Twitter is a social media platform that allows users to post short messages called tweets. The key aspects of using Twitter include:
1. Finding other users to follow to receive their tweets and engage with their content.
2. Composing tweets of 140 characters or less that will be posted to your followers' feeds.
3. Mentioning other users with an @ symbol to contact or include them in tweets. Hashtags can also be used to categorize tweets.
4. Direct messaging allows private communication between users who follow each other. Trending topics show popular topics being discussed and the search function allows finding specific content.
2. What is Twitter?
Twitter is a social networking service that allows its users to send and receive
short messages (tweets) of 140 characters or less.
3. 1. Finding Users to Follow:
Finding Twitter users to follow is an integral
part of the Twitter process as it allows you to
receive and interact with content from other
users.
Find users to follow by navigating to the
# Discover button on your homepage. Once there, click the Who to follow
button. This option will display suggestions from Twitter based on similarities
from current users you are following. You can also find followers using the Find
friends button. This option will allow you to search through your email contacts
for users you know who may be using Twitter. Lastly, select the Browse
categories button to find users based on specific categories of interest.
4. 2. Composing a Tweet:
Compose a new Tweet by entering a
message of 140 characters or less in the
Compose new Tweet box on your
homepage. After youve composed a
new tweet, it will be sent to the Twitter
feeds of users who follow you as well the
searchable Twitter database at search.twitter.com.
What to Tweet?
Links to interesting webpages, questions to engage your followers, inner
thoughts, company news, current events, etc.
5. 3. @ Mention:
The @ symbol is an operator used to reference a Twitter
user. Use the @ symbol followed by a users Twitter handle to
directly contact them. EX: @FiveStarInst
You can compose a tweet to a twitter user using the @
symbol in the Compose new Tweet box on your homepage.
You can also include a user in a general tweet to all of your followers.
EX: I just attended the Five Star Conference from @FiveStarInst.
Check @ mentions you may have received from other Twitter users by selecting
the @ Connect button on your homepage and navigating further to the
Mentions button.
6. 4. Direct Messaging:
Sending a direct message allows you to contact a
Twitter user privately. Twitter messages do not
appear in your Twitter feed or your recipients Twitter
Feed.
You can send a direct message by clicking the profile
button on the profile page of the user you are messaging. You will be presented
with a drop down box. Select the option Send a Direct Message.
Note: You can only direct message Twitter users who follow you. If a Twitter user
is not following you, the Send a Direct Message option will not appear in the
drop down box when clicking the profile button on the Twitter users page.
7. 5. # Hashtags:
The # symbol is referred to as a hashtag on Twitter and is used
to help categorize tweets and make them easier to be found in
Twitters search engine. Hashtags also help create exclusivity for
a particular keyword. EX: #fsc12 is the hashtag for all tweets
related to the Five Star Default Servicing Conference. Twitter users who would
like to follow and interact with updates about the Five Star Conference via Twitter
should add the hashtag #fsc12 in their tweets about the Five Star Conference
and search for updates about the event by searching #fsc12 on Twitter.
Note: Hashtags may not be separated with spaces.
8. 6. Twitter Search:
The Twitter search function allows you to find real-time content from other Twitter
users. This is great for finding current events and real-time Tweets about specific
subjects of interest. EX: a search for real estate prompts the following tweet:
- Phoenix home prices up 32% in past year
9. 7. Trending Topics:
Trending topics are the most popular
keyword/phrase topics of the moment.
Trending topics change regularly based upon
the amount of activity and interaction on those
keywords/phrases.
Trending topics are useful for staying updated
on current events, pop culture news, product
releases, and other real-time information.
10. 8. Privacy:
Twitter is traditionally used as an open network in which users
post content (tweets) for the public to see and interact with. If you
would like to keep your tweets private, click your profile icon on
your homepage, navigate to the settings link, and click the
Protect my Tweets box. Protecting your tweets only allows users you approve
to view your tweets.
Note: Tweets posted prior to changing your privacy settings will remain publicly
posted.