The Ashton Kutcher Effect on Twitter

So the web was alive with the sound of a million followers for Ashton Kutcher on twitter. A million followers?? It made me think of the impact that may have on twitter

1. There is no doubt that twitter is fast developing mainstream status. That brings with it good and bad news for us mere mortals. Great because the potential reach of our personal brands is wider, bad because you are transitioning from small pond to big pond and it will be harder to gain recognition.
2. What is twitter for? Does the emergence of people with high followers change the game? Has it moved from micro blogging with micro followers to a broadcast to the masses? I think potentially for the big brands both personal and corporate but twitter can be whatever YOU want it to be. Ashton Kutcher needs global popularity to increase his pulling power at the box office, I need loyal followers who are ready to connect with me or my knowledge. Different needs.
3. What does it prove? Does it prove engagement with social media or does it prove that traditional methods of advertising such as billboards and TV requests on Oprah are still the best way to gain mass engagement? Or is it a sign that people will always back the person who stands against the media firm?
4. What are the lessons that we can take from the Kucher effect?

• If you want to develop an online brand, you need to learn how to promote yourself.
• If you want mass connection then combining social with traditional media is still the best policy.
• It is important to decide what you want out of social networking – numbers or engagement?
• It is important to decide are you a broadcaster or a personal connector?
• If all else fails take a picture of a well known person in their underwear and your followers will increase!!

After saying all this I am for celebrities on twitter, I am a supporter of brands using twitter – but would love to know how you feel about it – are you jealous of 1m followers or do you see it as helping you by bringing new people to social media?