I LOVE Twitter. I am totally addicted to it. At one time I read every tweet that came across my screen. When I was on the road I got them to my phone. When I woke up the next day I went back and read everything from my last tweet. Now I follow too many people to do that and most of those people update quite often. What I love about Twitter is the simple communication it gives you to the ones I'm interested in. I know what your doing, what your interested in, what updates you've made to your various sites, and just know what might be new and exciting in not only your life but the web. I use it to say what I'm doing at the moment; to update those that follow me on new videos/photos/blog posts that I have posted; and ask questions to a group that I respect and want their opinion on. The fact that I can get the updates in various ways also makes it that much more enjoyable. Mobile is key for me. But one of the vital parts is the participation of everyone else. If no one was using it then it wouldnt be fun at all. The community is what drives this tool, and I love everyone of you.
Twitter for President!
Jeffrey Sass
· 2 years ago
Chris,
Good post, and useful to all Twitizens. Another benefit I wrote about on my blog is how Twitter is a Discovery Channel. "...Twitter has become my best way to discover. Discover cool websites....discover blogs, podcasts, even breaking news..." The links in Tweets are often the key to open many interesting and exciting doors... (http://sassholes.blogspot.com/2007/04/twitter-i...)
Jim Hathaway
· 2 years ago
Only been trying Twitter for a few days. My early reaction was "WTF!" Then it started to get intriguing. Your perspective here is also most helpful.
Seth
· 2 years ago
Despite the good things I'd heard about Twitter, I also found myself asking "well, what do I do with this?" as not many people I know are particularly interested in "what I'm doing". But what I discovered was the "Micro-Blog" aspect. Whether riding the train, walking to work, reading the paper, or at work, if something pops into my head that I'd like to talk about later on my blog(when I get some free-time), I just quickly text in a few quick fragments about it. My twitter feed, embedded on my site, now acts as a sort of "sketchpad" which can show my--small, but growing--readership what I'm thinking and then they can see, later on, what conclusions I reach, etc.
Marc Orchant
· 2 years ago
Nice job buddy - a great little primer. I agree with what you've written and it aligns nicely with how I use this medium as well. One thing I wanted to add was what we participated in at Gnomedex last week - where Twitter became a "front channel" to the proceedings for those of us who were there as well all of the people we all collectively interact with who weren't. Some of them were watching the proceedings on UStream, others via Twitter, the IRC channel, and/or blogs. It was really quite fascinating.
Chris Pirillo said on his blog that he didn't think Twitter was a positive for Gnomedex. I disagree. I think it provided another way for the community of participants to extend beyond the physical venue in a mostly positive and inclusive fashion.
JoeC
· 2 years ago
Chris, I posted this a while ago, but it might help to inform the conversation about Twitter. It's called Why is Twitter so successful?
Mindy Koch
· 2 years ago
I think I love the most about twitter is that I feel connected to other people even though I am sitting at home in front of my computer trying to make money online in a home business.
I am able to communicate with people who understand things I find fascinating... like the internet, web 2.0, folksonomy, internet marketing, wordpress...
stuff that everyone around me goes "huh" and slips into a "look at her and pretend I care" coma.
Frankly, twitter went from "what the heck" to "how the heck did I live without this?" very quickly.
linkerjpatrick
· 2 years ago
I posted something on my blog earlier mentioning how it helped you find help quickly for your wordpress issues. I also mentioned how I had a hard time getting it to begin with but how my mind has changed over the months.
In addition to sending out my own "personal press releases" Twitter also helps me get a good sense of the pulse of what's going on in the world and Internet based on people's reactions, what they are doing. It's like a "stock ticker" for people and sometimes companies.
It beats e-mail when it comes to sending out short annoucements and I'm fascinated by the people following my tweets including yourself. I appreciate your thoughtful questions and pulse of the "scene".
Jessica Haralson
· 2 years ago
I like the fact that Twitter is basically a modern-day coffee klatch for our generation. It's an extrapolation of the latter day water-cooler -- facetiously "irrelevant", but actually more relevant because these conversations are happening on a global scale.
I'm curious to see if Twitter could be used to affect political change a la the SMS messages in the 2004 Spanish election. What do you think?
Viviane
· 2 years ago
Twitter was really helpful when a bunch of us were meeting up in Chicago for Blogher (AAG, Cunning Minx, Amber Rhea, me). I was seriously delayed but kept folks informed of my whereabouts.
There were a lot of folks using Twitter at BlogHer. Amber and Rusty Twittered during Elizabeth Edwards' keynote.
Bill Palmer - iProng
· 2 years ago
Hi Chris,
As yesterday was my first day on Twitter, your guide comes at a perfect time for me.
I guess my conundrum is that I'm not sure what's appropriate as far as getting people to follow me. I don't much care whether ten thousand people or ten people are following, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel compelled to follow (not even my close friends) if my twitters don't happen to interest them. But is it enough to follow the people that interest me and let them decide to reciprocate if they choose to? Or should I be "announcing to the world" via my blog, facebook, email, etc. that I'm now twittering? Twitter isn't like facebook, where you send and receive direct yes-or-no friend requests to get the ball rolling; this seems more subtle.
It doesn't matter yet, as I kinda like the fact that not many people are following me while I initially figure twitter out and find my footing. Just curious as to how others go about building a following vs. just letting it happen once you've been on there awhile.
Jim Stanger
· 2 years ago
Great post, Chris! Here is a TwitterTip that may not be obvious to folks just getting into it. Despite the transient nature of Twitter posts you can still link to a single post for reference. In each post there is text that displays how old the post is. It also acts as a permalink to the single post itself. Here is Chris' Twitter post that brought me over here:
Is Twitter useful? I do know for me it's not useless. For every throwaway "Waking up" type post there are quite a few that offer fascinating exercises in brainstorming, bookmarking, spot opinion, and news delivery.
It's a bit like being in a cocktail party, and like one I've learned to separate the items I'm paying attention to from the general din of Twitter chatter. For instance, it's fun watching someone bubble ideas to the surface that may eventually land in a meatier blog post. If someone is posting an experience that you can contribute feedback on it's a snap to do so, and may open a door to new friendships or networking opportunities.
As for posting your own items, the possibilities are there. If you inhabit other social networking spaces you probably have a list of favorites and hobbies somewhere on your profile page, right? The beauty of Twitter is it allows you to provide friends and other contacts an extra dimension to understanding you by relaying the experience behind your interests. You could simply tell people you enjoy rollercoasters, or you could flip open your phone after a ride and spell out in 140 character or less what your world looks like upside down at high speed. Whatever you want to call it, mini-blogging, accelerated conversation, mind ping, it's just another method of identifying yourself to the world.
Overall, this tool is what you make it. If you're hesitant it costs nothing to dip your toe in the pool. And if you find a mode of use that appeals to you, excellent... go ahead and add it to your information arsenal. If it's not jiving with the way you communicate with the world that's ok, too. There are only 2,419 other communication & networking tools out there that may provide more value to you. :)
I like it because it helps me remember what I've been up to, and when. Saves me having to struggle. (It's just occurred to me that I use flickr and delicious in this way too; nothing about the social, just the memorial.) Came in really handy with my two-week break last month; we did lots, little stuff mostly, and keeping a track of it this way really helped with the "So what did you get up to" question you get asked when you get back to work. I've tended in the past to answer that with a mumbled "Oh, you know, this and that. Stayed in, mainly, just chilled out and stuff" every time, as that seems more socially acceptable than just going "Erm ... er .. hang on, ... let me think ... er ...", for about twenty minutes, which is the more truthfully response.
Liz Strauss
· 2 years ago
Yea! Thanks for this.
I watched Erika use Twitter to live blog sessions at BlogHer. It was an entirely different experience than the usual "live blog" post. It passed on the feeling of "being there," and that showed in the responses that came back.
One of the most interesting facets of Twitter is the opportunity it offers to be creative and the way folks have picked up that gauntlet and made so many things. Twitter is like modeling clay.
Thanks for this post. I can't wait to pass it on.
Jason Bogovich
· 2 years ago
Great article. I've just started playing with Twitter again. It goes to show that more than anything customers are demanding a highly flexible and open arcitecture for communications, as well as everything else. To me, I think of twitter as a service platform first, and a service second. The amount of things that will be done with twitter could possibly pass up even what's been done with Google Maps. Once again, great article for everyone.
-GS
Laurent Pantanacce
· 2 years ago
Great guide!
If you need to search for friends (real or fake), just check TwitDir.
Hope this helps
Laurent
Roy Jacobsen
· 2 years ago
Chris, Thanks for this.
Now I have to figure out how to find people to twitter with.
Daniele Rossi
· 2 years ago
I've never read a more brilliant description of what Twitter is: "Twitter is an appetizer for who you REALLY are and what you REALLY represent." The definition of micro-blogging has finally sunk into my brain!
And I think you're absolutely correct that what draws readers are tweets which answer "What has your attention right now?"
I've been having a hard time thinking how to use my Twitter account and I think I've found my answer. Thanks again, Chris!
Aside from my own account, I've been using Twitter to see if a story could be told (twitterspud.com). I created accounts for characters and told a story through their dialogue. I think that made my experiment complex with more than 1 character making it too easy for readers to miss tweets as they get buried from other tweets. Or not even realizing what they are reading is a fragment of a story.
Marti
· 2 years ago
Wonderful guide, Chris! Thanks for sharing!
Gardner
· 2 years ago
I have never heard of Twitter until 15 minutes ago. From what I read so far, it sounds like a more irritating version of instant messaging and I despise IM. I don't use IM. I don't use IRC. I have given up on the newsgroups. I don't blog. I will not touch MySpace. I see nothing about Twitter so far that seems even remotely interesting. Your Newbies Guide to Twitter has saved me from a complete waste of time.
Thank you.
Jessica Haralson
· 2 years ago
Jeezy Kreezy, who pissed in Gardner's cornflakes?
If you "don't blog" then why are you here?
Xtopher Robin
· 2 years ago
I just started using Twitter a couple of weeks ago, and I'm completely hooked. Your guide gave me some new ideas to play around with. Now, if they'd just fix AIM integration (I can update, but not recieve updates) so I can use it on my phone (can't do text updates), I'll be much happier.
Any chance at a Newbies guide to Facebook? I recently started one to see what the hype is about, but have yet to be impressed...
techmalaya
· 2 years ago
i really love twitter. especially the ability to post messages from your phone. twitter is also useful for S.0.S messages? anybody agreed with this?
LGR
· 2 years ago
Thanks for the guide. I will give Twitter another shoot and see if I can make more sense out of it.
Craig
· 2 years ago
Even a 61 year old can learn to enjoy Twitter. Thanks for the opportunity to continue to learn on the net.
Frank Coffey
· 2 years ago
I'm the editor of a parody sports website, was told Twitter could help with the murky business of marketing, and then left to try to figure out exactly Twitter might do that. I read and I read and I understood little. Until I read you. Lovely and clear. Thanks.
Arne
· 1 year ago
Thanks Chris! I linked to you in my blog post about using Twitter professionally (www.bembamedia.com). Cheers, Arne
duncan
· 1 year ago
At viygo we have some great features for embedding your twitter posts / timeline using embedded flash. You can also use twitter directly from out site:
Wow, this is an interesting phenomenon. I heard about Twitter and bookmarked this page. But it's taken me a few weeks to get back here to really go through it. I'm still learning - but I find people's comments here really compliment this article - so it's all been a great help to understanding it. Let's face it, I took a look at the Twitter site and was like "oh... ok... cool.. what now?" *twiddle thumbs* !! lol But I think I'm starting to 'get it'! lol My twitter page is is here just in case you want to catch up on there. https://twitter.com/rokchic28 See you on Twitter!
Thanks for this - I just started on Twitter today and had been trying to work out how I was going to use it. Still not completely clear but this has certainly helped.
Perhaps you'll agree that this Twitter video of Hitler "The Twitter Newbie" while trying to get Twitter followers demonstrates how many people (especially marketers) DON'T GET Twitter - much as is the case with Hitler in this spoof.
“Twitter Frustrates Hitler As Followers Split”
It shows the frustration of Adolph Hitler as he attempts to get “followers” on Twitter, yet can only get 3!
Watch and see if you agree with some of the comments:
I haven’t laughed like this in a loooong time. –Ben
That is brilliant. Not to mention so funny I nearly choked on my drink while watching it. –Tom
Noob is moi! You had one comment that I thought was extremely accurate - Twitter is an appetizer for who you REALLY are and what you REALLY represent...
You better be "spot on" with only 120 characters to speak your mind!
Amy Fadida
· 1 year ago
Thank you for this Newbies Guide. Between being bombarded by e-mails, Facebook messages, IMs, etc., and trying to keep up with the latest in social networks, this is very helpful.
Regards.
nice look
· 1 year ago
i downloaded twitterberry onto my phone but how do i sign up for it?
Jag
· 10 months ago
Good post for Twitter Newbies, keep posting
Laurie Sarah
· 10 months ago
Thank you so much! Very helpful - I've been on Twitter for awhile now, and I know I'm getting leads because of it
Jim
· 10 months ago
Chris, Thank you for this. I am still wrapping my brain around the tweetybird and your post here helped quite a bit. I just sent out a tweet asking how to utilize it and felt very much like I was whistling in the dark. I believe that in effect I was as there was noone followed or following. Well spoken. Sincerely, Jim Spaulding
Kay B
· 10 months ago
I'm one of those people who signed up with Twitter, scrolled through the log jam of "junk" posts, clicked on several tabs, hoping I could make sense of why I'd use Twitter, and really came up with NOTHING. I sell on Etsy and occasionally Ebay, but I don't consider myself a company that has to aggressively market the few things I sell. I'm not a part of the social networking HYPE. It may work for some who cannot pull themselves away from their computers, cell phones, PDA's, Blackberry,s, etc, but for me, I'm quite content with the following I already have.
Theresa
· 9 months ago
Thanks for the advice! I was one of those that just didn't get it!
Michael Janik
· 9 months ago
I never understood why it is used as a marketing tool for companies. (I think it shouldn't) Maybe you can add this point to your article.
David North
· 8 months ago
Thanks. People ask me everyday, "What is Twitter?" thanks for the help. I will pass it along.
4justice
· 8 months ago
This helped me think more about whether I want to Twitter.
Duncan
· 8 months ago
Hi, This is my first time using twitter.I signed up on my Blackberry but dont seem to be able to talk to any one.Pls help?
Dafydd
· 7 months ago
Useful article for someone who is looking at Twitter for a voluntary organisation in UK Thands
Caitlin Salinas
· 5 months ago
the pic is my son pouring out the ice cream i guess he was done
Michael
· 3 months ago
Very nice outline of Twitter information. Sign up for our monthly newsletter and get a copy of Technology Workgroup’s eBook “Twitter for Tweetless Tweeple” as a thank you. http://www.technologyworkgroup.com Lots more tips and tricks for getting the most out of Twitter.
All Comments
What I love about Twitter is the simple communication it gives you to the ones I'm interested in. I know what your doing, what your interested in, what updates you've made to your various sites, and just know what might be new and exciting in not only your life but the web.
I use it to say what I'm doing at the moment; to update those that follow me on new videos/photos/blog posts that I have posted; and ask questions to a group that I respect and want their opinion on. The fact that I can get the updates in various ways also makes it that much more enjoyable. Mobile is key for me.
But one of the vital parts is the participation of everyone else. If no one was using it then it wouldnt be fun at all. The community is what drives this tool, and I love everyone of you.
Twitter for President!
Good post, and useful to all Twitizens. Another benefit I wrote about on my blog is how Twitter is a Discovery Channel. "...Twitter has become my best way to discover. Discover cool websites....discover blogs, podcasts, even breaking news..." The links in Tweets are often the key to open many interesting and exciting doors...
(http://sassholes.blogspot.com/2007/04/twitter-i...)
Chris Pirillo said on his blog that he didn't think Twitter was a positive for Gnomedex. I disagree. I think it provided another way for the community of participants to extend beyond the physical venue in a mostly positive and inclusive fashion.
I posted this a while ago, but it might help to inform the conversation about Twitter. It's called Why is Twitter so successful?
I am able to communicate with people who understand things I find fascinating... like the internet, web 2.0, folksonomy, internet marketing, wordpress...
stuff that everyone around me goes "huh" and slips into a "look at her and pretend I care" coma.
Frankly, twitter went from "what the heck" to "how the heck did I live without this?" very quickly.
In addition to sending out my own "personal press releases" Twitter also helps me get a good sense of the pulse of what's going on in the world and Internet based on people's reactions, what they are doing. It's like a "stock ticker" for people and sometimes companies.
It beats e-mail when it comes to sending out short annoucements and I'm fascinated by the people following my tweets including yourself. I appreciate your thoughtful questions and pulse of the "scene".
I'm curious to see if Twitter could be used to affect political change a la the SMS messages in the 2004 Spanish election. What do you think?
There were a lot of folks using Twitter at BlogHer. Amber and Rusty Twittered during Elizabeth Edwards' keynote.
As yesterday was my first day on Twitter, your guide comes at a perfect time for me.
I guess my conundrum is that I'm not sure what's appropriate as far as getting people to follow me. I don't much care whether ten thousand people or ten people are following, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel compelled to follow (not even my close friends) if my twitters don't happen to interest them. But is it enough to follow the people that interest me and let them decide to reciprocate if they choose to? Or should I be "announcing to the world" via my blog, facebook, email, etc. that I'm now twittering? Twitter isn't like facebook, where you send and receive direct yes-or-no friend requests to get the ball rolling; this seems more subtle.
It doesn't matter yet, as I kinda like the fact that not many people are following me while I initially figure twitter out and find my footing. Just curious as to how others go about building a following vs. just letting it happen once you've been on there awhile.
http://twitter.com/chrisbrogan/statuses/209889552
Is Twitter useful? I do know for me it's not useless. For every throwaway "Waking up" type post there are quite a few that offer fascinating exercises in brainstorming, bookmarking, spot opinion, and news delivery.
It's a bit like being in a cocktail party, and like one I've learned to separate the items I'm paying attention to from the general din of Twitter chatter. For instance, it's fun watching someone bubble ideas to the surface that may eventually land in a meatier blog post. If someone is posting an experience that you can contribute feedback on it's a snap to do so, and may open a door to new friendships or networking opportunities.
As for posting your own items, the possibilities are there. If you inhabit other social networking spaces you probably have a list of favorites and hobbies somewhere on your profile page, right? The beauty of Twitter is it allows you to provide friends and other contacts an extra dimension to understanding you by relaying the experience behind your interests. You could simply tell people you enjoy rollercoasters, or you could flip open your phone after a ride and spell out in 140 character or less what your world looks like upside down at high speed. Whatever you want to call it, mini-blogging, accelerated conversation, mind ping, it's just another method of identifying yourself to the world.
Overall, this tool is what you make it. If you're hesitant it costs nothing to dip your toe in the pool. And if you find a mode of use that appeals to you, excellent... go ahead and add it to your information arsenal. If it's not jiving with the way you communicate with the world that's ok, too. There are only 2,419 other communication & networking tools out there that may provide more value to you. :)
Best of luck and have fun!
Jim
http://www.twitter.com/roadup
I watched Erika use Twitter to live blog sessions at BlogHer. It was an entirely different experience than the usual "live blog" post. It passed on the feeling of "being there," and that showed in the responses that came back.
One of the most interesting facets of Twitter is the opportunity it offers to be creative and the way folks have picked up that gauntlet and made so many things. Twitter is like modeling clay.
Thanks for this post. I can't wait to pass it on.
-GS
If you need to search for friends (real or fake), just check TwitDir.
Hope this helps
Laurent
Thanks for this.
Now I have to figure out how to find people to twitter with.
And I think you're absolutely correct that what draws readers are tweets which answer "What has your attention right now?"
I've been having a hard time thinking how to use my Twitter account and I think I've found my answer. Thanks again, Chris!
Aside from my own account, I've been using Twitter to see if a story could be told (twitterspud.com). I created accounts for characters and told a story through their dialogue. I think that made my experiment complex with more than 1 character making it too easy for readers to miss tweets as they get buried from other tweets. Or not even realizing what they are reading is a fragment of a story.
Thank you.
If you "don't blog" then why are you here?
Any chance at a Newbies guide to Facebook? I recently started one to see what the hype is about, but have yet to be impressed...
http://www.viygo.com/twitter
or
http://duncanmeech.googlepages.com/twitterembed...
-duncan
My twitter page is is here just in case you want to catch up on there. https://twitter.com/rokchic28
See you on Twitter!
Cheers
http://www.freesmsfrompctomobile.com/
Perhaps you'll agree that this Twitter video of Hitler "The Twitter Newbie" while trying to get Twitter followers demonstrates how many people (especially marketers) DON'T GET Twitter - much as is the case with Hitler in this spoof.
“Twitter Frustrates Hitler As Followers Split”
It shows the frustration of Adolph Hitler as he attempts to get “followers” on Twitter, yet can only get 3!
Watch and see if you agree with some of the comments:
I haven’t laughed like this in a loooong time. –Ben
That is brilliant. Not to mention so funny I nearly choked on my drink while watching it. –Tom
Hilarious & genius!!!! –Bob
Thank you, we need humor in our lives. –Marlene
It’s on YouTube or at my blog:
http://danhollings.posterous.com/twitter-frustr...
You better be "spot on" with only 120 characters to speak your mind!
Regards.
Thank you for this. I am still wrapping my brain around the tweetybird and your post here helped quite a bit. I just sent out a tweet asking how to utilize it and felt very much like I was whistling in the dark. I believe that in effect I was as there was noone followed or following. Well spoken.
Sincerely,
Jim Spaulding
Thands