For the next week I will use Twitter instead of Google whenever I

I experienced Twitter beat Google at its own game today, and it has led me to start an experiment in live social networks over the archived web. I am going to spend the next week using Twitter instead of Google whenever I feel the urge to 'Google' something. 

Here's why. Today I was Googling restaurants near my home that I could go to for a sunday roast. A few suggestions from the people in the room and my own experiences helped. But I thought I'd ask Twitter: 

"Where does a good sunday roast near Reading / Pangbourne / Berkshire?" Responses I got back over the next few minutes were first class. 

Stuff I couldn't find anywhere else. They came from people who I follow and / or who follow me on Twitter, so they were personal and personalised. They were not bookmarks, reviews or 'diggs'. They were people's views and they came out of nowhere. I received them as both replies and direct messages. And for what it's worth, they told me to try: the four Points, Malmaison, The Bull and Butcher, The Pot Kiln, The Wellington Arms, The Royal Oak and The Swan. Wow! Then when I mentioned on Twitter that I used Twitter instead of Google, again I got a big, favourable response. I think this just might me a worthwhile experiment. If not, well, then at least the world gets to read the rubbish that I type into Google! 

So follow me in my experiment if you have some time to spare / waste, and try it out if you're feeling like a refreshing change.

Comments

[Drew]

The fat middle - makes sense and is very apt. It will suit me well :)

Cheers Tom - good insight. As serendipity would have it, this topic of using your community on a social network for search is being debated by a bunch of tech VCs right now at a conference. http://is.gd/mw1i

[Robert Klucevsek]

Hi Drew,

Tweet Beeps are the new Google Alert: http://tweetbeep.com/.

Sounds like Twitter is beating Google in more ways than one?

Thanks for your post!

~Rachel