@bitpakkit VP of Overlay.tv

Q1 Name

Ben Watson

Q2 Twitter username

bitpakkit

Q3 Location

Ottawa, Canada

Q4 Website

http://bitpakkit.com – blog

http://overlay.tv – company

Q5 Bio

Villager. Ben recently joined Overlay.TV as VP, Marketing from Yahoo! where he had served as Sr. Director of Product Strategy for Yahoo! advertising products, focused on ad platforms strategy. Prior to that he spent many years at both Adobe and Microsoft in senior product management and marketing roles, starting the conversations that lead to adoption strategies for .NET, Flex, Web Services, AJAX and other standards and technologies. He has worked on creative and content strategies with major brands and media properties such as GM, Toyota, Sprint, Purina, American Express, Spin, Vibe, Wedding Bells, Proctor & Gamble and Canadian brands such as Toronto Life, Fashion Magazine, Canadian Geographic, Bell, MSN Sympatico. His background in media, advertising and design have taken him around the world, evangelizing community and a connected life as the most transparent and effective way to enter into the marketing conversation. Ben studied fine art, advertising, media and design at McMaster University and Ontario College of Art. You can start a conversation with Ben right now, by connecting to him through Twitter, @bitpakkit.

Q6 When did you start using Twitter and how were you introduced to it?

I started using it earlier this year (2008) immediately after a team member at Yahoo! showed it to me.

Q7 What are your typical Twitter habits on an average day (e.g. frequency & time of day most active)?

I am usually most active in the morning – Twitter and a coffee – and in the evening after

Q8 What are the main reasons you use Twitter (e.g. business, marketing, fun, community etc)?

I use Twitter to have an conversation with everyone about everything.  I find it more intellectually stimulating than a water cooler or small talk, and so tend to also use Twitter to connect with new people, do research on how people are using technology, to get perspectives on news and happenings, find out who will be attending events.  On the business front I have made and maintained several business contacts and use it to explore ways that our company can work with other emerging technology companies.  Most recently I used it to actively evaluate a new PR firm.

Q9 What aspects of Twitter do you love?…

The people.  The concept is simple so I guess I kind of love the technology too, but really I just love the people that use it, how they use it and the way we all connect, share, inspire, motivate and manage.

Q10 …and dislike (if any)?

I dislike orders and self-serving suggestions from supposed experts on how to use Twitter.  There is this group of people that think they somehow discovered the brave new world because they created a Twitter account and they act all-knowing and blog and post about how to use Twitter.  I’m pretty sure Twitter has a help section.

Q11 If you could make changes to Twitter what would they be?

I would have it state in its terms and conditions that users are not allowed to post about how to use Twitter and should instead leave it up to interpretation based on the user experience extended by the application.

Q12 If you Tweet from a PC or a Mac which Twitter applications do you use and why (e.g. main Twitter site, Tweetdeck etc)?

I use the web version.  I used to use Twhirl.  I think peoplebrowsr has potential.

Q13 When posting Tweets via mobile, what applications do you use most (e.g. Twitteriffic, Tweetie, Twinkle etc)?

Twitterberry

Q14 What other Twitter apps and tools do you use and would recommend?

Twitter search.

Q15 Do you actively seek followers? If so how do you go about increasing your followers?

I do.  I follow people who say interesting things and reach out to them or share what they say.  In my opinion people follow if you say or share interesting things.  I guess I must do that.

Q16 Do you automatically ‘follow’ back or are you more selective?

I am selective in follow-backs.

Q17 If looking for people to follow what attributes do you look for?

That they share interesting things and are not just having constant two-way dialogues with limited groups of people.  I also do not like it when users ask questions that they never answer themselves or respond to (maybe they are trying to get Twitter users to write their book for them or something?).

Q18 What type of behaviour would make you unfollow someone?

Spam links.  Endless blog post links.  Visible anger.

Q19 What tips do you have for newbies?

Take your time.  Talk a lot.  Say what you really feel.  I think sage advice is this – noone cares what  you want them to think, they care what you think.

Q20 Do you use an auto welcome message?

Never.  Ew.  Imagine a robot standing at the door of your house answering the doorbell, or an IVR system answering your personal phone calls.

Q21 How do you find new people to follow (e.g. Twellow, Summize, friends of friends etc)?

My biggest growth in new friends comes from industry events and shared news interests, but I also meet through friends of friends and searching interesting topics.

Q22 How many Twitter accounts do you have? If more than one – how many actively used?

One.

Q23 What are your views on Magpie?

Ew.

Q24 Do you know what hashtags are and do you use them?

I dont think hashtags work anymore do they?  You can just search the term so I dont see the point in putting the # in front anymore.  It used to form the link to search but that doesnt work anymore.

Q25 Qwitter – do you use it? If someone unfollows you do you reciprocate?

I do keep track of who is following me and who unfollows me but more randomly.

Q26 If you agree that Twitter should be monetized do you have any suggestions how?

Paid service like SMS, including the fees to cover SMS use if you use it for that.  Also it could have ads in the setup pages and you could gain points/credits by following sponsor users.  All commercial/brand users should pay a premium.

Q27 What other social media communities do you belong to? Which do you use more often?

All of them.  I am bitpakkit everywhere.  Friendfeed, Bloglog, Ning groups, Yahoo groups, and plethora of communities.  One of my favorites is adgabbers founded by Steve Hall and Angela Natividad and the crew there.

Q28 Any famous people you’d like to see join up with Twitter?

Anyone as long as it’s actually them.  Bring it on.

Q29 I’m looking for interesting people to follow – who do you recommend and why?

I would follow everyone who is real and transparent and not fishing for attention or constantly checking to see if they have juice (counting their grades and followers and somesuch).  Especially I am following right now because they are all awesome and amazing (disclaimer: there are couple I keep in there for purely business reasons or perhaps to watch as they slowly self destruct)

Q30 What other question would complete this interview (if any)

Do you have any advice for new Twitter users? A: Nope.