These nine statements were the basis of my presentation at the NYC Grassroots Media Conference this afternoon. (And yes, they’re all 140 characters or less.)

1. IT’S EASY. It’s simple to join Twitter, and simple to post. You can do it at the spur of the moment.

2. IT’S IMMEDIATE. Readers will see what you write in minutes. If you’re making news, Twitter gets your news out NOW.

3. IT’S OPEN. Anyone interested in what you’re doing can find you, and you can find people talking about the same stuff.

4. IT’S CONNECTED. Twitter encourages conversation and builds relationships. It lets you make contacts outside your circle.

5. IT’S FLEXIBLE. Twitter lets you integrate media. You can post photos, video, links, blog content, use it as message board, chatroom.

6. IT’S CONCISE. 140 characters forces you to speak clearly and forcefully to an open-ended audience.

7. IT’S CUMULATIVE. Twitter followers tend to be “sticky,” so connections accumulate without intensive effort.

8. IT’S SUSTAINABLE. Blogging can be a chore, but since you don’t need to maintain by regular posting, Twitter isn’t an energy suck.

9. IT’S NEW. Nobody knows for sure where it’s going, and lots of folks are eager to find out. That’s an opening, in all sorts of ways.