Twitter unpacked: Some resources to help you get started

Image via WikipediaOne or two days ago I received a couple of questions from a friend, Yvonne Hynson, about Twitter:  "Can you point me to somewhere to learn all about these hashtags and how to tweet @ without getting all tangled up! Please... I am really enjoying Twitter and finding it much more useful than Facebook for finding out ESOL stuff. Just don't understand all the other stuff next to the tweet!" So, I decided to collect together a couple of resources around Twitter, and some of the basics around using it.

In a nutshell, the # symbol is called a 'hash tag', and it indicates a key topic that you might want to find out about, and you'll also be able to find the trending topics on the right hand side of your Twitter page. I've included a video below where facebookmari explains it way better!! The @ symbol is used with a Twitter user's username e.g. mine would be @howen. It indicates a reply, mention, and / or a re-tweet, and is a form of providing links in a conversation, as well as being a type of attribution if you are sharing a resource or comment. It means that other people can also join the conversation, especially if you use a combination of @ and a hash tag. For example, I might see a great resource from @playnice about #elearning - the two symbols mean that I can re-tweet her link and other folk know that playnice found and shared the resource, and that the topic is eLearning.

Image source

Clear as mud? Never fear - the following resources should shed more light on the basics of using Twitter.

• This resource, The Twitter Hash Tag: What Is It and How Do You Use It?, provides a pretty clear overview of hashtags - what they are, and where they come from.
• Wondering what 'follow' means on Twitter? This resource clearly explains it.
• If you would like a wider overview of further features of Twitter and how to use it Brent Ozar (@BrentO) has written, and made available for free download The Simple Twitter Book

Related articles

• "We're tired of seeing redundant trending topics" - Anonymous releases Twitter hijack tool U.R.G.E (nextlevelofnews.com)
• Getting the Most out of Twitter for Personal Use (blazingminds.co.uk)
• Twitter For Beginners A Few Tips For Those Just Starting Out (blazingminds.co.uk)