healthy community on twitter and online in your particular niche/category
How do you imagine Twitter changing?
New twitter has made it clear that it’s going to integrate a lot of the tools third parties have created, although I wish it remained simple
Who do you admire most for his or her use of Twitter?
We’re not real political around here, but the social media efforts by @BARACKOBAMA were impressive no matter your affiliation
Who is the funniest person on Twitter that you follow?
@awfulannouncing, our funniest blogger of the year winner for 2010, along with a handful of classic sports bloggers on BallHyped
What is one of the biggest misconceptions of Twitter?
That it’s one dimensional … and all about the individual. Twitter, to me, is all about connections and community online
Why should people follow you?
To get the best independent sports writing/blogs delivered directly to your desktop, device or doorstep … for free!
Can you name some one-of-a-kind Twitter accounts that you follow?
The hundreds of bloggers who follow @ballhyped
How do you decide what to tweet?
It’s no different than email back in the day. Anything you’d share with friends, family, co-workers and users with similar interests as you
Why’d you start tweeting?
Because we’re a social community of sports bloggers. Twitter is just a mini version of what we’re all about. Sharing great #sports content
Has Twitter changed your life? If yes, how?
It’s helped us connect with the best sports writers in the blogosphere
What do you wish people would do more of on Twitter?
Spend more time listening that typing. Take the time to interact, engage, connect, rather making it all about yourself and the #trends
How will the world change in the next year?
It will continue to become closer, more connected online, but more distant and silo-like in the real world I’m afraid
What are some big Twitter faux pas?
Spam. Only RTing and not submitting your own content. Only tweeting trending topics, and even then it’s not related to the topic
What will the world be like 10 years from now?
The real world will become a lot more virtual. Everyone will be connected … virtually, via mobile devices, tablets, etc. Life 2.0
