What is Twitter?

Twitter is the latest social networking craze. It integrates blogging and instant messaging into one easily accessible service. Twitter has often been referred to as ‘micro-blogging’ and ‘social instant messaging’ and involves tiny blog posts (under 140 characters) that let you share and keep of track of you and your friend’s everyday activities. Basically Twitter lets you provide updates between emails and blog posts, as you respond to the question “What are you doing”, or other queries, as you go about your day.

You can report to your circle of fellow Twitters through the Twitter website (which is displayed like a blog), your mobile phone/PDA or instant messaging service, keeping track of your network’s updates and announcements as they happen. You can also integrate your Twitter account with your blog, website or third party service (like Facebook) using Twitter widgets available from their site. Twitter.com has all the details you need, including a short introductory video explaining its features and sign-up process.

Why Should I use Twitter?

Twitter is easy to use and sign up for. Simply create a Twitter account via their website and search for any friends that already have accounts. Once you find them, choose to ‘follow’ them and keep track of their daily activities as they report them.

Twitter can be used as a promotional tool for your blog/site/company etc. You can promote your newest blog posts or web finds by creating short Twitter posts that link to your latest efforts. Twitter can be a great source for referrals and informs your network about your latest blogging activities as they happen. You can also use Twitter to gain new readers and easily introduce them to yourself and your ideas.

Twitter responses can be a part of your blog’s content. You can use Twitter to ask your friends questions about a particular subject being covered on your blog. You can integrate their answers into your content to cover different perspectives, adding another dimension to your blog. Darren Rowse from Problogger elaborated on this in his 9 Benefits of Twitter for Bloggers posts as he gives a detailed example of how he incorporated his Twitter responses into his content.

Twitter keeps you in the know. Always be on top of developments within your network as you access Twitter from your phone or computer. Urgent news or requests can be acted on immediately as Twitter IMs keep you connected with your most important contacts.

Twitter keeps responses short and sweet. Sometimes, being limited to 140 characters can evoke more honest and to the point answers and comments. While emails and blog comments can often be lengthy and time-consuming, Twitter keeps things short and simple with its concise ‘micro-blogging’ posting format.

We hope this little introduction has helped you understand the exciting possibilities Twitter offers to bloggers and internet marketers, including its potential for closer networking and content promotion. For more information on this great service, head on over to Twitter.com. Be sure to also check out Vanessa Fox’s post Everything You Wanted to Know About Twitter for a more comprehensive breakdown of Twitter’s features and uses.

We would also like to know how you use Twitter as well. What benefits does it have for your blog? Feel free to share your thoughts!