Twitter’s question above their Tweet submission field is famous:

“What are you doing?”

That question alone is responsible for people’s perceptions about Twitter as a place to tell people what you’re having (or had) for lunch, or read about what someone did at the beach this weekend.

The majority of people who use Twitter send the kind of messages that answer that question indirectly, if not directly.

The majority of people who aren’t users can’t understand why they would want to read about the inane thoughts and actions of people they don’t know or care about.

And yet, with all of this perception – and reality – about how people use Twitter, a small but growing percentage of Twitter users understand that Twitter goes FAR beyond just being a “place” to mention what you’re doing, or read about someone else’s dinner.

Twitter is a SERVICE that can be used to BUILD RELATIONSHIPS of all kinds – personal and professional – and on all levels, from casual to intimate. Entrepreneurs, businesses and non-profits are using Twitter to build relationships that are resulting in sales, service and adding great value and doing much good well outside of the Twitterverse.

Some people feel that the character of Twitter and it’s usefulness and perceptions about it could be changed by one simple action: Changing the “Twitter Question.”

I could even see changing it DAILY – in the spirit of Google’s daily graphic change above their home-page search bar.

I’d love to see:

“What are you doing to make a difference in the world today?”

one day, and

“Who are you most inspired by and why?”

another.

140 characters too limiting for answers to these questions? Certainly not! And for those who needed more than 140 characters, there’s always multiple Tweets, or links to a blog post on the subject.

Imagine for a moment that Twitter WAS open to changing it’s “Twitter Question,” but only once (not daily). You’ve got one chance to suggest THE new “Twitter Question.”

Do you think that “What are you doing?” is fine, and shouldn’t be changed?

Here are some possible other Twitter Questions” to get you thinking:

“What’s on your mind?”

“What’s in your heart?”

“What would you like to share?”

“Who or what moves your cheese?”

Or something else?

Take the poll on this blog, and make sure to leave a comment, especially if you want to suggest another question than the ones that you can vote on.

We’ll keep you posted.

Jay Aaron
Founder, Twitter Central dot NET
Follow me on Twitter:  http://Twitter.com/newthoughts

What should people who use Twitter be called?

Twitterers?

Tweeters?

Twits?

Tweeple?

Share your opinion at Twitter Central dot NET.

We’ll keep you posted.

Twitter Central dot NET is your portal to “All Things Twitter.”

You’ll get a sense of what you’ll find here by reading the “About Twitter Central dot NET” page.

We’re here to help you use Twitter successfully, whether for strictly social or business reasons.

Let us know how we can help, and we’ll do our best!