Last night I spent time with my Tweeps listening to a TwitCast broadcast from BigSeminar 12 in Atlanta.  It’s become my Friday night ritual: logging in to http://www.TwitCastRadio.com and catching up with all my Twitter friends as well as learning some valuable Twitter tips. 

TwitCasts are a great way to be where the action is – especially if time or finances keep you from attending some of the Internet Marketing or Blogging Seminars.  If you’re just starting your online business, chances are you don’t have the cash flow to attend a live seminar.  Twitter and TwitCasts make it possible for you to be part of the action and follow what’s going on.  That’s one of the great things I love about Twitter and FriendFeed and all the new social networks – the collaborative environment just can’t be beat.

If you’re not on one of these networks, you need to get yourself on one soon.  These networks are changing the way we do online business and they’re changing the way we market ourselves.  Gone are the days of a zillion e-mails screaming for you to “buy my stuff before time runs out.”  New social marketing is about adding value and creating connections.  It’s relationship marketing and if you don’t learn this new way of connecting with the world, you’re going to get left behind.

Connecting with Deborah Micek and Warren Whitlock on their weekly TwitCasts are not only a great way to build your network, but it’s also a way to pick up some valuable marketing lessons.  Tonight, they had a Twitterview with Willie Crawford (@WillieCrawford).  Anyone who has been following Internet Marketing for any period of time will undoubtedly be familiar with that name.  He shared a great observation on the call.  He said that Twitter enables you to speak directly to the people you want to speak to.  That marketers like himself are much more reachable on Twitter as they’re still posting and monitoring tweets themselves.  You’re more likely to get on their radar this way.  And who knows what kind of opportunities those connections can bring.

Another guest on the call was John Atkinson, the mind behind PimpMyNews.com.  I just surfed on over to the site to see what it was all about.  PimpMyNews scours the web 24/7 for text news & blog posts that YOU like and converts them to MP3s that you listen to (vs. R-E-A-D) on your iPod, iPhone or PC – anytime, anywhere!  Of course, it only took me about 10 seconds before I was registering for my own account.  🙂

Other guests included Christina Hills, the Shopping Cart Queen whom I’ve always wanted to talk to.  And Dan Hollings who was the marketing guy behind The Secret.  All people I’m now following on Twitter.  All people with whom I hope to make a connection and share, learn and grow together.

So next time you find yourself with an hour to spare on a Friday night, be sure to join a TwitCast live.  Sure you can listen to the replay on Blog Talk radio but nothing beats connecting with a group of like minded individuals live.

Here’s hoping I’ll connect with you soon too!  I’m @deborahcarraro on Twitter.  Follow me.