Twitter 101

Micro-blogging is the biggest platform on the web and Twitter is definitely the biggest! As I said in my first post, I am just learning about this and hope you will learn right along with me. Twitter is broadcasting "real time" to your readers.

Twitter, in regards to social networking, can be used as a tool to build your brand and raise awareness. Twitter branding is a lot more personal because of the IM (instant messaging) environment -- it thins the line between you and your readers.

Some other benefits I have found out about Twitter in regards to social networking is:

Twitter can give you honest and live feedback

Networking - Follow peers, open up to mutual promotional work, and build future business relationships

Market and pitch your products and services

You can also publicize and promote blog posts on Twitter

Now, we just need to figure out HOW to do all this!

The following are notes I have taken about Twitter. Again, I am not even sure what all this means exactly, but everyday, I seem to find out more and more. I will keep delving into this until I really know what I am talking about!

Direct Messages (DM) - Only the recipient sees the message. You can send a DM to someone who is following you. To see if someone is following you and to send a direct message:

1. On the User's Profile page, click that person's @username anywhere you see it, or type into the URL bar on your web browser after Twitter.com

2. Under the "Actions" in the right side bar, if it says block so and so, then you cannot DM them

3. Click the "Message" link

4. Compose your direct message in this box. Click send.

B. How to Import Contact Lists to Twitter

1. Select the email account type from which you want to import on the LEFT side of the Twitter screen. Type your email credentials in the Your Email and Email Password text boxes

2. Twitter looks at your contact list from your email account and gives you a list of all the people from your address book who are on Twitter

3. Check boxes of people you want to follow

4. Click Continue button

5. Repeat for all other networks

6. You can also click Find People and search

So I guess we have a little homework at this point. I am going to sign off and try these things out. I will let you know what happens!

Let me know what you find out too.

Deb

Twitter is quick because your are limited to 140 characters