Despite Twitter quickly becoming one of the biggest social media websites in the world, there are many people out there who are still not quite sure what the website actually does. In this mini guide we will take you through the fastest way to get going on Twitter and what it can do for you.
Twitter started out as a website devoted to allowing its users to interact with each other through status updates. The idea was that users could use their mobile phone devices to keep their friends updated with their day; very much in the same vein that Facebook offers status updates to friends.
The inherent difference to the way Twitter works and the way Facebook works is that those statuses could be read by anyone in the world, given that they had chosen to follow you as a user. It is completely possible to privatise your account (in the same manner as Facebook) but the power behind Twitter is that you can share your thoughts with the entire world.
The real growth of Twitter, however, has been fuelled by its use as a news source. Organisations such as the BBC or the Guardian use Twitter to share news articles. Furthermore, celebrities often use the website too and employ it to promote their new ventures or share their daily lives.
As a result, many of Twitter’s users rarely ‘tweet’ themselves. ‘Tweeting’ is the term used when you post of a message on the site, but a torrent of users simply login to catch up with the latest news, sport or celeb gossip. By carefully selecting the Twitter accounts you follow, you can quickly develop a news feed tailored to your tastes.
So, when you sign up, it is important that you realise that this is not an extension of Facebook but something completely different. If you want to interact with friends using the site, it is completely possible, but Twitter does not offer the same level of social integration between friends that you may expect from Facebook.
Once you have an account, begin to think carefully about your hobbies and interests before you wildly begin following people; you do not want your news feed clogged up with shameless promotions and irrelevant news, as you will not get the most out of the service. If you are a fan of a particular celebrity, look them up or, if you like a certain sport, perhaps following a reputable sports news service to provide you with your daily news fix.
If you do decide to begin tweeting yourself, to really get yourself heard use @mentions and #hashtags to your advantage. If you want to get in touch with another user directly simply type @ followed by their username without a space. Your tweet will be visible by all users, but they will personally receive a copy in their @mentions tab.
Furthermore, if you have an opinion on something you really want to share with the world, using #hashtags can help your tweet become integrated with those interested in the same subject. As an example, if you are tweeting about your favourite television show, after your tweet type # followed by the show’s title without a space. This will help other fans of the show find it when they are browsing the site.
To find out more, just give it a go. With these small steps you should become a Twitter pro in no time. Also remember that it can be an invaluable tool to promote any of your own events.