10 years ago, we imagined it. The Internet becoming an integral part of our lives and for some of us geeks, that we could use it to do almost everything. Well, 10 years later and after a blink of an eye, we got slapped in the face by the Internet. It said, “Uhh, duhh. What did you think I was here for?” SLAP*.

This infographic shows us what the Internet has done for education. A part of our system that has lacked in technology and quite frankly, has not been given enough attention. With so many advances, it’s about time education hopped on the train and started using the Internet. What are your thoughts?

Via: OnlineEducation.net

This post was submitted by stuntinonevry1.

Now that many people use both Twitter and Facebook, users look for ways of sharing information between the two social media networks. Recently, companies have come up with ways of posting updates to both places relatively simultaneously. The trend means that people and their friends keep in touch on both networks. Now, it is possible to use Facebook as the primary means of updating both accounts at once.

Facebook contains an application to allow users of both social networking sites to update status messages from Twitter right into Facebook. The Twitter application in Facebook is the best way to do this. All one needs to do is install the app and then click to allow Twitter to update the Facebook status. The screen that comes up when the process has been completed asks the user of Facebook if he or she wants to allow status updates from Twitter. Once that has been done, the user can change the setting back via the Edit Applications Page in Facebook. A Tweeter app also lets users do the updates, and gives them additional options for seeing and responding to tweets while still logged into Facebook.

Tweeters who use more words to say what they mean would do better with the Selective Twitter Status application. This version only updates a person’s Facebook wall with tweets including the #fb hashtag to let them know what is new. A program entitled TweetSync uses a keyword operated version of the function and lets the user decide whether to take all tweets or sync only those containing a certain keyword. That filtering can even help sort tweets to the user’s Facebook page, making communicating with friends simpler by giving priority to the messages he or she really needs to view.

Another way for people to bring in Tweets and Facebook content is to use Facebook Connect as the bridge between services. This gives site developers and owners a way to immediately let new users log into other sites via their Facebook accounts. Twitterer’s in this case will enjoy using Tweetpo.st to grab the advantages of Facebook Connect in linking Twitter to Facebook. Tweetpo.st provides opportunities for obsessed Twitter users to create meaningful Facebook updates. Tweets can be posted as status updates, obviously, but advanced users also may figure out how to more selectively update a status, and add in rich media links to their wall, convert Twitter handles in replies to real names, and even track link performance.

Using these ideas links a person between Facebook and Twitter. These methods work especially well going in the direction of Facebook to Twitter, but can be reversed to send information in the other direction as well. After all, users need to go both ways to share the content they enjoy with friends and work content with colleagues for a more productive world. Facebook and Twitter both give the dedicated user the means to connect with anyone in the world, so if the need presents itself, you can easily connect to either platform.

Twitter fans have a way of bringing social networking to the local level and getting more people involved. The TweetUp can range from a small gathering to a weekend-long convention . At the same time, those who set up the TweetUps not only teach about what they do, they tweet about it. This gives the newcomer or curious attendee a fantastic way to see how both communities can interact, online and offline. Those setting up such events use Twitter to find speakers, locations, and discounts on these items as well as generating interest in the convention by well-timed and written tweets.

The Long Beach Tweetup Site

Naturally, Tweetups evolve from Twitter activity. However, to have people gather locally, one must set up Tweetup outposts. This lets the organizer network with authorities in the area, making sure that venues are used responsibly and in accordance with local regulations. The outposts also give the organizer an easier way of finding keynote speakers for the event based upon its exact theme. One of these outposts must be a dedicated landing page on the Internet , preferably a dedicated event site or Facebook page. Often, this will be where attendees can find registration and hotel information and officially sign up for the event. After the Tweetup, the landing page can become a gallery of photos from the event to help generate interest in the next one.

Create an original #hashtag on hashtag.org or Twitter search to define the meeting. Make it searchable and put it on the landing page so others can join in discussions utilizing Tweetchat. While setting these up, also go into a service such as Google Alert or Tweetbeep and set up alerts to arrive in your inbox when someone clicks the #hashtag , event or its keywords, or the eventís blog.

Use the #hashtag as the name of a Twitter list for the Tweetup. This helps to generate attention and curiosity about the event. Post the list on the landing page for the Tweetup so others can follow it, especially the keynote speakers. Mentioning the keynote speakers and having them follow this page will create an environment where people will want to be as new information gets added. Also, create a whoís who list of volunteers, speakers, and attendees to help keep track of the event and keep it organized. In this way, it will be easier to know which people and speakers to invite to future Tweetups and what new volunteers may be found.

Thus, organizing a Tweetup can be a rewarding experience. It allows groups of Twitter users to come together locally or regionally while still including others. By attending such an event, one can learn how to use the Internet for social networking and to meet others who use some of the same online tools but perhaps in different ways. This exciting new way to network gives people the chance to do so both online and offline simultaneously as they tweet while meeting.

Recently, HootSuite’s CEO, Ryan Holmes, announced that his company’s popular Twitter app will expand its horizons. By integrating also with MySpace and Foursquare, HootSuite will add more power for those who need it Business and other heavy users of the HootSuite Twitter app will now have more ways to connect with their friends and colleagues. The integration began with the South by Southwest Interactive Conference for app developers and reviewers before going public.

Even before trying the new expansion, HootSuite integrated with Wordpress and updated the apps for iPhone and Android. Those integrations and updates alone added more power and flexibility to what HootSuite can do for users. Joining forces with Wordpress gives HootSuite a new place to advertise its services, and allows Wordpress users a new tool to communicate with other bloggers. Now, those wishing to respond to a blog post who don’t use Twitter itself can send short replies to the author. No longer would they need to log into an e-mail account or Twitter or other social networking site’s app in order to ask questions of or leave comments for the blog’s author. Iphone and Android app updates made the HootSuite programming more portable and able to be checked by a user who has an interface on one of those devices at times when a computer is not handy.

MySpace users anticipate the integration of HootSuite to their social sphere having a resemblance to its origin on Twitter’s Tweetdeck. For them, HootSuite would likely become the place to access feeds of news and information and update their MySpace status. Thus, HootSuite would bring a user his or her friends’ posts almost as in an instant messaging conversation, and let the friends know who’s on or offline with that network at a given time.

Since Foursquare is a mobile app to begin with, the possibilities stemming from its integration with HootSuite excite mobile users, although it could see some web integration to allow it into desktop computers in the future. Eventually, the Foursquare-HootSuite app could become part of what makes such devices as the iPhone and Android work in connecting to the networks. The enhanced functionality will give users of those devices more communicative power by letting them connect to their social networks more easily. For many users, being able to use one app to connect to all of their social sites, from Twitter to MySpace, both on the computer and cell phone, will enhance the ease with which they make plans and complete projects.

HootSuite expanding from Twitter out into other social networking sites and possibly mobile phone apps will give the users of such programs more power. The power to communicate will make everything more efficient from power meetings to friends getting together after work. Some even speculate that because of its expansion, HootSuite could make itself more useful than Tweetie, Tweetdeck, and Seesmic in the quest to connect people by giving them such a simple way to shout out to others across apps and platforms.

Let’s face it miscommunications can be horrible, for many they create a situation of uneasiness, they can easily led to mishaps and can even ruin relationships. We live in a diverse world and many times what you may think is the assumed by your peers, just isn’t so. Add an 140 character limit into the equation and you run an even greater risk for miscommunications.

Twitter is a great social networking tool, it offers many great opportunities for people to connect – that may have otherwise never have. But with the good there is always some level of negativity that can to turn an easily rectifiable situation into chaos.

So how do you avoid these miscommunications while still maintaining a certain level of pleasure and/or productivity while using the Twitter Platform? The answers are easier than you may think.

1. Be Clear – Make your point as clear as possible, avoid using lingo that is not universal, age specific or of a metaphorical nature. While tools like the urban dictionary are easily accessible, not everyone knows about there existence, nor can you guarantee they take the time to research it.

2. Use Email - if you can not get your point across in 140 characters or less, make it a point to email the person and express your full intent. There is nothing in the Twitter TOS that states you can not contact people outside the social networking medium.

3. Don’t Jump the Gun – if you are unsure about a message you have received from an individual or business, ask for clarification. Send them a message to seek clarity, mistakes happen, don’t them them ruin your day.

4. Send a public reply before Direct Messaging – Not everyone checks their Twitter direct messages, try sending the user a public @reply before sending a direct message (DM). If you do not receive a response back from your DM or public reply try again at a later time.

5. Have some one else review it- if your message screams the need for clarification, have a friend review it and ask them what they think. If the the message is received by them in the same manner as your intent, chances are you are on the right track.

6. Be Objective – Don’t let your personal biases of situations cloud your judgement. Be objective, take each messages as it is and not what you feel it may be.

7. Keep it Simple – Large words may make increase your vocabulary, but not everyone understands what they mean in the 140 character message you may be using them in. Use small direct words, that don’t have multiple meanings to have the greatest chances of success.

The phrase RSS is a shortened phrase for really simple syndication. This online mechanism that is found on a lot of different websites and pages across the internet gives you the opportunity to read over your favorite web content by only looking at one page.

For example, if you come across a blog that you like and you want to be able to know when the writer of that blog will be posting more articles or blogs pertaining to your interests you simply need to register for their RSS feed and you will be alerted when something new is posted.

When you subscribe to an RSS feed you will be amongst one of the first people to know when a site has been updated without having to visit the site on a daily basis waiting for something new to be added. You will also be able to read the content that is found on several blogs at one time when you subscribe to different RSS feeds.

You may have noticed while perusing the Twitter network that they also have a host of RSS feeds as well. If you want to be able to track specific updates or anything of that nature on Twitter all you need to do is sign up for their feeds and you will instantly be in the know about everything new that is going on with the social network.

Be aware that you will not be able to update your Tweets through the Twitter RSS feed. However, there is something called Twitterfeed that many people and online business owners are taking advantage of. This feed allows you to automatically send updates to the Twitter community every single time that you have made an update on your existing blog.

If you want to be able to read tweets from your friends and your followers on Twitter without having to log into the site every 5 minutes that you definitely need to consider subscribing to the Twitter RSS feed. To locate the feed so you can sign up, you will need to be on your main profile page. Along the sidebar of your page you will notice that there is a button that reads RSS feed.

All you need to do in order to subscribe to the Twitter feed is click the button that reads subscribe. After doing so, you will automatically be in the know about everything that is happening on the Twitter network without actually having to sign on consistently.

Subscribing to Twitters RSS feed can benefit both your personal as well as your business life. Even though there are a lot of Twitter maniacs around not everyone has the time to consistently be tweeting. The RSS feed will help you stay in tune with all of your friends on the Twitter network. This way, you never have to worry about ever missing out on an important Tweet.

Unless you have been in a cave somewhere, you know Twitter is one of the most widely used networking sites for people online. Comscore recently reported that the Twitter website had just under 75 million visitors this past January, alone.

The shear amount of traffic is mind boggling. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to use Twitter to help your online business grow?

When Twitter first started it was basically used as a way for friends to keep in touch. It was more or less a social network where you sent minuscule messages to everyone on your friends list. However, many businesses have begun seeing what this community can do to help them further their business and increase their revenue.

Dell is a prime example of this business venture, starting in 2007, they have successfully reported over 6.5 million in sales from using the Twitter Platform and now boast over 1.5 million Twitter followers.

Among the afore mentioned reasons businesses also utilize the network in order to build a stature of rapport for their organization or in order to hook in prospective clients that may be intrigued by what their business has to offer.

In order to make Twitter work for your businesses benefit, there are a few basic Twitter tips that you should follow.

1. In order to get your business into the limelight you need to ensure that your Twitter page is being seen. Therefore, you should focus a lot of your attention on increasing your visibility to people on the network. The more “tweets” that you make on the network the more exposure you will get. This is not to say you should blast out 1000’s of tweets a day, but one or two will just not cut it.
2. Upon first signing up for a Twitter account you will be prompted to build a profile for the network. You need to think about the people that will be visiting your profile and the impression that your profile is going to make on them. You need to get a positive message across, so be distinct on what you want people to know about you as well as about your business.
3. Do not ignore tweets from other people on the network. The more people that you respond to, when they try to connect with you, the better off you will be. Your main focus is to build relationships with clients not shun them away.
4. Never send out direct message “tweets” in an attempt to promote your products and/or services, while on Twitter . This makes you sound too commercial and a lot of people will be hesitant to respond or will just drop you from there friends’ list.

These are just a few basic Twitter tips that will help you to be successful on the network. You want to be able to establish both business – as well as personal relationships with people on Twitter, using these tips will help you accomplish both tasks.

Check here for more Business Twitter Tips.

Social networks are a great place to get together and speak with old friends as well as make new friends. However, networks such as Twitter and Facebook are actually being put into the limelight again, this time for assisting with tracking down criminals. In fact, police are finding it extremely easy to catch people who are disobeying the law by tracking people’s activities via social networks.

In fact, there has been one reported instance where a criminal was caught who had just committed burglary upon a residence. While the criminal was engaged in robbing this home, he suddenly simply had to check his FaceBook page. The burglar actually logged onto the home computer at the house that he was robbing from.

The burglar inputted his log in information and forgot to log out after he was done. His login information was found by the owners of the premises and was the main thing that was used to put him behind bars for his crime. Talk about a time when it would have been a good idea to wait until you got home.

FaceBook in particular is one social media website that has been gaining a lot of attention for its qualities for ensuring that people that break the law are put behind bars. In fact, the secret service was able to bust a man that was hiding out in Mexico that had committed a serious case of bank fraud because he avidly boasted about his accomplishments on his FaceBook page.

Both the Los Angeles and Boston Police departments have been avidly utilizing social networks to assist them with solving crimes and also helping them eliminate the chances of a crime occurring. The Los Angeles police department has used social media sites to help alert them about break ins that were going to happen to celebrity homes and things of that nature. It’s amazing how close a social networking community can actually become.

The Boston Police department has been avidly utilizing Twitter to assist them with criminal activities. Officers are avidly communicating with people around the area about awareness issues that they need to be made aware of. They have even set up a website that will assist people in catching criminals who steal bikes.

You simply register your stolen bike with the department through their Twitter or FaceBook page and report any suspicious activities regarding stolen bikes that you have seen. As everyone knows, stolen bikes are hard to get back, however with social networks assisting the Boston PD there are a lot of kids that are ecstatic that their bikes were actually able to recovered.

Social media sites have become a big part of a lot of people’s lives. Now, these networks are even being used by the police to help catch the bad guys.

Have you started using Twitter regularly yet? Well a lot of people are already using this network for different things such as their business and personal needs. Upon signing up for an account you will be given a generic background at first.

What many newer Twitter users do not realize, is this background can be easily changed into anything that you desire. You can choose to add some cool colors to your background or have your company’s logo showcased on your page. Changing the background on your Twitter account is actually relatively easy and only involves a few minor steps to accomplish the task.

You are going to need to access your Twitter settings first. The settings option can be located inside your account and should be on the right hand corner of the page. After you have entered into the settings page, you will then see the option that says design.

From the design page you will be given the choice to choose the theme that you would like displayed on your Twitter account. There are a lot of different themes and backgrounds that are available to you to choose from – making your Twitter account bear some of your personality features is not difficult to do.

If the backgrounds that Twitter has available on their site are not your cup of tea you can upload your own background at your leisure. Uploading your personalized background is a fairly simple task to complete and many Twitter Background websites offer this as part of a free service.

You basically scroll down to the home page of your Twitter account and press on the design button that is located below the Twitter themes. You will then need to click on the icon for changing the background on your page. Once you are on this page, you will then be able to upload whatever picture you have chosen to be your new Twitter background.

There’s also an additional link that gives you the option to change colors on the picture that you previously uploaded to your Twitter account. You can peruse through multitudes of colors until you find one that catches your attention.

However, be aware that not all of the colors that are given to you to choose from will be available if you upload your own background onto your Twitter page.

There are many different reasons why someone would be interested in changing their Twitter backgrounds. Part of the reason why someone would think about changing their background is to give their page some style and make it look original in comparison to the generic background that everyone is given for their pages.

Composing your personal bio on Twitter can be extremely difficult to accomplish. You are given exactly 160 characters to explain everything about yourself. These characters are given so you will be able to tell the world who you are, what you do and the reason why you want to share what you know with the world. A lot of people that are new to the Twitter world do not have the slightest clue where to get started.

This bio that you create on Twitter is going to be one of the main things that people read about you in order to gain a better understanding about you as a person and your reason for wanting to be a part of the social network. Knowing the proper Twitter tips of the things that you should and should not include in your bio will help you make your Twitter presence meaningful.

There are many different places where it is considered appropriate to spill your guts out to someone. However, Twitter should not be the place where you conduct in these types of actions. Twitter was primarily built for a place where you can have brief but meaningful interaction with others.

Don’t be this guy

Unlike the 140 character Tweets that you can make on the network to other Tweeters your bio has a little bit of extra space for you to fill in information about yourself. Remember that each social network features their own unique attributes that make them attractive to the public. Twitter is no different from MySpace and FaceBook you are able to connect with others.

However, it does help if you are a little bit of a wordsmith when it comes to writing interesting tweets and above all creating an interesting bio that people can grab a hold of and utterly enjoy. Although, your Twitter profile will be short in stature you can always create a link in your bio to additional things that you are associated with so people can create an understanding of who you are and what your main agenda for utilizing Twitter is.

It is a good rule of thumb to list who you are and what you do s well as what you enjoy. If you are utilizing Twitter for your business you want to make it apparent that you are, but not to make yourself sound entirely commercial when doing so.

Your bio needs to let the networking of community have a little bit of insight about you. Obviously, some people are a little weary when it comes to following people within the Twitter community. However, if you make your bio intriguing there is no telling how many people will follow you out of pure curiosity.

Social networking has changed the way that online marketing is completed. The way that marketers portray a message to prospective clients has changed immensely. Static pages have pretty much been overrun by these networks, since many business owners are choosing to blog about their businesses instead of creating complex pages.

Social networks are making it highly possible to portray your marketing message to masses of people without having to go through complex marketing procedures. Keyword stuffed content is quickly becoming a thing of the past and social networks are moving in with their micro marketing routines.

When Twitter first entered into the social marketing realm a lot of business owners began to realize that they did not have to babble on in articles about their business anymore. In fact, Twitter messages referred to as Tweets are only 140 characters. Giving you the opportunity to get your message across without involving a lot of repetitions like a lot of articles seem to convey.

Messages that are short and to the point are getting a lot of attention on the Twitter network. A tweet that has had a lot of thought put into it can get you the same amount or even more attention than an article would that was simply loaded with various keywords.

Over the past few years, the Twitter community has expanded beyond what anyone would have ever imagined it would. There are users of many different ages, creeds, and religions that avidly utilize Twitter. From the marketing gurus to young teenagers that are simply trying to chat with their friends Twitter has definitely already reached the masses.

Twitter is commonly referred to as the micro marketing core system. The system is always on and running (with a few exceptions here and there) regardless of what time it is and you don’t have to pay anything to use it. Well, minus the amount of time that you will spend on the network communicating with others and sharing information about your business.

Twitter will even run beside an existing blog that you have and there are so many different tools and plug-ins that can be used on the network as well. You can even have Twitter automate Tweets for you, this way regardless if you are near your computer or perusing the network you can still develop a nice following of people that are interested in what you have to offer .

There are a lot of established clients that avidly utilize Twitter for all of their micro marketing needs. There are perhaps, a few simple twitter tips that you should keep in mind when utilizing this network to market your business.

Try to remember that relationships with clients need to be built first, before they will begin to trust your marketing efforts. Most importantly, don’t over use tweet automation, a few throughout the day is a great way to increase your productivity. Do this too much and you run the risk of being labeled as a bot, a spammer or even getting your Twitter account suspended.

Even though the amount of characters that you will be using on Twitter are relatively small; Twitter is a great way to drip a little bit of content information into the laps of prospective clients or people that are simply interested in what you have to offer. There are three Twitter tips for content marketing that you can follow in order to help lead people to your site.

1. Sharing larger content is easy to do when you submit a small tweet that incorporates a link that leads intrigued followers to a useful location of some sort. A lot of people use this technique to be able to highlight any blog posts that they have made or articles that they have composed.The initial goal of content marketing is to be able to provide an adamant amount of useful but relevant information that will showcase you as being an expert in a particular field. Part of the value of the Twitter network is being able to find information that you feel is intriguing and lead your followers to the information as well.
2. Creating short content may sound like a daunting task to some people. However, you can get a lot of useful information out to the masses by using these short tweets in order to do so. For instance, you can highlight something that is significant in your blog with a few short words and then include the link to your blog in your tweets.
3. Learn how to deliver your content to the masses without imposing on them. There are a lot of people that love to hear about interesting articles on the web, and other valuable things of that nature. However, it is imperative that when you are tweeting and sending personal emails to your followers that you try to think about their needs when you are marketing.Including things in your email such as I saw a tweet on here that you left about purses and thought that you would like to read this article would be something great to start off a conversation with. This way you are showing that you pay attention to the tweets that your followers leave and they will be a lot more open to listening to you and responding to your requests to go visit content that you have posted.

There are a lot of businesses and individuals that find Twitter is an extremely useful system that allows them to easily market whatever it is they are involved in. However, many writers know as well as anyone else that sometimes marketing content can be extremely difficult to achieve. Build up meaningful relationships with as many tweeters as possible and you will be surprised how many of them would be more than obliged to take a gander at some of your articles.

If you’re new to Twitter, you might not know what the buzz is about. Exactly what is Twitter and what can you expect to see there? How valuable is it to the regular person? There are many benefits to Twitter you might not expect, including support, breaking news, and connections of both a business and personal nature.

Not only is Twitter a micro-blogging platform for people to interact within 140 characters, it is a hotbed of information, breaking news, and plain, old-fashioned gossip. People from all walks of life populate Twitter, offering opinions and snippets from their lives to which other people can relate. Twitter can alleviate boredom, inform, and unite in a way that is unprecedented. Twitter is very similar to the beginnings of IRC or AOL chat, but it connects people in a way that is unique.

If you’re a single mom and need information on schools in a new district, you can find someone who can help you find what you need. A student writing a paper for an important class can find people who can help find links to facts. Writers, crafters, artists, musicians, can build a following or join a group that shares similar interests. And breaking news often finds its way to Twitter before it even reaches the mainstream media.

How is this possible? The accessibility of Twitter is key, as is the large audience. Although it has proven difficult to get an accurate count of active Twitter users, most counts range to over 2.5 million Twitter users to date. That’s a lot of brains to pick, a lot of experience to tap, and a lot of information on which to draw. New applications for mobile phones make Twitter even more accessible, and often what happens on the street is recorded first on Twitter.

For instance, the Iranian election was followed closely on Twitter, and when the Iranian government tried to shut down information from that country, their efforts were stymied by witnesses able to access Twitter and communicate the events through words and pictures. The globe is not as tiny as it was before Twitter came on the scene.

Celebrity use by the famous such as Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and Shaq O’Neill have also brought Twitter to major attention. People don’t want to feel isolated, and with the mobility of the American population and waning of local neighborhoods, Twitter has become an interesting substitute in many ways. Twitter even reaches across borders to bring opinions, news, and reflections from other cultures.

Although skeptics in the beginning thought Twitter was just a passing fad, since launched publicly in July of 2007, it has shown no signs of slowing down. It’s difficult to predict the future of any social networking phenomenon, but it will be interesting to see how Twitter evolves with its users and what the future holds in store.

Getting started on Twitter may look like a monumental task, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be breezing along and reaping the benefits of an expanded social media profile. However, there are some basic guidelines of being a good Twitter citizen, and by following them you’ll reap the benefits of a positive Twitter experience.

Here are some basics Twitter tips for the newcomer:
- Twitter is an interactive social media. This means it’s not all about YOU. Interact with other people, don’t just post about you, you, you. Not only is this directly against what Twitter is all about, it will get you ignored quickly.

- If you wouldn’t say it out loud at a dinner party, chances are you shouldn’t say it on Twitter, either. Remember, there is a wide variety of people on Twitter, and some subjects are just not appropriate. Be personable, and know your audience and what they will tolerate.

- Don’t spam your followers with a barrage of sales Tweets. You may have a product or service to promote, but posting every two minutes about it will help you lose every single one of the people who have taken the time to follow you. If they wanted a constant barrage of commercials they’d be watching network television.

- Be polite. Don’t pick a fight, and refuse to engage if someone starts one with you. The beauty of Twitter is you can unfollow unpleasant people with a simple click of a button. Twitter is not the venue in which to argue, and all it does is make your followers uncomfortable. Take it outside.
Follow back – if someone has taken the time to look you up and follow your Tweets, it means they saw something interesting and wish to get to know you better. Return the favor. You will meet some fascinating people, and a follow is not necessarily a concrete contract if you find that after all, you don’t have anything in common.

- Share information and offer value, don’t just lurk quietly and keep to yourself. Again, Twitter is an interactive social media platform, and conversing with your fellow Tweeters is key. Share links, tips, and information about subjects with which you’re familiar. Comment on the information shared by others, and re-tweet what appeals to you for your followers. Fellow Tweeters will return the favor, expanding your Twitter network.

Using common sense and courtesy goes a long way in the Twitter universe, similar to what happens in real life. Be polite, don’t spam, and be yourself to maximize the benefits that Twitter has to offer. The best way to put it is, imagine you were attending a party with people you’ve never met. If you behave the same way you would at this party, your Twitter experience should be informative, entertaining, and most of all, fun.

Maintaining a professional presence on Twitter is a little different than just letting your personal alter-ego fly by the seat of his pants. What you want to do is establish a level of trust with your Twitter followers and yourself as a trustworthy and dependable source of information for your followers. This doesn’t mean you should be stiff – on the contrary, you want to appear approachable and friendly, but still retain your air of professionalism.

Here are some tips to establishing yourself as a professional on Twitter:

- Create an informative, engaging profile page. Include your contact information, and a place where potential clients and followers can get an idea of what you and your business are about. On your Twitter bio, you have 160 characters to make your case. It’s in your best interest to make them count, so if you’re stuck for words, hire a writer to help.

- Display your full URL or web address on your profile page. Shortened URLs are necessary when on Twitter, but on your profile page it looks like you’re hiding something. The complete address assures your follower or potential client when clicking on the link, they know exactly what they can expect.

- Verify the links you re-tweet. On Twitter, don’t ever pass on a link to a site you have not visited yourself. If your follower clicks on a link you have endorsed and it takes them to a dead site or worse, it will hurt your credibility and ultimately, your reputation and you’ll lose followers. Do your due diligence.

- By all means, share your product or service, but don’t spam your people. Your goal on Twitter is to establish your reputation as an authoritative source of information in your chosen industry, and using Twitter to Tweet exclusively about your product or service will only alienate the very people you’re trying to win over. Space out your information about your products among other valuable Tweets.

- Bulk automatic direct messages (DMs) are not a good idea. Most veteran Twitter users, when receiving an automated or “sales” DM, will immediately drop you and may block your Twitter stream entirely. They may complain on Twitter, and others will read their complaints and likely decline to follow you, as well. Save the DMs for personalized messages.

It’s important to maintain a business focus, but don’t let that prevent you from being personable and approachable. Remember, Twitter is a social media outlet, and the point is to interact with people. People are much more likely to do business with someone with whom they are familiar, and have gotten to know and trust. Following these simple guidelines will go a long way toward establishing you and your business as a force to be reckoned with in the ‘Twitterverse’.

When becoming a part of the Twitter collective, it’s important if you’re a budding small business owner or freelancer to stand out from the crowd. Since there are millions of Twitter users, this can be a tall order. One of the tools at your disposal is the right choice of photo, or avatar, to display in your Twitter stream.

An avatar is not mandatory; if you choose not to upload a photo or avatar, one is automatically assigned – a generic Twitter avatar sported by all who don’t choose to upload a personalized avatar. This can really hurt your chances of connecting with those on Twitter by reducing the recognition factor, and wastes a golden opportunity for branding.

Image Credit Cinematropolis

Most Twitter people agree, they like to match an actual face to a name. Some people may be uncomfortable with displaying their photo in such a public space, so there are ways to work around this to make everyone happy. An odd camera angle may work, or a picture with you in trademark sunglasses that tend to cut down on the recognizable features of your face. A cartoon caricature might be an option, or even a pencil sketch. Consider a photo of you when you were a child, in a costume, or any other photo that gives an idea of the person behind the account without giving everything away, unless you’re comfortable with being recognized offline as well as online.

You may choose to display a company logo or graphic, and that’s fine, but there are some considerations. Because the space allowed is so small, make sure to choose colors that are bright or contrast nicely. It’s difficult to pull out the Tweets of a logo that looks like all the rest – and since many Twitter users monitor their account with third party applications, some of which have dark tones, a brightly colored or contrasted image stands a better chance of being noticed.

Choose your avatar or photo carefully, because until you establish your presence on Twitter, changing the avatar frequently will confuse your followers and they may not recognize who you are on your next visit. Once you are a regular contributor, it’s acceptable to switch out your photo as you wish, however, be prepared to lose a follower or two who may not realize who you are right away.

For branding purposes, it is recommended that you use the same image on all your social networking sites for maximum recognition, so the choice of your avatar is an important one, indeed. Before you make your final choice for Twitter, solicit the opinions of trusted friends, partners, or co-workers to get some feedback on what your avatar portrays. By choosing the perfect Twitter avatar for your profile you take advantage of an opportunity to brand yourself, your service, or your business for instant recognition.

More and more businesses today are discovering the benefits of having a dedicated Twitter service team. The cost is low and the benefits are high for both consumer and company. Twitter provides a perfect platform in which to reach out and get in touch with your customers in a way that’s been unprecedented before the dawn of Twitter.

Charter Cable Company, for instance, monitors the Twitter feed stream for any mention of Charter, especially ones that contain a complaint of something wrong. The team is on it in an instant; before the Tweet even disappears off the screen, a Charter Cable team member is in touch with the customer to ascertain the problem and if there’s some way to help. Often, the issue is resolved through Twitter and the customer never has to wait on hold for the next available operator. Many other companies have started to adopt this customer service model with great success for all parties involved.

Twitter is having quite an impact on how customer service support is being viewed by big business, and small business should probably take a good look, also. How can you best serve your client? Immediate attention through Twitter not only fosters good customer relations, it also inspires brand loyalty. Why would you go elsewhere for a product if the product works reasonably well and more important, if something goes wrong, it is immediately fixed? In most cases, a happy customer is a loyal customer, and the business industry is starting to realize what a valuable tool Twitter is to good customer support.

Establishing a team of customer support reps on Twitter requires some minimal training and investment, but the dividends pay off handsomely for both the business and the customer. Both come away from this arrangement with benefits, and with the growing population of Twitter expected to keep on rising, more and more people can be reached and serviced through this medium.

On the company side, reduced revenue for customer service is a winning situation for them. Some employees are able to work from home, reducing overhead costs. Operators can stay in touch via Twitter through mobile applications to both their company and their customers. Response is real-time and instant; a log can be kept of all correspondence, making misunderstandings less of a concern. An active Twitter presence is becoming more important to online and offline businesses as they fight to beat the downturn of the economy. Using Twitter as a tool to help support their customers is another one in the arsenal to be a success.

A business these days needs every edge they can get, and customers are looking for value for their dollar. Advancing technology and platforms such as Twitter are making this an easier proposition for both customer and company that it ever has before.

Once you become familiar with the Twitter interface and have acquired a following, it’s easy to become comfortable with chatting to other people and being friendly. For the most part – this is a good way to make and maintain several great connections. However with every social media platform there are a few out there that will stop at nothing to use and abuse your kindness for profit or just shear malice.

1. For business purposes, you may want to list your physical address on your Twitter profile, or make it available as a link. However, it is not advised you do this for your personal address. If it is important for people to get a hold of you for whatever reason, it’s better to provide a post office box number. Remember, while you have control of whom you follow on Twitter and who follows you, you don’t have control over who sees your profile.
2. Twitter is vast, with a network that reaches wide. If you are planning a vacation, use Twitter to gush about it or post pictures when you return. Divulging times and dates when you will be away from your home or business is asking for trouble from unscrupulous people who may make you a target from the information they glean from your Twitter stream. If you need to maintain an active feed set up automated Tweets when you’re away so it looks like you’re still active in the community.
3. If you have not protected your Twitter updates, it means that everything you Tweet is seen on a public timeline. Anyone who accesses the Twitter homepage can then view your Tweets, so keep personal information you wish to be private to yourself, or protect your updates so only the people you accept as fellow Tweeters can see your postings.
4. Do not give out your Twitter password. If you have delegated Twitter duties to another person in the case of a business, make sure they are instructed also to not give out the password to the Twitter account, and change the password often. Giving out a Twitter password is like giving someone the key to your front door, so be just as careful.
5. There are a plethora of viruses, and Trojans out there just waiting for you to click on a Twitter link to infest your computer. Keep your virus program up-to-date and run it daily. The best advice is to not click on a link from someone with whom you’re not familiar, and don’t post links to Twitter that you have not checked out yourself. If you receive a link in a direct message, unless it’s from your someone you trust, resist the temptation to click on it.

Common sense will take you a long way toward protecting yourself on Twitter. As with most things, the more familiar you become with Twitter the more comfortable you become, but this is the internet, after all. Utilizing the above Twitter safety tips will insure both a pleasant and profitable Twitter experience.

From musicians to political pundits; from pro athletes to rap stars, Twitter has become “the” place to be on the internet social scene for the rich, famous, and glamorous. After a struggle with celeb impersonators, in June of 2009 Twitter introduced the verified account, meaning celebrities could provide proof that they are, indeed, the authentic real deal and receive a button that displays on their Twitter page, although it doesn’t verify who actually writes the Tweets.

I follow Alyssa Milano on Twitter because her Tweets do not focus solely on herself, but also the pulse of the social media community. She often tweets about charity projects and has a tendency to retweet ‘everyday users’ that provide value.

How does following celebrities benefit the normal Twitter user? Well, if you are involved in a particular industry, it’s a good way to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on. For instance, if you’re a writer, following on Twitter the publishing stars such as agents, editors, or famous writers in the genre in which you work can give you invaluable insight into where the market is going, what issues are concerning the upper echelon, and give you an idea of where you can concentrate your own efforts.

Following the industry leaders on Twitter and becoming familiar with how they think and how they work can give a competitive edge to those paying attention. You may get first crack at a new product, an innovative idea, or valuable information and tips that help you in your own business.

Interested in politics? Follow some of the better-known pundits and learn, through Twitter, about the upcoming battles on the political front. From the Tweets of your favorite sports star, you can learn about planned appearances or how they prepare for the big game. You favorite director on Twitter could let something really revealing slip about his newest project.

Let’s face it – we’re all fans of something or someone, whether it’s sports, music, or movies. Following celebrities on Twitter allows unprecedented access to the life and thoughts of people whom we admire. You can follow on Twitter the latest information on breaking news in the lives of your favorite star, movie director, or musician. Find out when the next tour starts, who’s having a baby, and who’s feuding.

We live in the Information Age, and we’re all hungry for more. Although following your favorite celebrity on Twitter might be more of a distraction than a benefit, there’s nothing wrong with a little entertainment and the opportunity to getting to know your favorite celebrity on Twitter just a little bit better. The bottom line seems to be they are people too, and they have interesting, entertaining, and sometimes informative things to say.

Twitter is an equal opportunity communication outlet for all. It’s like being at a big dinner party, with thousands of different people with whom you can interact and learn about all kinds of subject. Celebrities on Twitter have just as much to offer as other people, and it never hurts to be thoroughly entertained by that. However, keeping an eye on whatever trend in which you’re interested can have more than just entertainment value.

Tis the season (or day) that most of us go out to celebrate the New Year with friends, family and in many cases a few drinks. Police, of course, have known this for ages and set up checkpoints to find those who decide to put their (and other people) lives in danger.

According to research these checkpoints help to cut down the number of drunk drivers on the roads and ultimately reduce the number of DUI related car accidents by 20%.

In Fresno, California, police now fear that Twitter users will use the power of this social network to avoid sobriety checkpoints by contacting there fellow tweeps.

According to the Seatle Times, Sgt. Dave Gibeault, head of the Fresno Police Department’s traffic unit said

“Trying to elude arrest for drunken driving, young people use technology to tell each other about the location of sobriety checkpoints”.

In Phoniex Arizona police agree with this train of thought and add

“We go out of our way to tell people when we’re doing enforcement efforts,”
“Behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol and a young person doing it — it’s a recipe for diaster,” said Sgt. Tommy Thompson of the Phoenix Police Department.

Add the fact that recent studies have surfaced about the dangers of texting and driving and you add even more fuel to the fire – sort of speak. Users that decide to text or use twitter while driving drunk pose an even greater danger to all parties involved.

I guess what I am getting to here is, if you are heading out this evening to have a some drinks, be safe, use common sense and have a sober person drive.

Have Fun and Happy New Year!!!

sources:

Tweets Warn Of DUI Traps

Police: Twitter used to avoid DUI checkpoints

image credit

If you are new to Twitter, and wonder what the funny looking symbol (#) means or have seen strange phrases and comments appear with the “hashtag” annotation in your stream. You may have asked yourself what does this really mean? or Why are there so many people tagging there tweets with this foreign syntax?

On Twitter, the hash symbol is a way of tagging, or grouping, a specific topic. Words appearing with the hash symbol in front of it (ie. #twittertips) will show up in an RSS feed with all other comments so tagged by other Twitter users. As an example, the following comment might appear in the Twitter stream:

“I’m very happy with Peter Doyle’s #photography service.”

This comment is then grouped with others sporting the tag of “#photography” and becomes tagged to use Twitter’s own search function. In the search box, type “#photography” and every comment with that tag will show up in a separate Twitter stream. This is quite useful if you’re looking for information regarding a specific topic, and it’s a good way to find people with similar hobbies, jobs, or interests. (hint, hint)

The Twitter hashtag function is also a good way to keep in touch with a specific group of people, and writer’s groups have really put this to good use by using the hashtag as a way of staying constant contact. Many groups have sprung up around this little symbol, such as #flashfriday, where authors pen a fiction story every Friday and share the link, or #writechat where writers meet virtually and discuss the craft. Groups of all different interests have found innovative ways to use this Twitter function to meet virtually and exchange information.

Of course, as with any Twitter user created innovation, there are some that use and overuse this helpful Twitter tip, so it’s important to keep in mind that not all Tweets deserve a hashtag, nor should they receive one.

e.g.

#I #just #brushed #my #teeth #with #toothpaste #it #makes #me #happy

#why #have #people #stopped #retweeting #me, #this #is #not #cool #I #feel #like #an #epic #fail

If you use too many, people will start to ignore your Tweets and you run the danger of clogging the Tweet stream of the hashtag topic with unnecessary or irrelevant content, instead of adding value or information.

However, one of the best things about Twitter is it has a sense of humor. Check out #bobearday for some chuckles. Hashtag.org offers a directory of hashtags and explains what each of them means, and of course, you can always use the Twitter search function to find what interests you.

#bobearday Image Credit

Hashtag Meme-ing On Twitter

Several “memes” have popped up on specific days of the week, making each day not just informative, but fun. Participating can not only link you up with interesting people, but help you to introduce yourself – as well.

The Twitter meme phenomenon started with #followfriday, where every Friday Tweeters listed people they felt were worth following, accompanied by the #followfriday hashtag, to alert others on Twitter about follow-worthy fellow Tweeters. It was a resounding success, and the meme phenomenon spread to other days of the week. New memes pop up frequently on Twitter, and the interaction is invaluable if you’re endeavoring to build up a Twitter presence to beef up your social media profile for either business or personal reasons.

Listed here are some of the more popular Twitter memes and the day of the week on which they fall. Participation is not mandatory, but again, it personalizes your social media profile and may highlight people you’d like to follow and vice-versa.

#sinnersunday: Where you confess what you did instead of going to church to others on Twitter who have done the same. It should be noted that this was once named #sinsunday and its use has dramatically tapered off in the last few weeks.

#musicmonday: People post on Twitter to what music they are currently listening, and some people link up their favorite online music program such as blip.fm or Grooveshark. Both services provide a direct link to a favorite song.

#twittertuesday: In case you missed Friday’s edition, here is a chance to promote your current Twitter favorite for the benefit of all your followers.

#wonderfulwednesday: A day to celebrate the middle of the week. What is making your Wednesday wonderful? Tweeters everywhere want to know.

#thankfulthursday: This is the day to thank your mom, your dog, but most especially the fellow Tweeters that make Twitter what it is to you. There is no trophy or award, but it’s nice to say thanks (and to hear it, too!)

#followfriday: On Friday’s you can give a shout out with this tag to show your fellow twitter users who you feel is worthy of a follow. This is in no way an all inclusive list. It should be noted that some twitter users are against using this tag, because they feel it clogs up their stream.

#caturday: A combination of cats and Saturday, this is a day to celebrate your feline friends and share them with your Twitter friends.

Participation is fun, and you don’t have to make an all-day project of it, but a few related Tweets during the course of the designated day can have a two-fold benefit; they allow you to get to know your followers better, and by the same token, they get to know you better.