Twitter « RackWire.com Blog and Knowledge Base Articles

What is Twitter? Social Networking 101 for my Mom

Posted by Mike on January 14th, 2010

This is for you Mom! Over the Christmas Holidays, my mom asked me, “What is Twitter?”

I am sooo busted. It was one of those dinner conversations where you get a flashback to being 14 years old again trying to explain how some new trend like “the mullet” is catching on. So I gave it my best:

It is a way of communicating online with text updates, that are 140 characters or less to anyone that chooses to read or follow your profile. It is like stripping everything out of facebook, except for the updates.

(Mom) Who do you communicate with? With your Friends, Family, and Co-Workers….Ok, let’s be realistic here, a bunch of random internet personalities or anyone that chooses to find you interesting. People can then search on things you post, like Recipes.

(Mom) What can you say in 140 Characters or less? Really anything, like what you are doing, breaking news, interesting links and facts. You could tell all your friends that you are really excited to play Bridge tonight.

(Mom) Why can’t I just call them? What if you were playing bridge with 1,000 customers and want to broadcast something to everyone?

(Mom) I think I will pass, and will you please get rid of that Mullet!

Unlike my Mom, you can Follow Us on Twitter here!

Tags: Twitter

“10 Best” Must Try Twitter Tools for Business

Posted by Mike on November 17th, 2009

In Random Order are some Twitter Tools worth looking into. Depending on what you are using twitter for, weather communicating with Customers, keeping track of clients or just tracking the “Twitter Information Highway” these tools will get you going in the right direction.

1. TweetDeck – This is a Must Have! TweetDeck is a personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook and more. Allows you to update multiple accounts at once. Next on Deck….a Adobe AIR Update.

2. CoTweet – A must have tool for Companies and Businesses that allow multiple users to Share one Twitter Account. Allows Multiple Accounts and Multiple Users. Hey, Who wrote that I Sleep at my desk?

3. Twazzup – This Tool shows real time tweets for your Twitter name or other Twitter Key Words. The name alone reeled me in. Hey Mike……Twazzzzzzzupppppp!

4. Twitter Grader – Get Your Grade! This tool grades your Twitter Account based on the following: Number of Re-tweeting of Posts, Updates, Rank, Followers and number Following. So are you a better Twitter than a 5th grader?

5. Twitter Karma – The #1 way to get rid of people that are not following you. Karma says that if you use this site, you will get 1 more follower.

6. FriendorFollow – This tool tells you which people you are following are following you. Really helps weed out the spammers, that follow you for a day to SPAM you.

7. 2tweet - Allows you to Tweet Multiple Photos & Videos from you email. Hey, take a picture, it will last longer!

8. Social OOmph – Used to be called tweetlater. Best uses, send direct automated messages to new followers and send out future tweets, like in the year 2000!

9. MyTweeple – Make a decision about the people you are following by checking stats and reviewing thier latest tweets. Don’t agree? Have your Tweeple call My Tweeple.

10. TweetMeme - Get daily information on the Hottest and Most Popular Daily Tweets out there. Kind of like the Digg Philosophy of what is getting the most traction, and remember If it is on the Internet it must be true.

New Reader Add:

11. HootSuite – This tool allows you to manage multiple users across multiple accounts and follow keywords, statistics and keywords. I think there is going to be a HootSuite Riot.