Twitter Fast Start Guide for Newbies

Chris    Social media     help, how to, social networking, Twitter, web 2.0

Welcome to the easiest, fastest way to get started with Twitter.

What is Twitter?
Micro-blogging or think of it as internet txting, you send messages up to 140 characters.

Why use to Twitter?
To communicate or receive communication from people.

Step 1: Get Connected
- Sign up for a Twitter account.
- Enter your name and other relevant details, upload a profile pic and customise your Twitter profile look under ‘Settings’.

Step 2: Enhance Your Browser
- If you use Firefox, download the Twitbin addon for your browser, it’s FREE.
- Twitbin adds a left sidebar to Firefox so you can view Twitter while using your browser as usual.

Step 3: Get Mobile
If you have a Blackberry, install the TwitterBerry app, it’s FREE
or
If you have an iPhone or iTouch ipod, install FREE version of Twitterific
or
If you have normal mobile phone with java capability, install the Tiny Twitter app, it’s FREE
- This is so you can use Twitter away from your computer (requires data connection).
- You can also make SMS updates once you set your phone up with Twitter under ‘Devices’ in ‘Settings’.

Step 4: ‘Follow’ People
- Go to people’s Twitter profiles and click ‘follow’ ie. go to Twitter.com/ChrisYong and follow me!
- Go to WeFollow.com and find some famous people to follow.
- Go through other people’s ‘following’ and ‘followers’ list to find people to follow.

Step 5: Enjoy Reading Tweets
- Tweet = short message sent through Twitter.
- Some people tweet occasionally, some people will tweet a lot. Some tweets are personal, some tweets are informative. People can tweet about anything

Step 6: Enjoy Making Tweets
- Share with people whatever is on your mind or what you’re currently doing, if you wish to.

Using Twitter
- Standard tweet – can be seen by anyone following you.
- Reply tweet – ‘@person’ is prefixed to your tweet. That person and any of your followers that follow that person will see tweet.
- Direct message – private message to that person.
- Favourite – save someone’s tweet to read again another time.
- Retweet – forwarding someone else’s tweet on to your followers. ‘RT’ is prefixed to your tweet.

Enjoy!