Twitter is a social networking site with a twist. Twitter offers users the ability to connect with friends, coworkers, and clients by answering one simple question: What are you doing?
The catch, however, is that the question must be answered in 140 characters or less – including spaces.
The answer to this question is known as a tweet. Tweets can be simple sentences, short links to other webpages, or links to pictures. Users of Twitter subscribe to their favorite Twitter users. This is known as following someone. A user’s followers will get updates on their home page every time someone updates their answer. If users follow each other, they also have the option to send direct messages to each other. These are similar to private messages on other social networking sites.
Twitter was created by Jack Dorsey in 2006. It quickly gained popularity and surpassed the popularity of other networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. I joined twitter back in 2007 when Shoemoney talks about it in one of his blog post. That account was suspended as I was merely using it to post my latest blogs post using Twitterfeed lol.
Twitter has moved past the basic web tool that it started out to be. Now many users Twitter from their phones, as long as the phone can send and receive SMS (short message service) messages or use an application with devices like the iPhone. Telephone gateway numbers exist for the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom so that people around the world can update their Twitter account from almost anywhere. Twitter is a completely free service, although users that Twitter from a cell phone will still pay the normal text messaging fees as per their provider’s service agreement.
According to a recent survey, Twitter is the fastest-growing social networking site on the Internet. The survey found that Twitter has seen a growth of more than 1300% since the beginning of the year. To put this in perspective, Facebook has seen less than a 300% increase in the same amount of time. And the trend keeps growing. Monthly visitors to the website are at an estimated at 6 million people.
Unlike Facebook and other social networking sites, Twitter is not just for the young and Internet savvy. Many people find it easier to use than other social networking options for staying in touch and networking for business. In fact, many celebrities and politicians are utilizing Twitter to reach a wider audience and bypass traditional media routes to get their message heard.
Those with blogs and Internet businesses have also found Twitter to be a successful marketing tool. With applications such as TweetLater, Twitterfeed, Ping.fm, and Twitpic, business owners can provide followers with information on updates, new products, and contests. While Twitter has not replaced the email newsletter, customers find using Twitter easier to get updates for their favorite businesses without clogging their inbox.
Because Twitter is still a new sensation in the social networking world,the owners of Twitter are still looking to improve the site with additional options for users and ways to help people make better connections. At the moment, the owners want to keep Twitter as a free service and that does not seem likely to change anytime soon though there are a lot of hype lately that they are selling twitter.
Good reading blogs on everything twitter :-
- Time To Tweet
- Twitter Tips
- Twittercism
- Twitter Tips ( Another? )
- Twi5.com
Image Credit – Brood_wich
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I am reading from time to time. I’d be glad to hear if you like it or not. feel free to drop a comment on my blog at http://www.twitpassion.com
I have been using twitter on a personal level for about 6 months, but only at the beginning of may did I create a twitter for my blog. Which has grown exponentially and been a fantastic marketing medium for my blog so far.
Yes StandoutBlogger, Twitter is great place to get readers for your blog.
I love that Panchero’s is making an effort outside of twitter to market their account. I think they’re doing a great job of integrating social media, marketing, and customer service.
For all those companies and individuals not on the Twitter bandwagon, it can be a valuable tool if you know how to use it!
Yes Dina, Panchero’s is doing a great job with their effort on twitter.
No doubt you are also doing an outstanding job for MarketLeverage.
Everybody loves you Dina :) but I think John Chow love you the most…hehe
Hahaha thanks Roseli! He is a pretty big fan ;)
Hi Dina,
My MarketLeverage application has been denied.
Could you help out on this ?
Everybody is using twitter right now. Maybe it’s time for me to tweets.
Well you should blinkky !
I have used twitter, but I haven’t found it help me improve my blog’s traffic. I don’t know why.
You need to engage in conversations with other tweeters. RT their posts and connect with them. Anyway, it takes time :)
I have been using Twitter and writing about Twitter for about the last 6 months, about 3 months ago I integrated both of my Business’s @insanelimos and @extremetanfl into Twitter accounts. We have been giving away Limo rides each week through Twitter as well as free tanning through my Tanning salon company. We have also gone as far as to include it in our print marketing and radio advertising as well and it has already paid off.
Excellent article!
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