This document provides an introduction and overview of the social media platform Twitter. It describes Twitter as a microblogging service that allows users to post short updates of up to 140 characters. Key aspects of Twitter discussed include hashtags for labeling tweets, following other users to see their updates, public @replies and private direct messages between users, retweeting others' posts, and searching for content on Twitter. The document encourages learning more about how to sign up and get started using Twitter.

1. Introduction to Twitter
Brian Smith McCallum
eResources Librarian
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
847.506.2658
bmccallum@ahml.info
Twitter: @briansmccallum

2. Twitter: Background
• Internet / Web 2.0 company
• Founded in 2006
• Based in San Francisco, CA
• “microblogging” service

4. Twitter: What Is It?
“Twitter is a real-time information network
that connects you to the latest information
about what you find interesting.”

5. Twitter in Plain English

6. Question of the 21 Century
st
Who uses Twitter?

7. Presidents: Obama on Twitter

8. News Outlets: CNN on Twitter

9. Libraries: AHML on Twitter

10. Celebrities: Lady Gaga on Twitter

11. Corporations: Starbucks on Twitter

12. Sign Up! . . . You on Twitter

13. Twitter: Tweets
• What are you doing?
• Tweets = 140-character posts / updates
• Tweets can include links to websites,
pictures, videos, etc.

14. Twitter: #hashtags
• A way to label and search for tweets
• Examples: #obama, #iphone, #quote
• See www.hashtags.org

15. Twitter: “Follow” Others
• Follow other Twitter users - - e.g., CNN
• Login to your account and search for
individuals, organizations, companies, etc.
• See WeFollow (http://wefollow.com)

16. Twitter: @replies
• Send public messages to other Twitter users
• Type @username and your message
Example:
@ahml Do you have a copy of The Help by
Kathryn Stockett?

17. Twitter: Retweet (RT)
• A Retweet is when you qoute verbatim
another tweet or pass it along to your
followers
Example:
RT @ahml Register to vote at the Library's
Reception desk by October 5 . . .

18. Twitter: Direct Message (DM)
Private communication between Twitter
users who are respectively “following” one
another.

19. Twitter: Search Engine

20. Twitter Search in Plain English

21. Twitter: Next Steps
• Sign up for Twitter and tweet!
• Find and “follow” others
• “Follow” AHML: http://twitter.com/ahml
• Tweet us . . . @ahml

22. Twitter: Resources
• Presentation Links
www.delicious.com/briansmccallum/twitterclass
• Presentation Slides
www.slideshare.net/briansmithmccallum
• Twitter Help Center
http://support.twitter.com