Tweetup putting faces to names on Twitter

Social media gurus are gathering tonight for Marlborough's first Tweetup.

Organiser Alistair Bull, 31, whose online alias is MarlboroughNZ, has been exploring online social media site Twitter for the past year and says the event, to be held at the Dodson Street Bistro and Ale House, will be about showing people the benefits of using the site and "putting faces to names of those online".

"Anyone interested in social media is invited."

Mr Bull, who owns online marketing and web strategies business thefullnoise.co.nz, joined Twitter about a year ago for internet marketing and "general social fun".

"I've just seen the potential for promoting Marlborough and business.

"We have more here to offer than just grapes."

Marlburians online were a little difficult to find when he first joined up, but he knew of as many as 26, predominantly from the wine industry, who avidly used the site now.

"It's kind of like two degrees of separation, but even closer," he said.

"There's people I can contact that there was no way I could contact before."

Mr Bull said people online were more willing to talk to people.

"It takes away some of that social apprehension ... and it's easy to find people interested in similar things.

"(Twitter) can be work or completely addictive."

The Marlborough Tweetup, 7.30pm tonight at the Dodson Street Bistro and Ale House.