How do other "Tweeps" find you? Many people choose to follow the people they want to follow them. You can also begin using your Twitter ID in your email signature, or even send an email to others who you'd like to participate on Twitter.
It won't take long before you have many people following you, and you'll build up your group of people to follow as well.
You'll also find that you need to balance how many people you follow with the time you have to read what they have to say. You can always "unfollow" if you decide it's consuming too much of your time.
That's all there is to participating with Twitter! Once you get the hang of it, and if you are so invested you can't go without your Twitter, you'll be able to Twitter by phone, too.
Some Twitter-Speak:
You'll find there are some commands, a few basic etiquette-type rules, and a handful of Twitter vocabulary words, some of which you'll find below.
- Tweet: Your 140 character message.
- Tweeple: People who use Twitter
- Nudge: Reminds someone who hasn't posted in awhile that it's their turn to post a tweet
- Favorite: When someone has provided information you'd like to keep, or said something wonderfully profound, or given you a link that's worth returning to, you'll want to keep it in your favorites. On that tweet, scroll to the right of the text and you'll see a star. Click on the star and that tweet will forever remain on your list of favorites which you can access by clicking on the word FAVORITES on the right toolbar.
- A master list of Twitter-speak can be found at the Twittonary.
Basic Twitter Text Commands
- To reply to someone's tweet: simply put an @ sign before their ID. You can also find one of their tweets, and scroll beside it. You'll find a curled arrow, indicating a reply. Then finish up your message at the top of your page.
- To send a Direct Message (DM) to someone (meaning, only that person will see it), you must follow them, and they must follow you first. Then click on "Direct Messages" on the right side of your page, choose their name from the drop down menu at the top of that page, and input your message. You can also send a direct message from your homepage by beginning the message with DM.
Example: DM @TrishaTorrey This message will only be read by the person you DM.
- If you are impressed by something someone has said, and would like to share it with all your followers, you may repeat it by using RT which means re-tweet, at the beginning of your tweet, then using the @ sign and the person's ID, then the message. The point is to always make sure credit goes where credit is due.
Example: RT @TrishaTorrey I can use Twitter now!
- You may see some tweets with a hashmark # in them. A hashmark is used to organize thoughts, and anyone who comments on that topic puts the # and the topic together (no spaces) to make sure the comments end up in one search. To follow a # conversation, go to Twitter's search, input the #keyword, and find others who are weighing in on that topic. If you want to respond, simply put the #keyword in your post, too.
Want to begin your own # conversation? Just choose a word that fits, and go for it. Even if someone else has chosen the same word before, the topics will be similiar and you'll find others who share interests.
Mind Your "Twittiquette"
There are some (probably unofficial) Twitter rules that will help you be more socially networking acceptable. They include ideas like not tweeting so often that you drive others crazy, not tweeting more personal information than useful ideas, not repeating the same tweets over and over again, and so forth.
Some are basics that you could probably figure out on your own. Others might require a bit of explanation which you can get from TwiTips.
Twitter Applications Make It Easier to Organize
A variety of tools help you do everything from setting up your Twitter Account, to sorting the people you follow, to helping you tweet from anywhere, or read tweets from anywhere.
If you run into problems setting up Twitter, there is a video at its website that will help you better understand.
One application that will be very useful when you want to link to something of interest, is an application that helps you shorten the entire web address (URL) so you won't use up so many of your 140 characters. There are a handful of these applications and when you get to their websites, the procedure will be self-explanatory. Try:
A master list of all add-on Twitter applications can be found at the Twitter Fan Wiki.
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So there's Twitter 101 for you.
Don't forget my invitation: If you want to follow me, please do: www.Twitter.com/TrishaTorrey (or, in Twitter-speak = @TrishaTorrey) When I can, I return the follow.
Further, I've posted a list of all the About.com health guides you can find on Twitter. A great way to get to know us all, and to hone in on your interests, too.
Already a Twitter user? Have some tips you can share with others about using Twitter, or any social networking? Please share your social networking and Twitter ideas with others right here at About.com.
