1. You're in the Communications Business.

   Whether or not Twitter is a flash in the pan or here for the long haul, it's currently gaining popularity among adults. (According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 1 in 5 Americans use Twitter or another social service.) It's a very popular way to communicate digitally. Try it if only to know what it's like. Take part in the digital dialogue or risk being left behind.

2. You Can Build Relationships for Business.

   Find & follow other print buyers as well as designers, paper pros, printers, mail specialists, direct marketers, and on and on. These relationships can and do yield value. You'll get questions answered, discover new resources, and learn about events, books, articles, and news items that are meaningful to you.

3. You Can Keep Up with Industry Changes.

   Breaking news in and around print and the graphic arts, as well as the 'bigger picture' of Media, is reported on Twitter. If you follow the right people as well as the right media outlets, you will regularly be in the know.

4. You Can Add Value for Your Employer.

   The role of the professional print buyer is changing radically. Now is the time to actively add value as you evolve to reflect current business trends. Being on Twitter will open your eyes to new ways of doing business, new ideas to bring to your firm. If you've chosen your followers wisely, they will all have something to offer you. And if you're looking for employment, you might get some solid leads. If nothing else, people in the field will get to know you.

5. It's Free, and It's Easy.

   There's really no excuse for you not to give Twitter a shot. Participate as much or as little as you want. I visit it a few times each day to see if there's news or posts or events or fresh ideas that intrigue me.

I find that being on Twitter gets me outside of my own head. Tweets by folks I follow expand my world cumulatively - 140 characters at a time. I learn about all kinds of creative ways to be a professional communicator as well as a professional in communications. If this old dog keeps learning new tricks, you can, too.