Let’s look at the big picture by taking a step back and see that Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Tumblr, Posterous, Vimeo, Foursquare, Instagram, Gowalla, GetGlue, MySpace, Buzz, DeviantART, Google Reader, Digg, Forrst, Livestream, dribbble, Reddit, Badoo, DailyBooth, Ning, Photobucket, Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, Orkut, Blip.fm, Ping, Last.fm, blip.tv, meetup.com, Friendster, Bebo, identi.ca, UStream, podcasting, blogging, commenting, web 1.0 forums, IM, IRC, email, text messaging, telephone calls, snail mail, sign language, voice, sticky notes, napkins, morse code, numbers stations, smoke signals, drum beats and body language share one thing in common.
Each is yet another form of communication.
I agree with your post, Dan. Every one of these forms of communication are yet another tool in the communications ‘tool box’. Each with their own unique audience.
So, when one is considering communicating a specific message, as with every form of communication, one must always consider the audience, where they’re looking for information and what one’s desired outcome of that should be. Otherwise how do you measure success?