Twitter

I remember trying to figure out Twitter on my own and thinking, “this is stupid! It is just another status update program…I can do this on my Facebook account! I don’t get what all this hype is about Twitter!”

It is true that Twitter is in-fact, just a status updater. But, once you understand the basics of Twitter, there are a multitude of other tools that make it a very powerful social media platform. This post will guide you through some of the basics of how to use Twitter. I will have an Advanced Twitter post next. Now, let’s get started!

1. FIND PEOPLE

MenuBar

-Once you register on twitter with your user name, you will want to add people to follow. You can do this by clicking “Find People” in the top right menu bar. Here you can find twitter friends by searching your email accounts. Or, click the Find on Twitter tab also located in the Find People menu and search people by typing their first and last name. Once you begin following people, you will have “Tweeps” following you back and you are on your way!

2. STATUS BOX (What’s happening?)

twitterbar

-Here is where you post your “Tweet” (status).
-Your tweet must be less than 140 characters.

3. HOME BUTTON
-These are tweets from everyone you follow in a list format. This list includes your own tweets too.

Twitter Bar

4. @REPLIES BUTTON

- @Reply is used to respond to a Tweet. It is not a private reply so it will show in the regular list of tweets to all of your followers.
-You indicate an @Reply by placing the @ sign just before the twitter name.
-The @Reply will go to the recipients @Reply inbox.
-Be sure to check your @Replies inbox to find any messages from people replying to your “tweets”
-Remember, these @Replies are still shown in the feed list of whoever sends the @Reply.
-This means your name will be linked to your profile in that persons feed to all of their followers. People can then click your name and see your profile and decide whether to follow you or not.

5. DIRECT MESSAGES BUTTON
-This is a private in box. These messages are only seen by you and the recipient and will not be shown in anyone’s feed list.
-These are sent by placing a D followed by the person’s twitter name before you type your message.

6. FAVORITES BUTTON
-This will store your favorite tweets. You can favorite a tweet by clicking the star next to the tweet.

7. RETWEETS BUTTON
-Here you will see an archive of the tweets Re-Tweeted by others on your list, your tweets that others have Re-Tweeted, and your Tweets and RT’s

8. RT (Re-Tweet)
-Re-Tweet is used when you want to forward someone’s tweet to the followers on your twitter account.
-Example: @socialmediamstr Find the BEST Twitter Tools at http://bit.ly/18Zfmr
-To Re-Tweet from my ericjvogel twitter account it would look like this:
@ericjvogel RT @socialmediamstr Find the BEST Twitter Tools at http://bit.ly/18Zfmr
-Re-Tweeting gives credibility to the initial person that tweeted because the senders followers can now click and follow him/her if they like. This also gives you credibility. Your followers know that you are a team player willing to help out another Tweep and that you are willing to share the great information that you find.