If you’re new to Twitter, that description might seem a bit vague and ambiguous. So, to help you wrap your mind around the microblogging messaging tool, start thinking about Twitter as a new form of online communication. Twitter is just communication in a new shape, but it’s also a platform for listening to the communication of others in new ways.
Basically, Twitter is all about sharing links and content – but in 140 characters or less. Every post is known as a tweet. Yes, some tweets may be as boring as "I'm eating breakfast!" but Twitter is also a great business tool and another way to share your content. You build community by retweeting other content. Here are a few simple introductory terms to learn when you're just getting started on Twitter.
The Importance of @
On Twitter, when your username is preceded by the @ symbol, your username becomes a link. These are called "at-replies" or "mentions" and when someone mentions you, this makes it easy for their followers to view your profile and tweets with just one click, so it's important to use the @ symbol – and to get their username correct.
• If someone wants to say something directly to you, they'll begin a tweet with @[your username]. Example: "@livability Where is the best coffee in Pueblo?"
• If someone wants to mention you in a tweet, it has the same effect: "Going to Solar Roast -- @livability says it's the best!"
• There's no limit to the number of mentions you can use: "Going to @SolarRoast on @livability's recommendation!"
If you want to say something privately, you can send a direct message, or DM, which is essentially a 140-character e-mail through Twitter. You can do this through the DM link on your Twitter page, or by typing "D @username".
Retweets
Retweeting is how Twitter users share interesting tweets from the people they are following. To give credit to the original person, users usually put “RT” plus the original tweeter's username at the beginning of the tweet. Here’s an example:
To do this, all the user has to do is click the retweet button. However, this feature is relatively new to Twitter. If you want to leave some commentary, just copy and paste the tweet instead. (TweetDeck and other third-party applications make this much easier for users with functionality long before the new retweet button.)
One of the most complex features of Twitter for new users to understand is the hashtag, a topic with a hash symbol or pound sign (#) at the start to identify it. Twitter hashtags help spread information on Twitter while also helping to organize it. Hashtags are linkable, and you can click one to view all tweets with a single hashtag. They're popular at conferences, as well as events, topics and places.
URL Shorteners
When you're limited to 140 characters, URL shorteners are a must. TinyURL, bit.ly, kl.am and URLzen are just a few. Bit.ly tracks analytics for you too, so you can see exactly how many people clicked on your link. Both bit.ly and kl.am offer customized (or kustomized) vanity URLs, so you can incorporate keywords into the link, as well as make it seem more trustworthy and more likely to be clicked on.
Are there any other Twitter terms that confuse you? What else do you want to know about tweeting and microblogging? Check out the resources below, and let us know in the comments if you have any more specific questions.
Resources:
Mashable's Twitter Guide BookYouTube video: Twitter: A Brief Guide to Tweeting
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