The How, What, Why of Twitter

The Twitter fail whale error message.
Image via Wikipedia

Here is the basic introduction to  Twitter in video form–streamed from YouTube.

The “How” part of Twitter is extremely easy.  Sign up and start typing.  You’ll be surprised how quickly your use of language will become quite efficient.  And you’ll soon get a feel of just how much (or how little) will fit into 140 characters.  It’s great training for poets.

The “What” depends upon your purpose is for using Twitter.  You might think at the beginning that everyone uses Twitter to sell you something–usually having to do with how to use Twitter to sell something using Twitter.  It all gets a bit circular.

But don’t panic.  Those users are just the ones who are quickest to follow you in hopes that you will return the favor.

Most people use Twitter to socialize with others who have common interests.  Before following anyone, make sure that there is a common thread that connects you to that person.  I do that by taking a look at a number of their most recent tweets.  If every third tweet seems to be trying to sell something,  I certainly do not follow.  I look for people who have something interesting to say–interesting to me.  I especially enjoy following people who point out interesting things that I can read, such as blog posts that interest me.  If those people happen to also want to sell me something occasionally, I don’t mind.

The “Why”…  Some people decide too quickly that Twitter is not for them at all.  If you hang around long enough to get a feel for it and select those that you follow thoughtfully, you’ll discover the reason that Twitter exists for you.  Of course, that may be different from my reason.  That’s okay.  Twitter is big enough for all of us.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o[/youtube]

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