Twitter Tutorial
A popular micro-blogging tool, Twitter is a great way to keep up with current events, celebrities and friends. The web-based application comes with several mobile and desktop options, depending on your device, but you can access it most easily through your web browser. You can use Twitter as an excellent way to spread the word about your latest goings-on and, when used properly, to expand your web presence faster than many other social media sites. It will not take you long to get established on Twitter, and soon you'll be connected to people around the world.
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Instructions
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Direct your Web browser to Twitter's home page. Click "Join Today." Enter your full name and desired username. When the username is approved, create a password, enter a valid email address and click "Create my account." Check your email and click on the account verification link you receive to get started.
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Use a favorite picture to spruce up your Twitter page's background. Click on the settings button in the upper right-hand corner. Adjust any account settings that you may desire here. Click "Protect my tweets" to prevent your tweets from appearing in Twitter's public timeline where anyone can read them. Navigate to the "Mobile" menu to find directions to connect your Twitter account to your mobile phone. Personalize your account with a picture, brief bio and location in the "Profile" menu. Customize your Twitter page's background and color scheme under the "Design" menu.
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Start tweeting by typing a message that does not exceed 140 characters in the "What's happening?" box and click "Tweet" to post. Click the "Find People" button in the upper right-hand corner to identify accounts you would like to follow.
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Send a public message or reply to another Twitter user by attaching the "@" symbol to the front of their username before typing your message. Send a private message by typing "dm" followed by a space and the username before typing your message. Use "hashtags," or "#" symbols attached to words, to create a link to the topic you are tweeting about.
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Gain followers by asking your friends to follow your account, or by using hashtags so that people with similar interests can find you. Share a tweet you like by following this format, "RT @TwitterUsername tweet text here," in which "RT" stands for "Retweet." Retweet another way by clicking the "Retweet" button on another's tweet that appears on your homepage.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are tweeting information of a sensitive nature, consider protecting your tweets so that only approved followers can access them.
Be careful of phishing scams - do not click on links that do not seem reliable, even if they come from friends.
Take care in posting personal information or images, as those can become available to anyone on the Internet.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit internet image by arabesque from Fotolia.com sky background. sky and clouds background. image by Sergey Sukhorukov from Fotolia.com
