Twitter

Let’s start with the basics.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Messages, or “tweets” are limited to 140 characters and updated in real time.

Why Should I Use Twitter?

Say what you will about social media sites, like Facebook etc., but Twitter is a powerful networking and promotional tool, that if used correctly, can be extremely beneficial to you and your brand.

I’ve been a member for almost two years now and use it to let my “followers” (those who choose to be informed of my updates) about new blog posts on ChrisD.ca. I also share information about what I may be up to during the day or what I’m working on — something you won’t read anywhere else.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter gets right to the point. It’s a simple, easy to use interface that allows your friends or family to know what you’re doing. Like many sites, there are privacy concerns, but Twitter allows you to adjust your settings accordingly to weed out intrusive eyes. On the other hand, if privacy was a real concern of yours, you wouldn’t be on Twitter.

Who’s on Twitter?

Everyone is getting on board lately, especially the local Winnipeg news media. Organizations such as the Winnipeg Free Press, CBC Manitoba and CTV Winnipeg are all on Twitter. Heck, even radio host Ace Burpee tweets his daily musings from his BlackBerry.

There are also more high profile Twitterers, such as Barack Obama, who used the site during his campaign to leverage the power of thousands of followers to campaign on his behalf. The most popular Hollywood stars to embrace the service though are Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, who tweet on a daily basis.

Just last week, Free Press reporter Bruce Owen tweeted updates on the Vince Li trial live from the courtroom to about 450 followers. Bruce told me that it gained the most response ever than any other story he’s done! Gone are the days of waiting for the wire to pick up a story and feed it to outlets for release to the public. With Twitter, there’s no waiting.

Using Twitter for Business

As mentioned above, several news organizations belong to Twitter, but how about ordinary businesses? Sure, they’re also on it. Kildonan Place tweets about the latest sales and offers found in-store as soon as they become available.

Southwest Airlines, Starbucks and Kodak are also some of the big brands tweeting to customers on a personal level. Some companies are even starting to roll out Twitter-only promotions, exclusive to their followers.

Since I’ve been using Twitter to broadcast my daily syndication feed of blog posts, I’ve noticed a 20% increase in web traffic alone. Having Twitter automatically pick up new entries and tweet them to over 900 followers is a no-brainer when it comes to website promotion.

How Do I Get Followers?

This is the most important part. If no one is following you, it’s pretty much a wasted cause. Here are a few of my personal recommendations to increase your following:

  • Slap a Twitter logo on your site with the URL to your profile.
  • Follow people first; most of the time they follow you back.
  • Add your Twitter user name to your business card. Seriously.
  • Already on Facebook? Post a note with a link to your Twitter profile.
  • Send out an e-mail to friends/co-workers asking them to follow you.
  • Order this shirt and wear it everywhere.

Chance are you want to follow Winnipeggers, so using Twitter’s advanced search option will come in handy. You can narrow down your findings by searching for others in the same city as you, and then simplify those results even more by kilometre range. The thing about Twitter is that it isn’t like Facebook, whereas you want to know the person before adding him/her to your list. Twitter is a bit more open, friendly and all about connecting to others in your niche, field or general interest area.

Twitter Tools

Like any social media service, there are tools to assist your experience. Sites like TwiTip.com and TweetLater.com are just a few of thousands offering free tips, tricks and tools to maximize your use of Twitter. There’s even a list of 99 essential Twitter tools and applications for you to sort through.

Even the App Store is stocked with tools you can download to make Twittering from the iPhone that much easier.

If uploading photos on the fly is what you’re into, the official Twitter photo service is TwitPic.com. Photos are posted directly to your Twitter time line as soon as you upload them from either your mobile device or computer.

Local People You Should Follow

If you’re on Twitter or thinking about joining, consider these locals to add to your list:

CBC Manitoba – @cbcmanitoba
CTV Winnipeg – @ctvwinnipeg
CTV late night anchor Susan Tymofichuk – @tymofichuk
CTV sports anchor Leah Hextall – @leahhextall
CTV political reporter Laura Lowe – @_thelowedown
92 CITI FM – @92citifm
92 CITI FM midday host Samantha Stevens – @radiosamantha
102.3 Clear FM – @1023clearfm
102.3 Clear FM’s Jay Oliver – @jay1023clearfm
CJOB 68 – @cjob68
CJOB 68 radio host Charles Adler – @charlesadler
CJOB 68 morning host Hal Anderson – @halanderson
Power 97 – @power97
Power 97 morning host Wheeler – @wheelerj28
Power 97 morning co-host Rena Jae – @rena_jae
Power 97 morning co-host Phil Aubrey – @power97philly
Power 97 weekend mistress Holly Bausman – @hollymonster97
Hot 103′s Ace Burpee – @aceburpeeshow
Hot 103′s Chrissy Troy – @chrissytroy
Hot 103′s Chris Fantini – @chrisfantini
Hot 103′s Big Marv – @bigmarvshow
QX104′s Kimberley Dawn – @kimberleydawnqx
QX104′s Waking Crew – @wakingcrewqx104
CURVE 94.3 – @curve943
CURVE 94.3 morning host Jay Richardson – @jayatcurve
CURVE 94.3 morning host Andrea Collins – @andreacurve
CURVE 94.3 evening host Adam Taylor – @adamcurve
CURVE 94.3 evening host Pamela Roz – @pamelaroz
CURVE 94.3 traffic reporter Sabrina Carnevale – @sabrinacsays
CURVE 94.3 weekend host Lindsey Anderson – @lindseycurve943
CURVE 94.3 weekend host Devon Zelmer – @zelmerradio
Former CURVE 94.3 midday host Kim “Sulli” Sullivan – @kimsulli
Former CURVE 94.3 afternoon host Jeff Kelly – @mrjeffkelly
Former CURVE 94.3 morning co-host Sarah Kay – @iamsarahkelly
Winnipeg Free Press – @winnipegnews
Free Press reporter Bruce Owen – @fpbowen
Free Press reporter Bartley Kives – @bkives
Free Press reporter Mary Agnes Welch – @mawwelch
Free Press reporter Larry Kusch – @lrkusch
Free Press crime reporter Mike McIntyre – @mikeoncrime
Free Press deputy online editor John White – @johnkwhite
Free Press photographer Mike Deal – @wfpmdeal
Free Press multimedia editor Tyler Walsh – @walsht
Free Press wine columnist/blogger Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson – @thegrapenut
Free Press columnist Lindor Reynolds – @lindydempsey
Free Press Ottawa Bureau Chief Mia Rabson – @mrabson
Free Press online reporter Tania Kohut – @taniakohut
Winnipeg Sun reporter Chris Kitching – @chriskitching
Winnipeg Sun columnist Kevin Engstrom – @kevinatwpgsun
Global TV Winnipeg – @globalwinnipeg
Global TV reporter/anchor Nicole Dubé – @nicoledube
Global TV anchor Shannon Martin – @shannononglobal
Global TV weather specialist Craig Larkins – @craigonglobal
Global TV reporter Lorraine Nickel – @lnickel
Global TV reporter Jeff Keele – @jtkeele
Global TV reporter Lindsay Warner – @lindsay_warner
Global TV reporter Nelly Gonzalez – @nellygonzalez
Global TV sports anchor Joe Pascucci – @pascucci015
Global TV sports anchor Mitch Rosset – @mitchrosset
Global TV Manitoba correspondent Crystal Goomansingh – @cgoomansingh
Former Global TV anchor Eva Kovacs – @globalek
Citytv’s “Breakfast Television” – @bt_winnipeg
Citytv “Breakfast Television” co-host Pay Chen – @paychen
Citytv “Breakfast Television” co-host Evan Campbell – @breakfastevan
Citytv reporter Megan Batchelor – @mbatchelor_bt
Citytv reporter Kim Kaschor – @kimwinnipeg
Former Citytv personality Jimmy Mac – @winnipegmac
CBC reporter Lyndsay Duncombe – @lyndsayd
CBC reporter Waubgeshig Rice – @waub
CBC reporter Sheila North Wilson – @sheiscree
CBC crime reporter James Turner – @cbcjturner
CBC crime reporter Gosia Sawicka – @gosiasawickacbc
CBC News Winnipeg anchor Janet Stewart – @janetstewartcbc
CBC Radio One – @cbcinforad
Shaw TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh – @mbahadoosingh
101.5 UMFM host Michael Elves – @duke_kun
Kildonan Place – @kildonanplace
Winnipeg musician Burton Cummings – @burtoncummings
United Way Winnipeg – @unitedwaywpg
Manitoba Museum – @manitobamuseum
Red River College – @RRC
University of Manitoba – @umanitoba
University of Winnipeg – @uwinnipegdce
The Forks – @theforks
Doors Open Winnipeg – @doorsopenwpg
Jazz Winnipeg – @jazzwinnipeg
Winnipeg Goldeyes – @wpg_goldeyes
Winnipeg Goldeyes Manager Andrew Collier – @goldeyesgm
Winnipeg Paramedics – @mgeu11
Winnipeg Harvest – @winnipegharvest
Winnipeg Airports Authority – @wpgairport
Winnipeg Airports Authority (James 2010) – @james2010_wpg
The Manitoban Newspaper – @themanitoban
Winnipeg Folk Fest – @winnipegfolk
Lower Fort Garry – @lowerfortgarry
The Winnipeg Humane Society – @thewhs
Miss Lonely Hearts (Maureen Scurfield) – @mislonelyheart
Anthony Augustine – Columnist, DJ, frequent radio guest – @anthonya
KICK FM – @kicknews
Royal Winnipeg Ballet – @rwballet
Winnipeg Film Group/Cinematheque – @wfgcinematheque
Winnipeg Transit Alerts – @transitalerts
Winnipeg Transit Announcements – @winnipegtransit
iTVWinnipeg – @itvwpg
Advertising Association of Winnipeg – @adwinnipeg

Want to know more about Twitter? Here’s a great video explaining it in plain English:

Follow @ChrisDca to see what I’m up to, or currently working on. I’ll follow you back! Or if you know of any other local noteworthy Twitterers I should add to the list, please post the link in the comments section.

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