1. Getting Started with Twitter
Matt Lingard, LSE, m.j.lingard@lse.ac.uk
Links: http://delicious.com/mattlingard/twitter
Step 1: Create an Account
1. Go to http://twitter.com
2. Click on “Get Started Now” & follow the instructions
Important – Skip the next two steps of the set up and DON’T click Finish!
3.
4. Write your twitter username on the attached Post-it!
Step 2: Start posting updates
1. On Home type what you are doing / thinking etc & click Update - 140 character
max!
Twitter Update box
2. Keep posting regularly throughout this workshop!
Step 3: Update your profile
1. Click on Settings & update your bio, location & time zone. Add your website &
a picture if you have them.
2. View the results on your Profile page (http://twitter.com/yourusername)
Step 4: Find some people to follow
1. Use Find People (at the top of your Twitter homepage) or simply type a profile
URL: http://twitter.com/username
a. Some conference names - timbuckteeth GrahamAtwell jamesclay
b. Some famous names – DowningStreet BarackObama stephenfry bbcnews
c. In the room!
Twitter Tip: Use
TinyURL.com to save
Step 5: Post some more updates… characters!
http://www.tinyurl.com
1. Regular updates (try including a link)
#pelc09
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2. @ reply button
2. Replies - Use the reply icon (above) to send an @username reply to one of your
new friends
@ reply example
3. Mentions - Use @username within an update to reference someone
Note: Mentions will appear on the homepages of all your followers. Replies usually
only appear on the homepages of the person you are replying to and any shared
followers.
Step 6: Search for “what’s happening now?”
1. Use http://search.twitter.com (Search link at the bottom of your homepage)
to see what’s happening now! Try #pelc09 (the conference tag)
Hashtags: are used to identify &
find related updates #pelc09 is
Step 7: If time… the conference hashtag
1. Change your homepage design (Settings > Design)
2. Set up your Mobile and text to Twitter (Settings > Mobile)
3. Send a Direct Message (private) to one of your friends
4. Retweet (forward) an update made by one of your friends. You type the “RT
@” then copy-&-paste the original update
A ‘retweet’
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-
Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/
#pelc09
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