Twitter Terms and Tips

Don't be intimidated if this is your first time to the Tweet dance. Seriously, how hard can typing 140 characters be? This list of common words, abbreviations, and actions will help acquaint you with some of Twitter's virtual vernacular and basics.Twitter Terms

• @Username - Using the @ sign before a Twitter username will reply directly to that person and show up in a sorted list of feeds. It's a great way to get someone's attention amid the sea of feeds that are on one's home page. To access it on your account and see who mentioned or replied to you, click on the @Username link in the info column on your Twitter home page.
• # or Hashtag - The # symbol or hashtag is another way people sort information on Twitter and have group conversations via feeds where the # is used. For example, if you wanted to see the Tweets for a #WineTastingParty, you would type in #WineTastingParty in the search box located in the info column on your home page.
• DM or Direct Message - This is a private message sent only to a Twitter user (similar to email). A person must be following you in order for you to send them a direct message. Too many of the same DM message, especially if you are promoting something is considered to be spam and you could be blocked.
• Follower - A Twitter user who has chosen to follow you and your feeds will show up on their home page.
• Following - A Twitter person that you have chosen to follow and their feeds will show up on your home page.
• RT or Retweet - When you Tweet what someone else has Tweeted to reply to them or promote something for them you are Retweeting. You can simply use the RT icon located on the bottom right corner of a message or you can copy and paste their Tweet into your top Twitter box to add your own message such as "I'll be there! RT @username You're invited to a #WineTastingParty!"
• Tweet - A noun meaning the 140 or less Twitter message a person types in or a verb meaning the action of typing the message.
• Twitterspeak - Words that have been "Twitterized," such as "Twittersation" for "Conversation" or "Tweeps and Tweeple" meaning "People." (In a nutshell - or a birdcage - this is take-off on how the cartoon character "Tweety Bird" speaks, "I tat I taw a putty tat....")
• Username - Your Twitter name

Twitter Tips

• TinyUrl.com - A website that condenses long URLs into 26 characters so a Tweeter can maximize their message and character usage on Twitter.
• Tweet Smart and Short! - Make it easy for people to Retweet your entire message by keeping your Tweet at about 120 characters. This will allow another user to add a personal comment when they Retweet your message.
• Think "License Plate Lexicon" - Popular on car license plates, acronyms are used for words to keep the character count down on Twitter, such as "Gr8t" for "great." Here's a list of common acronyms from the IM guy at About.com.
  
• Enlist the Help of Those with Lots of Twitter Followers - Send an @Username Tweet to a person with tons of followers to see if they'll help host or hype your party. Seek out people that have a shared interest in your party theme. Be polite: Send only 1 tweet and if they don't respond leave it at that. (You don't want to be blocked or seen as a spammer.)