how do you use Twitter?

[lonestar818]

Newbie here, I've seen several people refer to using twitter.  I went to their site but I guess I just don't get exactly what twitter is for or how you use it?  Hoping some twitter experts can help me out. 

[berriesweetest]

ha, i'm no expert but i do use twitter. sometimes for posting updates about my blog, others for catching up on what others are doing, and then again for just "this is what happened today" snippets.
it's fun, and i can twitter whenever i want, so it is no stress.

[tojona]

Stress free! I like the way the above poster summed this up. Best way to find out is to get yourself registered and then give yourself time to familiarize with how Twitter works. It really is VERY simple to use. You'll get the hang of it real quick. Anyone can do this. And yes, it is VERY addictive.

[Audrey]

It's a social network where instead of long posts as we'll do here, you can share what you're doing in one or two sentences. You can also respons to what others are doing, again in one or two sentences.

For those of you with Twitter accounts, add me http://www.twitter.com/audreyokaneko

[FickleMinded]

is it the same with plurk?

[FickleMinded]

ok, now i'm a member and i think i enjoy it!

[Jolena]

It's a social network where instead of long posts as we'll do here, you can share what you're doing in one or two sentences. You can also respons to what others are doing, again in one or two sentences.

For those of you with Twitter accounts, add me http://www.twitter.com/audreyokaneko

Ha! I went to add you and you were already on my list! Kewl...  add me at http://www.twitter.com/soyliciouslady

[JennaInTheDitch]

ME TOO ME TOO! I just started tweeting() yesterday and I have no one! Please add me!

http://twitter.com/JennaInTheDitch
and
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-In-The-Ditch/151686737413

My god..I feel old! (And I'm not that old!)

JennaInTheDitch
http://jennaintheditch.blogspot.com/

[Candid Carrie]

I thought twitter would be really difficult because I am a long winded writer. It did take quite awhile to learn how to say something worth reading in 140 characters or less.  And I've made many great friends via twitter and have had some writing opportunities come my way as a result.

Suggestions to newbies would include (but not be limited to) ...

Be sure to put a picture on your twitter account. Many people will not follow those that do not have a picture or an icon that represents them.

Take the time to write a short bio, it is really worth the energy to reveal a little bit of information about yourself.

If you have a blog or a business be sure to have it listed. But if you have your blog or business listed you need to remember that you have now set yourself up to represent that blog or that business at all times.

Think before your tweet. What are you saying is open for the public to read and there is no "sarcasm" font and things can get easily taken out of context and might come back to bite you later.

Consider some conversations might go better as direct messages rather than a discussion in the public time line.

I've actually gone to a few tweet ups to meet some of the people I've been chatting with for the past whatever amount of time and I have to say that I haven't been disappointed. The people I was crazy in love with on twitter were just as cool and fun when I met them. And those that didn't impress me on twitter were just as unimpressive in person, too.

@CandidCarrie