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.

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.

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.

January 12, 2010 marked the largest earthquake recorded in an impoverished Caribbean community near Port Au Prince. This 7.0 earthquake devastated the landscape, killing thousands and leaving several family members in shambles. While politicians around the world scrambled to figure out a viable plan to help the devastated community. mGive launched a mobile campaign with Red Cross- late Tuesday evening and has since raised over 2 million dollars in relief donations, according to the NYtimes.

Tracy Reines, the Director of the International Response Operations Center at the American Red Cross released this video on youTube yesterday to further describe the incident.

mGive has made it exceptionally easy to donate ten dollars to the cause. All users with a cell phone and major service provider have to do is text the word “HAITI” to “90999″ , wait for a reply, then type “YES” and ten dollars will be added to your next cell phone bill.

Users that prefer other methods to donate can call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit redcross.org to contribute directly from the website.

It should also be noted that the Haitian born musician Wyclef has created an effort where you can text “YELE” to “501501″ to make a five dollar donation.

Additional Sources:

• To find out about the latest news and information on White House Efforts
• To get the latest American Red Cross efforts
• To get the mGive FAQs about donations
• To learn more about Wyclef’s donation Campaign.
• To follow the latest twitter happenings “Help Haiti” OR #Haiti

GIVE TODAY!

Update | 10:48 a.m. Corrected mistake about Wyclef’s relation with the Black Eyed Pea’s

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.

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.

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

When involved in the Twitter universe or inhabiting the virtual world of Facebook, getting out of a “relationship” in either case can be a sticky situation. Some people will take it very personally when a follower on Twitter decides not to follow them anymore, and others think the world has come to an end when they are dropped from someone’s Facebook roster.

Image source Fotolia

First of all, there is a big difference between a Twitter and Facebook account. Twitter is designed to find new connections; a framework for which you can choose the content based on your interests. Facebook appears to be for friends and family, family friends, etc. so the connection is much more personal. Therefore, handling an un-friending on Facebook is liable to cause more problems than an un-following on Twitter.

When someone drops you from Twitter, it is safe to assume that person just isn’t interested in the same things you are, and the action should not be taken personally. It’s better for you both to move on to what benefits you the most, and just like offline life, people will come and go. It’s best to just forget about it, because in all likelihood it’s not meant as a personal attack or have anything to do with you at all – other than a failure to connect. It happens.

By the same token, although an un-friending on Facebook could have more serious connotations, taking it personally is a mistake. If you know the person offline and it’s really bothering you, pick up the phone and discuss it in an adult manner. Otherwise, make the same assumption as the drop on Twitter and just move on. There are plenty of other people out there with whom to connect, and unless it is a really close family member or friend doing the dropping, chances are you won’t really feel much of a void.

On the other hand, if it’s you doing the dropping, sometimes a simple message or e-mail will ease the sting, if any. This is strictly a judgment call. Most veteran Twitter users understand how Twitter works, and if someone isn’t interested or interacting with their Tweets, it makes sense to clean up the Twitter stream and move along.

On Facebook, depending on your reasons for dropping someone from your roster and your relationship, you may send a message just to state your intentions and assure the other person it’s nothing personal. If it is a truly sticky situation, Facebook offers privacy settings whereby you can restrict the person from accessing your Facebook account, and that might be all you need to do.

It may be difficult at times, but try not to take an un-friending on Facebook or un-follow on Twitter as a personal affront. Sometimes, it’s just time to move on.

Although it seems like social media is a new phenomenon, the fact is it has been around for many years. Groundbreaking programs such as AOL chat and IRC played host to many conversations between people, and facilitated thousands of online people to make contact and are the genesis of today’s social media.

Twitter is a micro-blogging service very similar to these previous chat programs, only users are limited to 140 characters per post. Twitter is experiencing approximately 20 million unique visitors per month since April of 2009, with the explosion of growth showing very little signs of receding. Twitter ranks among MySpace, LinkedIn, and Facebook as the most popular social networks today, and according  Nielsen, social networks are the fourth most popular online activity.

Companies and businesses are fast realizing the power of social networking and Twitter to improving their business, giving them a competitive edge, and reaching new customers to which they may not have ordinarily had access. How does a company reach new customers on Twitter?

It seems simple, but it can be complicated. Building a reputation on Twitter does take a time commitment on the behalf of the company, because internet people are savvy about marketing and many of the old precepts no longer apply. Building brand loyalty is important, and so is establishing your reputation on Twitter as a trusted and valuable asset. Failure to do this could cause more damage than good.

Introducing your business presence to Twitter is very like moving into a new neighborhood or meeting new people at a dinner party. There is an awkward stage as both parties size each other up and start to get to know each other. What you want to accomplish for future success of your business is to make solid connections, listening to what people want, and getting to know them before you start promoting your products that may or may not be appropriate for your Twitter followers. Building trust is an important component.

Just like in any relationship, getting to know people is just one component. Inviting people to get to know you is just as important in establishing a trustworthy bond. On Twitter, this doesn’t mean communicating information that is intensely personal, but your potential customers need to know a little bit about you. What interests you, what does your company or brand represent?

By engaging in relevant conversation, participating in exchanges with other Twitter users who share your interests, and offering helpful information, people will come to see you as an expert in your field. Establishing this trust with your followers and potential clients is more than worth the patience it entails, and can lead to loyal, happy clients that are willing to spread the word about your product or service. Word-of-mouth has always been an important part of any advertising campaign, and Twitter is the 21st century’s ultimate in word-of-mouth, with a globe-encompassing reach. This is the secret of reaching your customers on Twitter.

The U.S. Geological Survey have come up with a new way to track earthquakes via tweets. Normally Scientists have the tedious task of sorting through large quantities of data through recording stations, prior to finding out where exactly an earthquake has struck. Now Scientists can use filtering software to sort through tweets to help them get a rough idea, as to where the earth quake happened and how large it was.

Typically people begin to tweet there experience a few seconds after an earthquake to tell others what they experienced. Scientist realize this and have created a project based on this information.

Scientists have dubbed the effort TED for Twitter Earthquake Detection, which scans tweets in several different languages for the word earthquake. The software is said to filter out all variations of the word that may be misleading. Such examples word include words that refer to the Quake video game.

According to reports from the BBC News Dr. Paul Earle from the USGS explained that this is in no way hard scientific data but rather “It is a speed versus accuracy issue”.

“Because there is a lot of noise in this data and we don’t believe this system could ever be used to initiate a critical response such as shutting down a nuclear power plant, but what it may do is give us an initial heads-up in a region which doesn’t have a dense seismic network that further scientific evaluation is needed,” said Dr Earle.

(source: BBC)

Everyone knows how popular Twitter is. Why not mix Twitter with the ability to make money? There are many easy ways that you can make money on Twitter. Here are some on the most common ways people are raking in the money.

Many people are charging for just a Twitter message. If you have a private user name and password and only your friends can receive Tweets. You have the ability to charge for information that no one knows about yet. Often times you will find newspapers and bloggers doing this to allow people to be the first to gain juicy bits of information.

You can sponsor a contest for advertisers. They will pay you in order to help them gain information on how people are feeling about their products. Throw out a question about a product. Maybe ask people how a product could be improved. You can make some money by adopting these strategies from advertising companies.

There are many companies out there who want to join social groups such as Twitter for advertising purposes. There are people who spend their time as a professional Twitter contributor. Companies will hire people who are great at blogging, research, and social media.

Keep an eye out for companies looking for people to place reviews on Twitter. Many companies will pay a certain amount per review that you post. This saves them time on advertising. They will pay you, because it is well worth it for them to have people out there spreading the word about the quality of products.

Twitter is a great place for all the affiliate marketers out there. You can use your messages to send out website links. Twitter is a great place to gain exposure and get clicks and sales on items that you have chosen to use from your affiliate companies.

Music is a great item to sell on Twitter. Music and video downloads are in the spotlight right now. Companies will pay you great money to post ads on Twitter. They will often pay you a percentage of the sale, a set price per click, or a certain amount for placing the advertisement. Twitter is a hot spot that almost every company is willing to pay in order to get their trendy products on the market.

People are actually being paid for Twitter consulting. Companies that are looking to advertise will pay people to educate them about Twitter. This is a great way to make cash if you are Twitter savvy and in the know. Usually companies are just looking for enough of the basics to do advertising.

These are just a few of the ways that people are making money on Twitter. If you are looking for some cash try these options. There are many other ways that Twitter can bring in cash. If these are not up your alley, just do a search engine search on all the ways you can make money with Twitter. You will get many other suggestions.

Like many sites, Twitter has its own terms and procedures. If you are using Twitter often it doesn’t take long to get the hang of them. Here is a fun and easy little multi-choice for those new to world of Twitter.

1. What is a tweet?

1. An alarm that you can set on the internet to wake you in the morning?
2. A short post that you enter on the Twitter site?
3. A bacon scented air freshener?

2. What is a retweet?

1. An online place to get away from it all?
2. An indication that someone has gone to your website?
3. A way to repost someone else’s tweet?

3. You get an email saying that someone on twitter is following you – what should you do?

1. Click on their name and follow them back?
2. Call the police and tell them you are being stalked?
3. Check out their profile and decide whether you want to follow them too.

4. Typing @ followed by a users name means that:

1. The message can be seen by all users but is directed at that person?
2. The message will go directly to their email address?
3. You are sending a private message to that person on Twitter?

5. RT stands for:

1. Resting Twitter – the person’s whose user name follows is taking a break?
2. Retweet – the person whose user name follows was the original poster?
3. Royal Tweeter- the person whose user name follows has a large number of posts and followers?

6. People use hashtags (#) to show:

1. The word or link that follows is related to a particular keyword or topic that is being discussed?
2. The word or link that follows can only be read and answered by followers?
3. The word or link that follows leads to the Tweeter’s own website?

Click Here to View Answers:

Finding decent free applications through Apple’s app store can sometimes be a daunting task. The applications keep piling up and Apple has yet redesign the app store to make it a more efficient process. Many times I have found myself searching for applications by name and still did not retrieve the results I was looking for.

With this in mind I decided to hunt down some free Twitter Iphone Apps and test them out for this post.

NatsuLion: This is a fairly decent iPhone Twitter application. It doesn’t have a lot to offer, beyond the basics basics. The design is simple and to the point which allows you to quickly switch from your timeline, your reply’s, favorites and direct messages. After testing it for a few days, I did notice that the timeline hangs a bit when you attempt to refresh it too quickly.

• Display your friend timeline
• Post a message
• Create a favorite
• Replies including messages contain @ are emphasized
• Input support for @ID. By tapping “Reply” button, @ID apears in the message input field
• Manage unread tweets
• Display user timeline (@ID)
• “Pair timeline”: to show tweet conversation (@ID1 + @ID2)
• Build-in web browser: to quick look the web link

• Browse CONVERSATIONS display the reply chain of a message all in 1 screen
• Swipe-to-reveal shortcuts
• Perform search
• Saved searches
• Proximity search
• Favorites support
• Trends support
• View your Friends timeline and Mentions timeline
• Load older tweets and direct messages
• Unread counts display
• Scroll to last read tweet
• Post tweets, RT
• Reply to multiple people at once
• Delete tweets
• Reply to tweets
• Direct messages, including browsing list recipients and autocompletion
• Saving of drafts
• Follow and un-follow
• Built-in web browser (including landscape mode browsing)
• Instapaper Support
• Configurable image compression for uploads
• Posterous Support (multiple photos with hashtags converted to tags)
• TwitPic support (multiple photos)
• yfrog support (multiple photos)
• TwitrPix support

• Tweet directly from your iPhone or iPod Touch.
• Organise and update Facebook.
• Upload video direct to Facebook and 12seconds.
• Collect tweets in your immediate area based on geolocation.
• Manage multiple Twitter accounts.
• Cross post to multiple accounts, including Facebook.
• Turn popular twitter trends into search columns.
• Reply to tweets and send direct messages. Reply-to-all as well.
• Easily re-tweet messages.
• View notifications for new tweets received.
• Continuously sync between your desktop and iPhone.
• Create Groups to easily follow all your friends.
• Follow topics in real-time with saved searches.
• Share photos with Twitpic, YFrog and now TweetPhoto.
• Shorten links with your favourite URL shortener, now including bit.ly support too.
• Follow and un-follow people.
• Shake your iPhone to refresh columns.
• Send tweets as email (3.0+).
• Recent hash tags are remembered for repeated use.
• Choose between a light or dark theme.

• Discover, connect, and send messages to people nearby
• Upload photos and update your Twitter account
• Contact old friends and make new ones
• Landscape map feed
• Built-in minibrowser
• Blocking
• Lots of other cool new tricks

• Special detail view for showing more tweet information
• Built-in mini-browser for displaying links and @screen_names
• Nearby tweets are highlighted with a link to Maps
• Built-in hints to help you learn quickly

• Rich Text Timeline
• Full-Screen TwitPic
• Twitter Trends
• Video Upload
• Read it Later
• Preview Tiny URLs
• Conversation View
• Push Notifications from Echofon
• Sync with Echofon for Firefox/Mac

It’s no surprise by now that most of you know that Twitter allows users to stay connected with friends and family, to reach out to long lost loves, and meet up with new people that share similar interests. It is also a great way to stay up to date on current events and keeps you aware of what your favorite companies are doing.
In some cases, blog readers have even opted out of the RSS subscriptions in favor of Twitter.
So, what’s this all about? Is one really better than the other? Here’s a quick look at the differences between Twitter and RSS feeds.

While there are definite pros and cons to both Twitter and RSS feed readers, the choice is ultimately yours based on what is more important to you. If you want immediate information and a social environment, Twitter may be your best bet. However, if you prefer very little spam and reliability, RSS may be the way to go. Personally I think both have great value and both should be each used in there respected content.

Let’s face it, Spam sucks. It has plagued us for so many years through our personal and business email accounts. It tells us we should order viagra, it tells us we are fat, it even
contains malware that attempts to phish out your personal bank and social media login credentials.

The sad fact of the matter is that Spam is here to stay. As filtering algorithms get more and more sophisticated so does the methods in which spam is distributed. According to the State of Spam Monthly Report from Symantec, on average, 87 percent of all email messages sent in the month of October 2009, were Spam. It’s in our mailbox’s and it now plaques us in our social media presence.

If you find yourself frustrated by tons of Twitter Direct Message Spam here are a few simple alternatives to help you deal with this unproductive annoyance.

1. Unfollow All Followers – This would be the most simplest solution, but I would not advise it. They are so many great Tweeps out there that you run the risk of missing out on some good information. Not to mention you take on the status of one who takes but never gives back.

2. Turn off your Direct Message Emails – While this will not eliminate direct message spam completely, it will cut down on the number of email messages you have to sift through on a daily basis. Making it more feasible for you to actually read your legitimate emails.

3. Get a Twitter Manager – Use a third party Twitter manager such as Tweetdeck or Socialite to quickly filter your DMs. If your check your twitter account on a regular basis, having a third party manager will allow you to quickly skim over your direct messages and find the ones that truly interest you. Spammers are smart, but they are not too creative when it comes to making the actual spam messages. Many of them will follow a similar pattern and you will be able to quickly spot the ones that you really need to read.

4. Don’t read your DMs – Make it public to your users that you do not read your DMs and offer them an email with pretty decent spam filter protection – such as gmail. Put your email on your twitter background. This makes it much harder for spammers to target you, because many of the custom spammer programs do not have OCR functionality built into them. While this is possible it becomes very costly for spammers to scan every tweeps’ background for emails, not to mention it would be pretty fruitless for the spammer due to the time constraints and relatively small returns from emails collected.

5. Block the user(s)- if someone is spamming you with such promises of getting 20,000 followers in 3 days and they have only 20 followers. Block the user. If enough users block the spammer, Twitter will eventually take notice and suspend the account.

6. Become a Hermit – Make your tweets private, if you are into twitter just for connecting with friends and family – you know beyond the virtual realm – this option may seem to offer you the best chance for spam freedom. By making your twitter feed private you are in control of who will and will not be able to DM you.

7. Use the Spam button - If you notice that your are receiving spam from certain character and you are 100 percent certain that they are truly a spammer and not the victim of credential theft. Go to the user’s account and fire off the spam button. From here you will be asked to confirm your decision and the user account will be flagged for review.

There are plenty of ways to monetize your website and blog, so is there something similar for your Twitter account? Everything has a price, so what is a tweet worth? Twitter is incredibly popular and has enjoyed much success over the last few years. Part of its appeal is not only its API but also the fact that the platform is friendly to third-party applications. This allows strides in development and enhancement of anyone’s Twitter experience.

Back in the early days of Twitter, it was possible to tweet about how great you thought a third-party application actually was. You weren’t typically compensated for any good press you threw at any particular product and tweeting in such a way was entirely up to your discretion. This was fine back in the day, when we all had relatively few followers and there weren’t that many applications to even talk about. Today, things are different.

An interesting business model has begun emerging on Twitter these days that makes it very possible to monetize your tweets. This means that tweets can be quite valuable. Though it is possible to earn a little money, or gain rewards for your efforts, many people using Twitter think that this new business model is a way of spamming your followers. The way it works is an advertiser will contact you to tweet about their product in exchange for some type of compensation.

The basic premise behind Twitter allows a single tweet to become many in a matter of minutes. And the more followers that you have, the more people will receive your message. This makes any tweet you make quite valuable for any interested advertiser. In advertising, word of mouth is one of the most effective modes of advertising, so by employing Twitterers to tweet about a given product is essentially sponsored word of mouth advertising. The power of negotiation is definitely on your side when it comes to what your tweets are worth.

Though you can be compensated quite lucratively for your tweets, especially if you have a significant amount of followers, it can backfire on you. So are your tweets really worth it to you? Remember, if you tweet for money it may affect your follower’s trust in your future tweets. So, before you take payment for tweeting, consider whether or not the information your are twittering about is legitimate or a scam. Your credibility on Twitter may be questioned once you accept money to tweet about certain products or information.

It is also important to remember that a tweet is worth more than just money. Tweets can be invaluable bits of information, which is why many companies have their own Twitter accounts now. Businesses use Twitter as a platform to not only gain followers and promote brand recognition for their products and services, but to maintain and improve the status quo. Twitter can become an invaluable avenue of communication between the public and the company, which is essential to growth and success.

Women have made strides in today’s society – there are females in every profession and it is no longer assumed that we will marry and have babies right out of high school. But a few things haven’t changed, like the number of women who are tech-savvy and up on all the latest Internet communities. (We’ll save the reasons for this relatively unchanged phenomenon for another discussion!) For whatever reason, many of us are missing out on this exciting social platform on which we can exchange information, invest in interesting conversations, and have a little fun at the same time.

It seems that many of us may outwardly mock the use of Twitter and poke fun at our friends for using it, but deep down really- we want to try it out. But, where do you start? For those of you with just the tiniest inkling of curiosity, here is a guide to the basics of Twitter. Go ahead and try it out – it’s guaranteed to get you on the same page as your male counterparts! Of course you can find some of this information in the “help” section of Twitter, but what fun is reading the instructions? Read on for some basic information to get you started tweeting today.

First things first, right? You must sign up to take advantage of the features that Twitter has to offer. Signing up is pretty simple, you just go to the Twitter website and fill out the required information. If you’ve signed up for anything online before, this will be a snap. The most difficult part of signing up may be coming up with a user name – just relax and get creative! Your user name, or Twitter address, will appear similar to your email address. A Twitter address appears as “@yourname.”

You’ll also need to provide your profile. It is helpful to note that if you have a website you may want to include it so that you don’t come off as a potential spammer. Additionally, if you don’t feel comfortable putting certain details in your profile, you don’t have to. Don’t worry; it’s up to you as to how much information you provide in your profile.

Once you’ve signed up for Twitter, it’s time to get started. On Twitter, members communicate by tweeting, but what exactly is a tweet? Tweets are simply the messages that you send and receive on Twitter. It’s really quite easy to send a tweet. Simply type your message into the “What’s happening?” section and keep it under 140 characters. Short and to the point is the way to go on Twitter.

Once you know how to tweet, you’ll also need to know how to follow. If you find something particularly interesting on Twitter, you just opt to follow them. People can also choose to follow you, if they so desire. Once you have added people to your list that you’d like to follow, any messages they post will appear in your Twitter stream – this is just like your email inbox. It’s also possible to send direct messages. These look a little different than regular tweets. Direct messages are often marked as private tweets that will not appear on any main Twitter stream.

Though this guide is in no way exhaustive, it should show you other ladies just enough to get started on Twitter. The days of pretending that Twitter is totally silly are gone! – you know you want to tweet about every mundane experience you have throughout the day! Go ahead, get started today.

Even though millions of people are on Twitter tweeting about various topics or maybe nothing at all, the hottest social networking platform actually does have a few limitations when you think about it. A main competitor to tweeting when it comes to conversing online is that of blog comment posting. It has been argued by many that while Twitter is fun and catchy, it just doesn’t have that same zing that a blog post comment can have. What do you think?

When it comes to staying on topic, Twitter just doesn’t allow it. Twitter may be a great method of communicating immediate thoughts and ideas on the web, but it simply doesn’t have the ability to be consistent for a significant period of time. Of course you can send out a tweet about a particular topic or even ask a question, but after a while, the Twitter stream seems to take a new direction. This is simply the nature of Twitter.

With blog commenting, the conversation usually stays right on topic. This is because the original post remains above and all associated comments beneath it. Because the original post is so accessible, it is easy to stay on topic and even refer to comments made within the article. Furthermore, the blogger’s comments are not limited to a certain character count and therefore can be expanded upon as necessary. The comments a blog post receives can generate questions and fuel responses, indicative of a true conversation. Twitter replies often seem disjointed and out of place.

We all know that Twitter limits any comments or tweets to 140 characters or less. This limitation includes spaces, so you better be concise! You may be quite good at getting your point across in such a limited space, but can you really expand on your thoughts effectively? Sometimes, the Twitter character limit can be quite constricting and difficult to deal with. If you’re simply trying to spit out a couple of quick facts to your followers, Twitter is perfect. However, if you feel strongly about any topic, this might not be your ideal platform.

When you post a comment on a blog post, there is no restriction on how long or short the message can be. This allows you, and the blogger, to share views and express yourselves to the fullest extent. Of course with Twitter you can send out multiple tweets, but it may make things confusing. At least with a blog post comment, you can finish your thought in one fell swoop.

Both Twitter and blogs are great discussion venues, but you have to be realistic. There are just some platforms that are better suited to some types of communication. Conversations on blog posts are easy to follow and succinct. There’s a conversation going on. When you look at a Twitter stream, it’s really easy to get lost in just the first couple of tweets.

It seems that Twitter may be best suited for off-hand conversation, networking, and promoting thoughts, ideas, and products. It’s fun, useful, and easy to do. However, if you want meaningful and deep conversations online, post a blog article and wait for the comments. In fact, you don’t even have to wait – just tweet that you published a post and ask your followers to leave comments!

Just like many social networking websites, the iPhone can help you stay connected with family, friends, and colleagues whether you’re near or far. The iPhone is so much more than a phone – allowing you to send text messages, emails, and even surf the web when you need to. Because the iPhone has Internet capabilities, it is not uncommon to see people tweeting away right from their phones.

Staying connected through social networking sites like Twitter is simple on the iPhone. Twitter was designed with a mobile phone in mind which makes it the perfect accompaniment to the iPhone. There are plenty of cool ways to use Twitter on your iPhone, and if you haven’t tried them out, now’s your chance.

The SMS System

The easiest way to use Twitter on the iPhone is probably through the SMS system. Essentially, this is the text messaging system that you are probably quite familiar with. Text messaging is what the founders of Twitter must have had in mind when they implemented the 140 character limit for tweets! The best way to use your SMS system with Twitter is to register your phone number on the social platform then just send whatever message you want anytime, anywhere!

Twitter Mobile Website

Since you have access to the Internet with the iPhone, you can also visit the Twitter mobile website to update your followers with any news or comments. This is quite easy and takes no time at all. Simply access your mobile browser and head to m.twitter.com/ which is a special URL to be used on a mobile phone. From there, log into your account and tweet away! You can do this while you wait in line, sit in class, or on your lunch break. The Twitter mobile website allows you to do all the same things that you’d do right from your computer.

Emailing Twitter Updates

Did you know that you can use Twitter through email on the iPhone? Well, you can. If you don’t have the time to log into the Twitter site or simply don’t want to use the SMS system, you can just send an update via email. All you have to do is register with TwitterMail.com and provide your Twitter details. You’ll be given a Twitter email address to which you send your tweets. Once you’ve set this up, your tweets will be instant.

iPhone Twitter Clients (highly recommended)

If none of the above ways of using Twitter on your iPhone work for you, there is another way. You can send tweets through a web-based Twitter client developed for the iPhone. The two most common are TweetDeck and Tweetie2. These are both client optimized applications that allow you to manage your Twitter account from the iPhone. You’ll be able to see all the latest tweets from your followers and contacts, update your status remotely, and view the public timeline over Wi-Fi or AT&T’s Edge network.

TweetDeck

Tweetie2

Today, there is absolutely no excuse for not staying connected. Even though people are busier than ever, you can stay in touch with your iPhone using Twitter. Using any of the four ways mentioned above will allow you to connect with your friends, coworkers, family, and colleagues instantly and without delay.