By: Mack D. Male@mastermaq

What the heck is Twitter anyway?

Twitter is amicroblogging service.

You can use it to post short messages up to 140 characters in length.

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/

Signing up is simple.

Okay I’m on Twitter.

Now what?

Do some housecleaning.

Pick a good username.Change your profile pic.Keep your tweets public.

Enter your website URL.Set your location.Post a few updates.

Resist the temptation to follow everyone.

Learn the lingo.

Tweets, Replies, Retweets, Hashtags, Twooshes, Direct Messages, Tweetups

Start usingTwitter SearchRIGHT NOW.

Follow local people.

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

Here’s where to find local users:

http://twellow.comhttp://www.twitterlocal.net

Be interesting.

Post status updates.Post replies.Post links.

Pick your interface.

There are lots of applications and servicesdo choose from.

TweetDeck is a popular desktop client:

There are entire blogs devoted to writing about Twitter applications:

http://everythingtwitter.com

Find a tweetupwhere you live.

Meet other local Twitter users in person.

What does one get out of using Twitter?

What makesTwitter great?

To start, it’s simple.

There is no spam.

Well, not really.

It’s easy to make new connections.

The Twitter API.

You can build so much with it.

You can make adifference.

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

Twitter is the best source for breaking news.

Twitter ischanging the world.

One tweet at a time.

Thanks for participating.

Go join Twitter if you haven’t already done so!

Follow me: @mastermaq

Credits:Bird Graphics:http://www.keanhui.com/archives/431

My “getting started” post:http://blog.mastermaq.ca/2008/11/21/suggestions-for-getting-started-with-twitter/