What the Tweet?!

by djbriane  14 contributors  -  May 26, 2008   + Add To This Guide

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A handy guide to Twitter, the hot new messaging service everyone is using! Previously the domain of the uber-geek, Twitter has been growing into a legitimate communication tool and this guide will introduce you to the new ultimate time waster.

What Is Twitter?

Somewhere between a blog post and an instant message, a ‘Tweet’ is a short, 140 character posting that lets your friends (also called ‘followers’, which makes you seem much more important than you really are) know what you are doing, thinking, feeling or excreting at any given moment.

Why Should I Care?

On the surface you might ask, “Why would I want to know all of the mundane things my friends are doing?”. Good question, but there is more to it than that:

  • For people who use instant messaging a lot, its a great way to send that YouTube video of a ‘fat man riding a unicycle’ to all your friends at once.
  • As a blogger, its also a nice way to share something you are working on or an interesting article without feeling obliged to write several paragraphs rehashing the material.
  • For text messagers, its handy to post a tweet about a good band playing down the street or that you’ll be out at the pub later to all of your friends instead of spamming them with text messages.

What Can I Tweet?

You can add plain text of course, links to other websites, pictures using services like Twinkle and BrightKite, and you can also direct messages to other users with ‘@<user>’ and tag posts with ‘#<tag>’.

How Do I Use It?

Using Twitter through the web is just the first step towards really getting the most from it. You can send and receive messages through your mobile phone (and pictures too), or using a host of desktop and iPhone clients such as Twhirl, Twinkle or Twitterific. You can also add the Twitter Facebook Application so your updates are shown on your profile.

What Are You Doing?

So now that you have the gist of how Twitter works, go try it out!

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THE funniest tweeter

is Fireland! Excerpts:

You ever feel kinda lazy and call in sick and not shower or shave or talk to anyone or accomplish anything for like 6-8 years? High five.

I’m eating McDonald’s yogurt in my basement and I’m not sure where to even BEGIN putting the quotation marks in this sentence.

Judging from which keys are the dirtiest on my keyboard, I must type “NORP” a lot. Weird! Is that even a word?

added by aliciak 10/14/2008

Celebrity Tweeters

This Twitter thing has really taken off since I wrote the guide, check out some of these celebrities (real and fake) who are using Twitter!

John McCain Tweets!

Big news, I know. But as someone who never liked email or did email for that matter, this sure gives those Twitter guys a pat on the back. Now if only they could figure out how to make some, you know, money from Twitter…

added by aliciak 03/04/2009

Fake Michelle Obama's Twitter

added by HelenaHandbasket 03/04/2009

Fake Hillary Clinton's Twitter

added by HelenaHandbasket 03/04/2009

Follow Guidespot on Twitter

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Not only do your new and fresh guides stream through on Guidespot’s Twitter page, but I get to flirt with all my followers and make them huge fans of GuideSpud, oh, and Guidespot. Plus, I look sexy doing it.

Follow Guidespot.com on Twitter!

added by GuideSpud 03/04/2009
 
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Who Should I Follow?

Now that you know the basics, who should you start following? Here are some folks I would recommend:

http://twitter.com/freshguides

FreshGuides will keep you updated on all the latest guides created on GuideSpot. Follow him so you don’t miss the next Bob Muntz sighting!

http://twitter.com/wii

Handy way to keep track of your friends Wii codes, post them like this: ‘@wii Mario Kart 1234-1234-1234’ then go to http://wiitransfer.com/codes/ to see a list of codes from your friends (and everyone else).

Guide Spotters Unite

Feel free to add your own Twitter ID below to join in on the revolution!

The Author: djbriane

Helena Handbasket's Twitter

added by HelenaHandbasket 09/24/2008

Susie's Twitter!

added by Susie 10/06/2008

GillianS is on Twitter, too!

Though, most of my tweets are about Guidespot…but sometimes they are not! Check it out!

added by GillianS 10/06/2008

Follow ME (JessicaJoy) on twitter!

It’ll be a good time…

added by JessicaJoy 10/10/2008

Follow aliciak!!!

added by aliciak 10/14/2008

Tyler's Twitter

It’s pretty much just my random thoughts about being an actor and my everyday life.

added by TylerWrites 02/06/2009

http://twitter.com/shalin

Updates of my technology ramblings

added by shalin 10/13/2008

Follow a SMACK TALKER

added by The Mean Bean 02/09/2009

Nick Cobb

Follow me!

added by Nick Cobb 10/13/2008

Freeandflawed is on Twitter, too!

Hi, my name is Freeandflawed and I’m a tweet-a-holic.

added by freeandflawed 10/15/2008

Jay's on Twitter too!

140 characters hasn’t been this sexy since the moon landing.

added by JayFerris 10/19/2008

Following AlexandraF Makes you Look and Feel Sexy

Follow Alex here or you will have horrible luck for the next 7 years.

added by AlexandraF 03/04/2009

@ubreeWYATTsmith's Twitter page

Follow, if you care to know what this Guidespotter is up to. (Hint: No good; no good at all!)

added by aubreeWYATTsmith 04/23/2009
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Discussions

-619676538

i’m trying! and this helps…i just don’t think i’ll ever be as good as most twitterers because i have a cheap cell with no internet – hahaha! i know, i’m a luddite…

-620205328

ive got facebook though after reading this maybe i should rethink twitter

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The comment below is proof that following Guidespot on Twitter brings in the ladies… This @helenahandbasket chick is my prize… and she loves me too! Back off, Guidespot rules. Tweet that.