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  • How to Use Twitter. With Twitter you have the potential to reach millions of users instantly.

  • Use it to issue public safety alerts, broadcast real-time news developments, inform constituents,

  • or solicit feedback. It’s free and easy to usehere's how to get started. You

  • will need A computer with internet access Mobile internet access Texting capabilities

  • A computer with internet access Mobile internet access and texting capabilities. Step 1. Create

  • an account. Go to Twitter.com and click the greenGet Startedbutton to join. Enter

  • your name, user name, password, and email address, and youre good to go. Step 2.

  • Decide what you want to say. In general, Twitter messages, ortweets,” answer the question,

  • What are you doing right now?” But you can also post a link, express an opinion or

  • reaction, or pose a question. Twitter keeps things short and sweet: Messages can be no

  • longer than 140 characters. Step 3. On the home page, type your message into the box

  • at the top of the screen and hitUpdate.” Congratulations! Youve posted your first

  • tweet! If your tweet is intended for one user in particular, type the ‘@’ symbol followed

  • by that user’s screen name before the text of your message. Step 4. Twitter is a two-way

  • street. Now that youve posted your first update, choose people whose updates you want

  • to follow. To search by name, click onFind Peoplein the upper right corner and then

  • click theFind on Twittertab. You can follow individuals, like friends and colleagues,

  • and groups, like news services, organizations, and nonprofits. People may be listed under

  • a screen name that doesn’t match their real name. Step 5. Once youve found someone

  • you want to hear from on Twitter, clickFollow,” and youll receive their updates automatically.

  • People you already know will often reciprocate and start following you, too. If you have

  • a Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, or MSN email account, you can import any contacts that

  • also have a Twitter account. You can also invite someone via email, or scroll through

  • a list of suggested people. Step 6. To help people find you, fill in account information

  • underSettings,” such as your location, real name, and a brief bio. You can also add

  • the URL of your web site or blog if you have one. If you want to restrict your Twitter

  • updates to only those who follow you, check the box marked, “Protect my updates.”

  • Youll maintain your privacy, but youll limit your reach. To get the full Twitter

  • experience, leave the box unchecked. Step 7. You don’t have to be online to use Twitter.

  • No matter where you are, you can stay connected with your cell phone. On theDevices

  • tab underSettings,” enter your mobile number to receive and post Twitter updates

  • via text message. Twitter doesn’t charge for text messages, but your wireless provider

  • might. Make sure you know the details of your messaging plan. Step 8. On thePicture

  • andDesigntabs, customize how your profile appears to others by uploading photos

  • and choosing background themes. Step 9. See what people on Twitter are saying about subjects

  • youre interested in. At the bottom of any Twitter page, clickSearchand type

  • in a name or topic. Or, either below the search box or alongside search results, check out

  • what’s generating the most buzz by browsing throughTrending topics.” Step 10. You

  • can post updates from the web in the update box, via text message, on your cell phone’s

  • web browser using m.twitter.com, or from any third party application. Apps are available

  • at twitter.com/downloads. The more updates you post, the more people will follow you.

  • Now get tweeting! Did you know President Barack Obama announced his selection of Joe Biden

  • as his running mate simultaneously via text message, email, and Twitter.

How to Use Twitter. With Twitter you have the potential to reach millions of users instantly.

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