I agree with your points on genuine representation of brands on-line. I also think there is a high risk in agency work on Twitter (or any social media channel within the brand’s social lanscape) front though I would leave the space open for those who can do it wisely – in some cases better than the brand employees, for example. I think it is difficult to generalise when it comes to Twitter. In some cases brands will pick up Twitter themselves, in some they need help in understanding the value of genuine tonality and content – in which case tweeting with or for them does help. Having worked for few agencies and various clients myself, I think it’s a challenging work which depends on internal comms of the client and clear goals of their social media engagement. I am personally the fan of tweeting by people who simply know what the brand has to say/respond/converse about – whatever their relationship with the brand is (as long as it is disclosed, of course!).

It’s an extremely interesting topic, I am glad you started the discussion!

I would love to see the point in time when all marketers and other brand representatives see the value of real Twitter conversations…

You write: “is a massive collection of private conversations being held in public” which is understood.

A conversation in my understanding of the word means listen or read communication – understand and then respond to the message received.

I have see small evidence of this happening – conversations

This would seems to me be a function of the volume of traffic – if it is not how is it done with the sheer volume of tweets and that is for someone who has limited followers.

I would further your point…”If you want people to be interested in you, you need to give them a reason.” If you want people to be interested in you, your organization, your cause or your campaign, you need to be interested in THEM! You don’t show up to a party where you don’t like or care about anyone else there and then get mad when no one wants to try your dessert, even if it is a revolution in the culinary industry. The same on Twitter (and really anywhere online). A network, a community, a public forum, it only works and conversations only build then you care as much as those you want to reach.

Thanks for starting the conversation here!