This document provides an introduction and overview of Twitter, describing what it is, how to sign up and set up an account, how to find other users and follow them, how to engage by posting updates and replies, and some of the benefits of using Twitter such as making new connections, accessing a wealth of real-time information, and its potential for influencing the world. The author encourages the reader to join Twitter and provides links for additional resources.

1. By: Mack D. Male
@mastermaq

2. What the heck is Twitter anyway?

3. Twitter is a
microblogging service.
You can use it to post
short messages up to
140 characters in length.

4. Twitter is like sex.
You can read all the stuff (or look
at it) about sex all you want, but
if you’ve never had it, you simply
have no idea what it’s like.
http://michaelmartine.com/2008/04/11/twitter-is-like-sex/

5. Signing up is simple.

6. Okay I’m on Twitter.
Now what?

7. Do some housecleaning.
Pick a good username.
Change your profile pic.
Keep your tweets public.

8. Enter your website URL.
Set your location.
Post a few updates.
Resist the temptation to
follow everyone.

9. Learn the lingo.
Tweets, Replies,
Retweets, Hashtags,
Twooshes, Direct
Messages, Tweetups

10. Start using
Twitter Search
RIGHT NOW.

11. Follow local people.
Their “mundane” updates
(traffic related, for example)
might be useful.

12. Here’s where to find
local users:
http://twellow.com
http://www.twitterlocal.net

13. Be interesting.
Post status updates.
Post replies.
Post links.

14. Pick your interface.
There are lots of
applications and services
do choose from.

15. TweetDeck is a popular
desktop client:

16. There are entire blogs
devoted to writing about
Twitter applications:
http://everythingtwitter.com

17. Find a tweetup
where you live.
Meet other local Twitter
users in person.

18. What does one get out of using Twitter?

19. What makes
Twitter great?
To start, it’s simple.

20. There is no spam.
Well, not really.

21. It’s easy to make new
connections.

22. The Twitter API.
You can build so much
with it.

23. You can make a
difference.

24. There’s a wealth of
information being
posted every second.

25. Twitter is the best
source for breaking
news.

26. Twitter is
changing the world.
One tweet at a time.

27. Thanks for participating.
Go join Twitter if you
haven’t already done so!
Follow me: @mastermaq

28. Credits:
Bird Graphics:
http://www.keanhui.com/archives/431
My “getting started” post:
http://blog.mastermaq.ca/2008/11/21/s
uggestions-for-getting-started-with-
twitter/