What is with all the @, #, and RT's? Are you new to Twitter and confused by the Twitter lingo? The first thing you should do before diving head first into Twitter is to learn the common Twitter terms. After mastering them you will be able to utilize all the functions of the robust social media tool.
Common Twitter Terms:
Tweet: A tweet is a message posted in twitter. A tweet can only be 140 characters or less.
@: The @ symbol precedes all Twitter username. It is used to call out usernames in Tweets. If you want to reply to someone's tweet or gain their attention, you should include in your tweet their username preceded by the @ symbol. @username will become a link to their Twitter profile.
Hashtags #: Hashtags are Twitters way of easily grouping tweets. Using the # symbol in-front of a tag adds the tweet to a category. Hashtags make your tweets easier to search and group if you're trying to find people discussing the same topic.
RT: RT stands for Re-Tweet. You use RT when you want to re-submit something someone has tweeted via Twitter. Retweeting isn't just a great way to spread information through the twitter network; it's also a great way for you to discover new and interesting content.
DM: DM stands for Direct Message. A DM is a private message between only the sender and the recipient. Tweets become DMs when they begin with "d@username" to specify who the message is for. You can only send a direct message to someone who is following you.
Twitter Follower: Someone who subscribes (follows) the tweets of another Twitter user.
Twitter Search: You can find tweets on specific topics by searching for keywords, hashtags, or even username.
Bit.ly and tinyurl.com: Websites used to shorten long links in order to fit into Twitter's 140 character limit. These services can provide you with a shorter version of any URL you want to share. You can then use the shorter URL in your tweet, and anyone who clicks on it will be redirected to the longer URL.
Still confused? You can find other great Twitter resources at: http://newmediadl.com/resources?keys=Twitter
Elizabeth Wesson is passionate about social media and digital marketing. She has over 7 years of experience of full-life cycle consumer-oriented web application development and SQL database design and administration. Elizabeth is currently working towards acquiring her New Media Drivers License from Michigan State University.
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