Twitter For Dummies [Paperback]

Laura Fitton (Author), Michael Gruen (Author), Leslie Poston (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470479914 | ISBN-13: 978-0470479919 | Publication Date: July 7, 2009 | Edition: 1

Twitter can boost your business and marketing efforts, and this guide shows you how

Twitter, the simple-to-use microblogging service, offers immense benefits for businesses and organizations. Fire departments, political candidates, and C0EOs have used Twitter to share up-to-the-minute information. Laura Fitton, maybe better known by her Twitter handle - @Pistachio, has more than 10,000 followers on Twitter, and gives presentations on how to use Twitter to build business and personal opportunity. She's joined by Michael Gruen and Leslie Poston to share Twitter expertise in this easy-to-follow guide.

You'll discover how to get set up on Twitter, build a follower list, and find a voice for your tweets. Then you'll learn to use third party tools to link Twitter to other sites and incorporate it into business communication models. This book covers

• The basics of signing up and creating tweets
• Following other users and adding followers to your own tweets
• Mastering the "Twecosystem"-the tools that tie Twitter to many other Web applications, including mobile devices
• Strategies for enhancing business communication, marketing, and networking opportunities with Twitter

Twitter For Dummies gets you up and running on this hot communications tool the fun and easy way.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Twitter for Dummies may be 266 pages long and contain an index, but it would probably help quite a few people to give it a read. Thorough." (AdAge.com, July 7, 2009)

From the Back Cover

Enter the fun, productive, supportive, and powerful world of Twitter!

What do you have to tell the world in 140 characters? With this guide, you'll figure out what to say as you use Twitter to enrich your life and your business. It walks you through all the opportunities available with this social networking tool. You'll quickly gain a strong understanding of the Twitter landscape and begin tweeting like a pro.

• Get down to the basics — figure out how to find your friends, invite them to Twitter, and start communicating with them in public and in private

• Follow and be followed — determine how to search for thesorts of people you want to follow and how you can startcommunicating with them in a way that makes sense

• Put Twitter into high gear — learn all the ways that you can interact with the Twitter interface, from desktop clients tomobile phone tricks to shorthand commands

• Cultivate your presence — explore the different ways in which people, businesses, not-for-profits, and other organizations can use Twitter

• Make it work — take advantage of the many resources that are useful in getting Twitter to work best for you

Open the book and find:

• How to sign up, pick a name, and invite contacts

• Tips for sending private messages

• Steps for building a company relationship

• Tricks of the Twitter gurus

• Ways to share your tweets through social networking

• All about staying on the cutting edge of Twitter

• Techniques for finding your tweet voice

• How to connect with people and make new friends

Learn to:

• Sign up, navigate the interface, and make connections

• Make your tweets unique

• Use the latest shortcuts and tools

• Promote your business or cause with Twitter

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470479914
• ISBN-13: 978-0470479919
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best source of Twitter info yet, July 8, 2009

By 

Dennis J. Lupton "Twitter @Headshota23" (Galloway, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twitter For Dummies (Paperback)

I purchased this book after finding just enough information elsewhere to get me addicted to Twitter. The information I was able to find was a bit vague and seemed to be more for the veteran than the newbie. Then along came "Twitter for Dummies" and all of my questions were answered. This book not only explains how you do everything, but why you would want to in the first place. It is written with a clear understanding and a true passion for the service. Twitter is such a fast evolving service that is used by so many different people and organizations for so many different reasons that no book could ever cover it all. Fortunately, the authors have provided additional resources which will provide whatever updated or changing information you may need. But be forewarned, if you are just a casual user of Twitter, this book may make you a true addict.

As with other "for Dummies" books, "Twitter for Dummies" is broken down into convenient, independent sections which contain all of the necessary information a reader needs to gain a full understanding of each topic. Although a cover to cover read will give a reader a somewhat unnecessary review of the basics required for each section, the authors have placed enough little factoids and bits of information (@Pistachio's Easter eggs) throughout the book that you will want to read it all.

If you purchase this book, you can find me on Twitter at @Headshota23 (shameless plug). I'm sure I will see you there.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book to Jump Start Your Twitter Experience, July 21, 2009

By 

S. J. Pesner "mystery and marketing maven" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twitter For Dummies (Paperback)

Should this review be just 140 characters? I don't think it would be helpful; or how about: "Great book. Buy it. Great for newbies and sort-of-newbies."

I had been on Twitter for several months, but could never really get a handle on what the benefits were, how to "talk the Twitter language" and how to manage all the tweets I was getting.

Yes, the book starts with the basics of signing on (well, it IS a "Dummies" book), but even some of the basics were things I needed to know. The authors are also very upfront that things are constantly changing; but this being Twitter, they'll also provide updates via @dummies.

The book is well organized and answered all my questions so that I'm not afraid to go online (or on-mobile!) and dive in. In fact, the authors encourage you to jump into conversations and not be shy.

Lots of good tips, lots of things to do on Twitter.

If you've been using Twitter for a while and feel you know you way around, this book isn't for you. It's for the rest of us--those of us who may have put our toes in but needed to be up to submerge ourselves (bad metaphor?), or for those who may have been afraid of this new social medium. Happy tweets!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Now Tweeting Like a Bird!, August 17, 2009

By 

Dennis G. "Dennis" (Stafford, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twitter For Dummies (Paperback)

I have been using Twitter in my business for several months now without a real understanding of all the ins and outs of the service. There was aspects of the service that I wasn't taking advantage of because I had no idea they existed. I was in essence leaving money on the table.

I now have a much clearer understanding of Twitter and all its features. More importantly, I now have a plan to use Twitter to build real lasting relationships for my business. Twitter for Dummies is THE source for not only beginners but for those who already have an account but don't know what RT means or what a #hashtag is or for those who are lost for ways to create lasting, meaningful relationships using social media.

Twitter will soon be the king of all social media so the time is now to jump on the train. Twitter for Dummies is your boarding pass.

Lets connect on Twitter @dennis_gill.