You Can Understand Twitter in 30 Seconds
BY Editweapon @ April 14, 2008
A friend asked me to explain Twitter in 30 seconds. I imagine most Twitters are being asked that. Here’s what I wrote:
- Twitter is like blogging, but it’s micro-blogging because you only have 140 characters per "tweet."
- You "follow" people/Twitter-ers that you like. You will get their updates/tweets via your mobile device instead of an RSS reader or Email.
- Vice versa, your "followers" subscribe to your tweets. (And don’t worry, you can tell Twitter to stop sending you tweets if you need to focus on a project, go to a meeting, go to sleep, etc.)
That’s it! Some people won’t get it. That’s ok.
But for those who are getting it, Twitter is addicting…twiddicting you might say.
My First 2 Days on Twitter
Twitter tells you to answer/tweet the question, "What are you doing?"
Personally, I struggled with this. "Who would ever give two sh*ts that I’m driving to work?"
So after my first two days of tweeting that I was driving to work, I decided to start posting little proverbs — those funny and/or insightful quips that I come across all day. My goal: To interrupt people with a thing-that-makes-them-go-hmm, but doesn’t require them to invest more than 10 seconds of their time.
So now I’m the proverb guy . I won’t waste (much of) your time.
More Twitter Resources/Suggestions
- Read the FAQs at the bottom of this page . (The Twitter learning curve is a bit high, sorta like learning DOS commands. But when you get it, it’s cool.)
- If you’re older and need someone from your generation to explain why you should give a crap, read: The Business Value of Twitter (H/T @guitarlawyer )
- There are two ways to find interesting people: A) See who your friends are following. B) Use the
- A twitter client is like AIM/Gtalk/MSN for Twitter. But don’t start with this. Once you get twiddicted, then start a twitter client. (I use Twhirl .)
Just Do It
The best way to really understand Twitter is to jump into the river.
"Obedience precedes understanding." -Dad (?)
BAM!! Just dropped that proverb on your arse, didn’t I! 
There’s more where that came from, so if go sign-up and then follow me, editweapon .
PS - I recommend you also follow chrisbrogan and garyvee , both of whom are funny, passionate, and *never* stop twittering!
I have been a Twitter-er for a little over a week. I too struggled at first to come up with much of anything for the same reason. Who cares? But I certainly see it’s value and respect it’s power. It can be a great tool if used properly.
Now, explaining it to someone? I dunno… I think people just have to dive in to truly get it.
BTW - enjoyed the few posts I’ve read so far. Entertaining. I won’t be hiring you (my field has nothing to do with yours), but I’ll read your stuff.
Thx for the props Andrew!
And don’t worry, I wasn’t going to hire you as a client anyways. 
I didn’t get it at first, now I do and love it. I use twitbin a FF extension, so I can be working on other things.
It’s funny how there’s not another way to explain it. i wrote this, it might help some people out:
http://olago.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/twitter-portugal/
“I don’t get “I didn’t get it at first, now I do and love it.”
Missy, I think you summarize the experience of 99% of users.
Alexandre, your post is very well-written. (The stuff I could read in English that is.
But I realized yesterday that both of us could have saved some time if we just went to the source of all knowledge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter
EditWeapon, I’ve been meaning to call and say hello since I first jumped in the river, not long ago, and realised you say some interesting, thought-provoking stuff, so I followed you.
This place is great for a newbie to amost everything internet. Will definitely be back!
I love Twitter! Am learning new things every day and ‘meeting’ new people … like Armano. Just checked him out through your comment about ’sacred cows’ and after a quick look I am going to follow him now too and spend a little more time browsing his posts (great post about internet ‘dating’ on there!)
Thank you for the resources here and the proverbs on twitter, am still trying to figure out how to say anything very interesting!
:o)
Dianne, so kind of you. Glad you find it interesting.
You’ll find your twitter-voice. Just tweet the funny stuff you come across. I’ve noticed more people (like @copyblogger) are sending proverbs. Copyblogger? More like copycat! Hehe…