Twitter is not just 'en vogue'...it is a powerful microblogging platform and engagement tool.

The reason for this post is due to an interesting conversation which took place today in which tweets were under direct attack as being just some miscelaneous recreational undertaking. Sorry but for those of us who use twitter on an almost daily basis understand its true importance and impact in helping us communicate, network, and become informed. For some, twitter is just the new kid on the block and for others it is an essential component of creating a strong online presence.

Here are two good sights full of statistics to share and help you make the most of those "So what?" conversations.

50 twitter goodies

The Ultimate List: 100+ twitter stats

These days, I get a lot of questions about why I use twitter. It's a popular question and surprising considering how mainstream the micro-blogging service is becoming. It seems as though many individuals, brands, and organizations are jumping on the bandwagon. Recent reports show that Twitter has actually surpassed MySpace in terms of traffic.

Validation? Sure sounds like it.

Here are my top five reasons for using Twitter:

5. I can follow my interests.

4. The content stream is ongoing.

3. Oftentimes, the first source for important news updates.

2. Participation is easy and fun!

1. Ability to network.

The good news...is that there's plenty of room for participation on the level of "creators".