Twitter Badges. Do you really want one?

Anyone who reads Econsultancy might well have noticed a recent post about a startup called Twadges. The firm promises to provide Twitter users with Foursquare style badges to mark any notable “achievements” in a user’s lifetime. Now I don’t know which badges they will be offering, but I’ve had a few ideas.

And here’s a handful of “Twadges” you really don’t want to earn.

Simpering Sycophant

Well done. Your diligence and persistence has paid off. @stephenfry must have noticed you by now! (Send 100 or more Tweets to celebrities in a 24 hour period to earn this twadge.)

It’s all well and good trying to engage someone famous in conversation, but when the majority of your tweets are LOLing (or, god forbid, ROFLMAOing) at the inanities of soap stars and footballers, you’ve moved into stalker territory. Avoid picking up this twadge by talking to people who might actually listen to you.

Bieber Fever

OMG! It’s you! You’re the one who’s keeping Justin Bieber trending! Well done you! (Mention Justin Bieber to earn this twadge.)

I don’t know who Justin Bieber is. I don’t care. All I know is that a combination of teenage fans and bitter cynics keeps him in the trending topics even when there’s an earthquake. Yes, “Shaved Bieber” is a great pun, but by going on about it you’re making things worse. Please, stop.

Echo Chamber

Everyone loves a caring, sharing Twitterer. They must sure love you! All that ReTweeting, never thinking about your own message. How charitable! (Send nothing but RTs to earn this twadge.)

We all love a ReTweeter. That’s why there’s a big ol’ ReTweet button on this post (hint hint), but posting nothing but recycled material doesn’t give anyone a reason to follow you. Please, come up with something unique to say. Otherwise you’ll have this twadge, and no followers to show it to.

Casual Curmudgeon
aka The @DavidMarchment Award

Well done for sticking to your principles. You don’t use Twitter for business purposes, so why should those corporate hacks and shameless self-promoters? Keep fighting the good fight! (Complain relentlessly about people for promoting blog posts, articles or company websites to earn this twadge.)

It’s one thing complaining when Robert Llewellyn can’t go two tweets without mentioning Carpool, but do you really begrudge your friends a living? Tune out the self promotion, because it’s a fact of Twitter life. If you want to make a statement, beat them at their own game.

Social Sellout

Bravo! You’ve ignored the social aspect of social media and turned your Twitter feed into a business broadcasting network. Congratulations, and enjoy your untold riches! (Shamelessly RT everything from a business account, or RT your own posts four or more times to earn this twadge.)

If this were a twadge, my followers would’ve stapled it to my scalp by now. All you wage slaves, join me in the rebellion. Let’s stop acting as a secondary distribution network for our employers! And you self-employed lot? Stop pretending that RTing an RT of your posts with a “Gee, thanks” is anything other than a cheeky way to get a blog post circulating.

Twillock

Well done Twitterer! You’ve expanded the Twictionary and your twocabulary by twinventing a new tword! Twilliant! (Replace the first syllable of a word with “Twi” or “Tw” to unlock this twadge.)

Seriously? Twadges? Tweople? Twitterati? Do us all a favour. Twuck off.

Related posts:

1. Are you Tweeting Yourself Out of a Dinner Party Invite?
2. Simple Social Media Advice
3. Five Wildly Inaccurate Social Media Predictions for 2010

Image by Pasakuru76

People milling around, conversation flowing and anecdotes being swapped. Twitter sounds a lot like a dinner party. But like any social gathering, there’s a bunch of people hanging around who perhaps shouldn’t have been invited.

You think you’re a popular Tweeter – and your follower list is a testament to that assumption. But are you right? Or are you one of the people that dinner party guests clamber over each other to avoid?

The Seven Types of Twitter Guests

Chances are that you’re going to fit into at least one of these pigeonholes. Not all will ruin your chances of making everyone’s dinner party list, but they will limit the number of people who want to follow you.

The Ego

You’ll know if you’re following the Ego. They tweet often, and it’s generally about themselves. You’ll see dozens of tweets plugging blog posts, masses of personal opinion, and no retweets.

If you think your ego is getting the best of you, try retweeting a little more and broadcasting a little less. But don’t roll it back too much, or you run the risk of turning into our next guest.

The Wallflower

You probably won’t notice the Wallflower in your follow list. But if you stumble across their homepage, you’ll notice how sparse it is. They’ll be following a handful of people, and being followed by even less. The reason why is clear to see. They’ve tweeted twice. Once to announce that they’ve joined the site, and once at four in the morning a month later.

If that sounds a little like you, open up a little. Join the conversation. Start communicating, networking and chatting. Otherwise nobody will even notice that you’re there.

The Whip

#leadersdebate, #cashgordon, #nickcleggsfault – political debate is flavour of the month on Twitter. But some people take it a little too far. The Whip’s every tweet is barracking the opposition or hassling their followers into toeing the party line.

It’s fine if you’re talking about politics, but the whole point of a free election is that you don’t cajole, threaten and nag every person on your follower list into voting the same way you do. Relax a bit. Talk about something else for once!

The Heat Reader

What’s more boring than politics? Celebrities. Your average Heat Reader is probably the only on your list who can explain why Justin Bieber is trending, but they’ll be too busy tweeting at Steven Fry to explain why. You’ll only notice them if you follow the same personalities as they do, but what you do see might bring the words “obsessed” and “stalker” to mind.

If you think you might be displaying textbook Heat Reader behaviour, try reading  a book. Or watching the news. Or talking to normal people.

The Gossip

On the face of it, the gossip seems to be a jovial sort, always quick to pass on the latest tidbits of information. But look a little deeper. When was the last time they posted something that didn’t start with the letters RT? The Gossip’s never managed to post 140 characters of their own views, as they’re limited to quick addenda,” – so true!”

If you’re turning into a Gossip, your only real alternative is to have your own opinions. Try starting a discussion for once, instead of indulging in a spot of “he said she said”.

The Jobsworth

Eugh. Nobody wants to hear from the Jobsworth. If they’re not talking about the work they’re doing, they’re retweeting from the official company account. And if they’re not doing that, it’s because they’re just too snowed under to tweet – but don’t worry! There’s a brand new product being rolled out that you just can’t live without. Please? They’re on commission…

If you’re a Jobsworth, you need a hobby. Tell people about your teapot collection, or your favourite gig. Just stop telling them how great your company is!

The Genial Guest

Ahh, the Genial Guest. She’s the Twitter user we all aspire to be. Balancing the positive aspects of the above, she’s switched on about the latest trends, will share her views on any subject, and isn’t shy with a quick RT. You might recieve the odd blog update, or genuinely interesting company news, but you won’t be snowed under.

In fact, she’s just the sort of person I’d like to invite to my next dinner party.

Can I say the same for you?

When Andy’s not being an egotistical jobsworth on Twitter, he’s boring the masses with his political views. But don’t worry, because he’s trying to find a healthy balance. Share your Twitter foibles in the comments section below.

Related posts:

1. Twadges You Don’t Want to Earn
2. Simple Social Media Advice
3. Firstfound Twitter Training Document

The Twittering Copywriters You Need To Follow

@andymaslen – Independent Copywriter and author of very highly regarded copywriting books
@benlocker – Head honcho of the eponymous Ben Locker and Associates
@turnerink – Sarah Turner, London copywriter and one of my favourite bloggers
@abc_copywriting – Tom Albrighton, as seen in The Guardian’s copywriting live blog.
@matthewhill – Self confessed “Rubbish Journalist turned Copywriter”
@alconcalcia – Alasdair Murray, writer of copy and comedy, owner of the hardest to remember Twitter alias on this list
@larnerc – Larner Caleb, copywriter and creative director
@snappysentences – Sally B, antipodean copywriter and communications professional
@totmac – Tom Mason, Copywriter at The Eword, SEO bod and fiction writer
@nosloppycopy – Howard Smith,  freelance copy and SEO copy bod
@copyblogger – Seriously now. You know who Brian Clark is, and you’ve got Copyblogger in your RSS Feed. Let’s drop the pretence.
@copify – Or maybe not, eh?

If you’ve got any additions to this list or I’ve inadvertently left you off, please drop me a line in the comments section. I’ll be sure to rectify it in a coming #FollowFriday post.

Related posts:

1. Copywriters – Artists or Scientists?
2. Copywriters – Unappreciated or Oversensitive?
3. Firstfound Twitter Training Document

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that I’m using my mobile phone (HTC Hero, if you care) more for surfing the internet than I do for making calls and sending texts. This is either representative of a shift in the way people use the internet, or just conclusive proof that I don’t have many friends.

Either way, the first thing you notice as a mobile phone surfer is that you want to spend as little time as possible using the handset’s web browser. Sites have absolutely terrible mobile versions, and the browser refuses to run in the background.

If you’re going to use the internet on the move, you’ll need Apps. So here are the Android Apps I just couldn’t live without.

For Tweeting: Swift

For weeks, I plodded along with TwiDroid. I hated it. It made the box standard “Peep” application look like the pinnacle of coding development. So I deleted it, installed Swift and never looked back. It lets me do everything I do on my desktop, which is all I wanted from it in the first place.

Swift lets you load internet pages up in the app. Words can’t express how much of a timesaver that is. Other than that, it works quickly, very rarely crashes (Take note TwiDroid!) and generally lets me keep up with my network when I’m out and about. It’s also been very useful in the snow, as @MatthewHill has to brave the Manchester Metrolink before I do.

For Keeping in the Loop: NewsRob

It’s the most reliable RSS feeder I’ve found for Android, and it integrated perfectly with my Google Reader. If you need to know the benefits of having instant access to your RSS feed when you’re on the go, then you’ve never spent hours waiting for a train. Just fill it with a mixture of entertaining, insightful and interesting feeds and watch the hours fly by.

For Finding Things to Do: FourSquare (for Android)

I’ll admit, I’m addicted to FourSquare. Maybe it’s the xbox geek in me that likes unlocking achievements just for buying a sandwich, or maybe it’s the sneaking suspicion that Roger Davies might well be right, but I can’t enter a cafe, shop or restaurant without searching for it and checking myself in. Even better, last time I was in London it helped me find a nice little pub where I spent an enjoyable morning before a tedious game of football (Brentford 0-0 Leeds).

For Finding My Way Home: Google Maps

Hands up all those of you who’ve found yourselves trying to decode a public information map at 3am, after a skinful. Just me? Fine. Well, instead of paying 90 odd quid to turn an iPhone or HTC phone into a TomTom, you can just use Google Maps. Installed as standard, the directions function works in real time, allowing you to navigate around. Ok, you couldn’t use it if you were driving as there’s no audio, but it’s perfectly fine for pedestrians. The only drawback is the power drain. it requires lots of processing power – and that’ll drain your battery.

For Keeping Myself Entertained on Dark Nights: Google Sky Map

What, you were expecting some sort of random boob picture generator? Unfortunately I couldn’t find one, so I have to content myself with a little bit of stargazing. Any app that lets me point my phone at a bright dot in the sky and then tells me what it is has to make my list. Plus it helps me look clever in front of the Mrs. A word of warning though – it has the same power issues as Google Maps, as it needs GPS and an internet connection.

If you’ve got an app you think I should try out, any feedback on the ones I like, or you just want to ask what this post has to do with anything, let me know in the comments section. Otherwise check back soon for something about SEO or copywriting. You know. The usual schtick.

Related posts:

1. Five Wildly Inaccurate Social Media Predictions for 2010

Photo by dcJohn

Well, New Year’s finally here, and with but a few hours left of this decade, I’d like to take this opportunity to announce my New Year’s Resolutions. Please feel free to disregard them, as they’ll inevitably be abandoned by the time my hangover clears some time next year.

Shed the (Word) Flab

Brevity is a virtue, and one that I just don’t have the hang of. Too often, my rambling posts top 800 words. No more! From tomorrow, I’ll be imposing a 600 word limit on my posts. Less filler, more incisive insights.

Less Procrastination

You all know what I mean. Less blogging when I should be working, less thumb-twiddling when I should be blogging and much less computer gaming when I should be doing anything else!

More Community Spirit

I don’t comment on enough blogs, or retweet enough of your wonderful wit and wisdom. In 2010, I’ll try and get more involved, especially with those of you kind enough to leave me comments, feedback and encouragement.

So, there you have it. My resolutions. And because it’s the end of the decade and we’re supposed to be all misty-eyed and retrospective, I’d like to share my two favourite bits of feedback from the last decade.

Not entirely historically accurate, but at least it’s well written. Perhaps you’d be better pursuing a career as a writer or satirist instead of becoming a historian?

Louise Fawn, my A-Level History Tutor

At least I’m funny. [He's] just throwing shit around, hoping someone will notice.

Lisa Barone of Outspoken Media

Happy New Year everyone!

Related posts:

1. Five Wildly Inaccurate Social Media Predictions for 2010
2. SEO in 2010 – A Five Step Primer

Photo by MrMatze77

The end of a year can’t just be a time for retrospection and reflection. It should also be a time for wild speculation and crystal-ball gazing. Luckily, like Cassandra before me, I have been cursed with the gift of being able to see into the future with 100% accuracy.

So fire up your stock portfolio, get down to the bookies, or just prepare to tell all your friends that “I told you so!” It’s time for five completely accurate Social Media predictions for 2010!

Five Wildly Inaccurate Social Media Predictions for 2010

1) Twitter will replace verbal communications

Twitter has already completely revolutionised the way that homo sapiens communicates. If the papers are to be believed, Steven Fry doesn’t even open his mouth anymore. On the set of QI, he tweets his lines to a producer who then has to stitch his dialogue together from archive audio clips. And as anyone who’s read the Guardian Tech section knows, by signing up to Twitter you enter into a contract that states Mr. Fry will make all of your decisions.

By mid-2010, the streets will be silent and the Fail Whale will become the most recognisable image in human history.

Or in reality: Twitter is barely new and excititing as it is. It’s going to become just another communication tool. Like email.

2) Google will buy everything

On January 1st, Google will announce that their company motto will be changed from “Don’t be Evil” to “Total Global Domination”. By January 2nd, they’ll own everything – Facebook, Yahoo, your house. Matt Cutts will go from head of Web Spam to “Commissar for Thought Spam”, using a powerful new search tool to root out and destroy anyone who even thinks the word “Bing”.

By December 31st, Google will have patented actual robot spiders, which they will use to index the population and “cache*” dissenters.

*or maim. Maim’s probably the more likely of the two.

Or in reality: 2008 and 2009 saw Google investigated by the monopolies commission. Branching out is still a probability, but they might have to play it safe in 2010.

3) Confused and scared Silver Surfers will turn the power of their SimplicITy computers against the masses

For years now, anyone over the age of sixty has decided that they can’t work that Interweb thing and that they’d rather be knitting. Unfortunately, the modern world has different ideas and the tendrils of online interaction are snaking around the nursing homes of Britain. Soon the online sphere will be crammed full of unwilling elderly folk, all repeatedly hammering “Werther’s Original” into Google. Flickr will crash under the load of so many mis-labelled photographs of grandchildren, and Twitter’s new trending topics will be variations on “During the war…”

Or in reality: My Nan is already on Facebook. My Gran sends me email birthday cards every year. Silver Surfers are here, and they don’t need condescending to.

4) Social Media will become less about people and more about business

In 2009, chances are that you’ve read dozens of articles on why businesses should embrace social media. Unfortunately, evil capitalists have read them too. In 2010, going online will be like jumping into an ad break. Sneaky salesmen will pose as your friends in order to tell you about great offers, Richard Branson will personally reply to each one of your Tweets to tell you about Virgin Rail, and Alan Sugar will replace Tom as everyone’s first MySpace friend.

Or in reality: Social media has the power to revolutionise the way businesses interact with customers – but the power still lies with the average user. Business will bend over backwards to stop you sharing bad experiences.

5) Sites like Facebook, Bebo and MySpace will turn the next generation into asocial potato people

Don’t just take my word for it. Listen to the not-reactionary-scaremongers-at-all over at the Daily Mail. An actual SCIENTIST has said that FACEBOOK IS DAMAGING YOUR CHILD’S BRAIN!

That’s right, exposure to the INTERNET will turn any CHILDREN that aren’t MURDERED by gangs of PAEDOPHILES into DROOLING IDIOTS. This isn’t idle conjecture, or rabble-rousing in an attempt to get traffic. This is an UNDENIABLE FACT. FACT!

Or in reality: They won’t. 

So there you have it. Lock your doors and windows before Google’s Thought Police arrest your children. Be quiet though – don’t forget to mute the notification sounds on your Twitter App.

Share your predictions in the comments section below, or get in touch with Andrew through his Twitter account.

Related posts:

1. The Problem With Social Media? You’re Doing It Wrong.
2. Simple Social Media Advice
3. Trial by Twitter – Jan Moir Feels the Brunt of a Social Media Backlash

Apparently, the new RT button (that you don’t have to use and have survived without for the past year or so) is the harbinger of the apocalypse. That’s right. War, Death, Famine and Poor ReTweet Functionality are upon us, and the end of days is here.

You’ll suffer the agony of seeing unfamiliar avatars, be rendered speechless by your inability to add “LOLZ” to a Quick ReTweet and all sorts of other hideousness that I couldn’t be mithered reading a second time.

Luckily for Lisa, I’ve done about 45 seconds research on the subject, and have come up with a workaround that subverts the limits of the new button. You see, the RT button isn’t compulsory. So what you need to do is this:

Step One – Identify Something You Want to ReTweet

Step Two – Select the Tweet, right click, and select the copy function (or use CTRL+C. It’s the same, but less visually interesting)

Step Three – Go to the text box, hit CTRL+V, add your commentary and hit “Update”

Step Four – Pat yourself on the back for not kowtowing to the Twitter man and his added functionality, you anarchist rebel you.

You should pick this up in no time, because it’s what you’ve been doing before they added the horror button.

But wait! There’s one other way to beat the system!

SUPER BONUS OTHER WORKAROUND

Go to Google. Type in Tweetdeck. Go to the Tweetdeck site. Download Tweetdeck. Use Tweetdeck’s RT function. Only use Twitter.com for follower/list/account maintenance because frankly, it’s not a good site.

I hope this helps all you poor bewildered little lambs. If you want to practise, follow @Mr603 on Twitter and RT some of my articles.

Related posts:

1. And Another Thing… A Review of Eoin Colfer’s Sixth Installment in the Hitchhiker’s Guide Trilogy

photo by Robert Couse-Baker

Twitter’s in the news again. The bloodlust of the Social Media mob hasn’t been sated by the ritual sacrifice of AA Gill and Jan Moir, and they’ve moved on to targeting regular users who dare to speak against our celebrity overlords.

Funnily enough, those paid to disseminate information and opinion have leapt on the “Social Media Bad” bandwagon. Newspaper columnists have been quick to condemn social media as an unruly gang of ravening nutters just waiting to whip out the pitchforks.

Now users of social media sites know that the above isn’t true, but what is the problem with Twitter, Facebook and their ilk? Simple.

You’re doing it wrong.

The above may seem like a sweeping statement, but the more social media comes into the mainstream, the more the original reasons we signed up become lost – or at least significantly diluted. Social media is a tool. A means, not an end. Something we use to pursue our own agendas, network with people and achieve goals.

Social Networking is About Networking

Just who is in your list? If you’re using social media to network, you’ll be following friends, people in your niche and leaders in the fields you’re interested in. If it looks like you’re following the rabble-rousers and watching the trending topics closely so you can be the first in your clique to lead the daily hate – you could just be doing it wrong.

It’s a fair comment that you can judge a person by the company he or she keeps, and on social media that rings doubly true. If your feeds are full of scattergun @attacks and “Friend #77 has joined ‘Kill, Maim, Destroy!’”, you might need to rethink your networking policy.

Pursue Your Agenda

As discussed above, you shouldn’t just be following the crowd. Ask yourself – why are you using different social media sites?

The three main sites I use are Facebook, Twitter and Sphinn. Facebook is used exclusively to talk with people I have met before, friends and old schoolmates. Sphinn is used to give me an insight into the latest SEO developments. Twitter I use to promote my blog, network with other SEOs and copywriters, and chat to people with shared interests.

The networks I’ve cultivated on each of those sites reflect my goals. If you’re doing it wrong, your social media networks will be a patchwork of celebrities, spambots and random people that stood shoulder to shoulder with you the last time you decided Two Legs Bad, Four Legs Good.

Set your goals – whether it’s to learn, share ideas or just natter, and manage your lists accordingly. And finally, remember the most important point of all…

Social Media is a Tool – Not a Time Sink

@TurnerInk: How about ensuring SM doesn’t become a time sucker.

The above is the best advice I’ve ever received from my social media network.

If you’re spending all day hammering refresh on six different sites, or juggling four or five clients and applications, you’re doing it wrong. Social media is a means – not an end, and you should keep your goals in sight at all times.

The next time you log into Twitter, if you find yourself digging round for the dirt on the last big Twit-fight, or your Facebook time is spent spewing vitriol  on one of your thousand “I HATE (X)!!” groups, you’re probably doing it wrong. You need to take a step back and see social media for what it is.

A tool that lets you connect with people to further your own goals, learn some new information, and make some helpful contacts. Not an instant, just-add-righteous-indignation hate mob generator.

Agree? Disagree? Don’t start a Facebook fan page or a Twitter hate mob. Just leave a comment below and share your thoughts with the group. And give this post a quick Sphinn too.

Related posts:

1. Five Wildly Inaccurate Social Media Predictions for 2010
2. Simple Social Media Advice
3. Trial by Twitter – Jan Moir Feels the Brunt of a Social Media Backlash

photo by Mira66

Remember the days that when Jan Moir, or some other Daily Mail moronic columnist (other right-wing, poorly written trashy tabloids are available) would vomit some bile into a column, and the only thing you could do about it was write an irate letter to the editor?

Thankfully, those days are gone. Thanks to social media, it’s never been easier to round up an angry mob and force newspaper editors to take notice. But does trial by Twitter work?

Yes, Trial by Twitter is ruddy brilliant!

Trial by Twitter has produced results before. When Observer hack Will Buckley took a swipe at radio journalist Jonathan Agnew, he was forced into giving a very public apology. Admittedly, having Twitterati goliaths Lily Allen and Stephen Fry onside helped Aggers’ case somewhat, but the principle was solid. Hundreds of people pointed out that Will Buckley wasn’t funny, had been quite offensive and was really a bit of a div, and Mr Buckley had to backtrack and pretend he’d been joking. Honest.

Perhaps the best mass-mobilisation of Twitter pressure came from the entire nation of Scotland, who picked up on the #boycottscotland campaign being handled by a few angry Americans and turned it into one of the site’s most amusing trends in a few short hours.

With a veritable hate-storm brewing, it’s not going to be long before other daily papers pick up on Jan Moir’s ranting and the Twitter backlash. When this goes mainstream, could the threat of bad publicity put off advertisers?

No - Trial by Twitter is counter-productive and useless.

Well, we’ve all seen how much effect the little green twibbons have had on the Iranian election, haven’t we? And the Twitter community’s support for Pirate Bay really swung that actual trial, didn’t it?

remember what I said about advertisers up there? Well guess what. Jan Moir’s page has had more hits today due to people linking to her vitriolic outburst that it’s ever had before. Advertisers will be creaming their jeans.

People like Jan Moir know that if they can rile up the right people, their content will go viral. It doesn’t matter that 99% of people who read her page think she’s a nutter, as they wouldn’t have bought the mail anyway. It’s the bigoted, moronic 1% who will now have her bookmarked that make the difference for her – and her advertisers.

If you’re going to link to Jan Moir’s homophobic rantings, please use this Google document. But as with most right wingers (and Daily Mail employees), would we be better off just denying her the publicity.

What do you think? Is trial by Twitter effective or counter-productive? Leave a message below. If you want more examples of Mail moronity, I’ve covered their Street View hysteria before.

Related posts:

1. The Problem With Social Media? You’re Doing It Wrong.
2. Five Wildly Inaccurate Social Media Predictions for 2010
3. Simple Social Media Advice

As FirstFound’s blogging, social media and copywriting specialist, I’ve been asked to put together a quick “Dummies Guide to Twitter” for use in the SEO department. Now I normally like to keep my own blogging projects separate from FirstFound projects (hence this being the first time I’ve mentioned my employers), but I would appreciate any feedback from the Twitterati and Social Media newcomers alike.

FirstFound Twitter Training Document

Twitter is currently one of the fastest-growing social media sites on the net. It allows professionals to share insights, businesses to communicate with clients, and egotists to tell a disinterested world just what they’ve had for dinner. Crucially, it is currently at the forefront of real-time search.

We currently have a FirstFound Twitter account set up, and have amassed almost 300 followers, so it’s important that SEO consultants learn how to use it properly.

This guide should give you an introduction on how to use Twitter, but as with all social media, you really need to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.

The Basics – Getting on Twitter

Get on to twitter.com, sign up, upload a picture (many people won’t take people with a default avatar seriously) and fill out your Bio. You’ll now need some people to follow. Hit search.twitter.com and start searching for anything that interests you. If any of the results look interesting, click on the Tweeter’s name, head over to their profile and follow them. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can also use wefollow.com, the Twitter directory to find people – and you can always use the “Find People” function on Twitter to, well, find people.

For SEO, the following people are well worth following:
@MattCutts – Google spam guru
@FirstFound – Obviously.
@Google, @Yahoo, @Bing – The world’s leading search engines

Once you’ve got a few people to follow (about 20 or so should give you a good starting point), you’re ready to get Tweeting. Now leave twitter.com. Strangely, the Twitter web page is near enough useless for anything other than account maintenance.

Choosing an App.

There are dozens of Twitter Apps out there, with the best being TweetDeck and Tweetie. However, both of these require installing software. It’s much simpler to turn to your trusty iGoogle homepage, and a widget called “TwitterGadget”. Unlike the Twitter main site, this has automatic re-Tweeting, auto-filled @ replies and inbuilt hashtag searching. If the last sentence has left you baffled and bewildered, don’t worry. Just take my word for it that those jargon-filled features are good things.

For the time being, install the widget, sign in and take a look. The main columns you’ll be using are as follows:

Home
This is your main Twitter feed, like the one you’ll see on the Twitter web page. It contains all the tweets you make, along with all the tweets people you follow make. Think of it as an RSS feed, and you won’t go far wrong.

Replies
These are messages directed at you or mentioning you, using the @tag. They are visible to anyone, and anybody (regardless of follower status) can contact you in this way.

Directs
Direct messages (DMs) can only be sent by reciprocal followers. They’re entirely private and won’t appear in anyone’s Twitter feed except the recipients.

Favourites
You can save particularly interesting Tweets here.

Everyone
The real-time global mood monitor that is Twitter’s Everyone feed. It can only be accessed by a few apps, and it’s an insight into what the population of the Twitsphere is chatting about. Normally nothing interesting can be found here.

Advanced Tweeting

By now, you should have an account and be able to see what people are Tweeting to and about you. You should also be able to send simple Tweets to the Twitsphere in general. Next up are the three most common Twitter tags.

@ – The At Tag: Use @ to mark a message as directed at a particular person. Simply write @, followed by the name (TwitterGadget auto fills for you), and you’ll send a public message to the recipient of your choice. For example:

 @FirstFoundMark have you regained the use of your hearing yet?

You can also use @ to refer to a person for any reason. For example, if you want to let your followers know that your Operations Manager has gone deaf, you could tweet this:

 Hah. @FirstFoundMark’s gone deaf. Must be his terrible taste in music.

You can also use @tags to keep track of conversations between your followers. If you see the following:

 FirstFoundMark: @FirstFound I don’t have terrible taste in music.

You’ll know that FirstFoundMark is responding to an earlier Tweet from FirstFound.

RT: – The ReTweet Tag: This is pretty much the same as forwarding an email. On TwitterGadget, over over the avatar next to the tweet you want to forward or repeat. Click the folded arrow in the top right of the menu that appears, and a message like this will appear in your send box:

 RT: @FirstFoundMark I can’t hear. Boo hoo.

As you’ll see, it automatically adds an @ tag with the name of the original Tweeter. If you ReTweet a ReTweet, you do end up with a list, so feel free to chop out the middle names, leaving just the original tweeter and the person you retweeted.

#HashTags – Hash Tags are brilliant. If there’s a central theme to your Tweet, stick a # in front of it. For example:

Google’s dropped the keywords tag? Did they ever use it? #google #seo

When you hit send, you should now see the two hash-tagged words highlighted as links. Clicking them will take you to a search page giving real time results on who else is using those words.

As long as you bear the above in mind, you should be able to decode any previously impenetrable Tweet:

 FirstFoundMark: RT: @FirstFound Google’s dropped the keywords tag? Did they ever  use it? #google #seo

Obviously that means that FirstFoundMark has passed on FirstFound’s tweet about keywords tags, which is about SEO and Google. Simple.

Jump In.

The easiest way to learn how to use Twitter is to just jump in and play around with it. Get signed up, and you’ll soon learn the ropes. Have fun.

Related posts:

1. The FirstFound Blog Launches Today
2. Follow Friday – The Copywriters You Should Be Following on Twitter
3. Trial by Twitter – Jan Moir Feels the Brunt of a Social Media Backlash