Twitter is fast becoming the place to be seen for anyone who engages in Social Media  on the Web. Getting started with anything new can sometimes be fraught with concern or indecision especially since Social Media Sites have so much going on.  It is sometimes difficult to drill through all the Buzz initially and to know just how to get going without making a fool of yourself.

Basic Stuff

1. Twitter is a Micro Blogging Platform.

2. Posts or Tweets have a 140 character limit.

3. You can Create an account in just a few minutes.

4. Configuring an account with your Bio , Avatar,Web Url takes a little longer.

5. You can start following people immediately, some of whom will follow you back.

6. Once you are following some people you will see their Tweets(posts) and can join in the conversation.

7. When you want to share something interesting with your followers it’s easy to insert a link and to shorten it to keep within your 140 characters.

8. Twitter has its own search function so you can find people to follow in your own area or who belong to a specific niche.

9. To reply to a Tweet you use the @ symbol before the users name, eg @RobinPiggott or @DrivingSchoolEU so they can see who has replied.

10. This is a very brief introduction to Twitter and you will find their instructions quite simple to follow to get you started. After this you just have to be patient  and Look ‘n Learn

There is a Planet load of information on what Twitter is and how to engage with other members or “followers”, but I think the best way to learn is to look,listen and lurk for a while after you set up your account. It’s also a good idea to have a think about what your main purpose is, in joining a Social Media Giant like Twitter.

It could be that you want to increase the visibility for your business; it could be as a purely personal way of meeting new friends and engaging with them; it could be just for a bit of fun once in a while or a serious attempt at building a mailing list for regular marketing purposes.

You could be particularly interested in an absorbing hobby and wish to keep abreast of everyone who is involved, on not just a local basis but perhaps even globally. I think the possibilities are extensive but the end result will take time, effort and perseverance once you’ve decided what your motivation is.

In my own case I was happy to learn as I went and to pick up tips and tricks gradually but I had no idea of where I was heading except that it seemed like a good idea. Didn’t set out a goal and any form of long term plan  but this has now changed.

This is why sharing with you my own exploits on Twitter and those of the wonderfully helpful peeps who have established great followings on the site, may help you to avoid some of the pitfalls.

The posts in this Twitter category here at Baby Boomer Marketing we will try to keep on topic and provide plenty for you to get your teeth into . We like to share our own stories here(together with our own brand of humour)  but also  put you in touch with others who are not only more experienced but are an essential attribute to your Twitter success whatever you wish that to be .

It’s worth pointing out that while there are many millions of Tweeps who will make your time on Twitter very  worthwhile, as with anything new and exciting, you will encounter many time wasters and spammers. Spammers have been a curse on Twitter and will continue to be. Some know exactly what they are doing, others have been duped or sucked in by copying what they think is correct or even cool. We can only sigh and hope they either get banned or see sense!

Finally for this Post here are a few People to follow who are at the top of the Tree:-

@pistachio : @problogger : @kissmyaster :

@plangardengal

@John_Taylor