Twitter virgin - help please

longwalks1

Have just set up an account on twitter, because every now and then i have the urge to write a tongue in cheek paragraph at current affairs, so have taken the plunge :T

Few questions, as I know nothing about it

if i tweet, anyone following me see's it, but does everyone i'm following see it as well??

Can i write on someone I'm followings 'wall' so they see it and everyone who follows them?

Hope that makes sense

LutonGirl

Hi BritishBoy - only those who follow you will see what you Tweet, unless you start your tweet with someone's Twitter handle, for example, you might follow @acelebrity, but they may or may not follow you back.

If you start your tweet with @acelebrity and then write your message, it will appear in that person's timeline and they will get a notification that you've tweeted them.

Other Twitter users CAN find you, if they know your twitter handle, and read all your tweets without actually following you, but they won't see your tweets as a matter of course.

If, when you write your tweet to @celebrity, you put a full stop in front of the twitter handle (eg: .@acelebrity) then everyone who follows them will see it, not just the person you're tweeting...

Don't forget to "hashtag" topics so that others can find your tweets on a particular subject. eg: #Thatcher. Searching by hashtag is an easy way to find tweets on the same subject you're writing about. You can then follow people who interest you and you will gain followers in this as they've found your tweets via the #.

I hope I haven't confused you more...! Happy tweeting... it does get easier as you use it more and more.

longwalks1

Thanks Lutongirl, youre a star #gladifoundyou

Pretty sure I got that, time will tell. now I need to get my writing head on and start tweeting, I did get lost in Luton last year one evening and after 45 minutes of asking gave up and just headed East - something i could quite easily tweet about!

Thanks again

akward

Yeah, your tweets will be visible yo your followers only. And if they re-tweet your message than others will see it as well.

Beancounter

I have just joined too basically to see what the fuss is about and was about to ask much the same question.

I don't personally know anyone on Twitter so can't really get followers that way, what the above is saying is randomly Tweet anyone with a full stop before the tweet and all their followers will see it?

longwalks1

Bean
yes i think thats what missLuton is saying, add a full stop before their address (or whatever its called) and all their followers will see it. So, if you want 1 person to see it, add a full stop to @tonyblairdonewondersforourcountry, or if you want a larger audience, say 20m+ id imagine adding a full stop before @justinbieber or whatever his name is

longwalks1

PS, if any of your are interested my name is theblueeyedbat

I'm just starting out, but like i said every so often I have been known to have a brainwave of wit and sarcasm and pen something half funny. (I hope)

Beancounter

I see you are being more restrained with people you are following than me. I'm at 40 so far but am yet to get a follower myself, how sad!

longwalks1

Im a little stuck on who to follow, a friends company, and easy targets for when my wit returns haha I'll happily follow you and i promise not to pen a single word about you, or anyone who follows. I have my targets already haha

Beancounter

I have followed you, you'll see me in your list of followers now:)

Most of my stuff will be to celebs in the vain hope of getting a reply!

Chickabiddybex

That full stop advice is slightly incorrect.
If you put @name only they will see it plus people who follow both of you.
If you put .@name only they will see it plus all YOUR followers.

Citation:
http://www.ideastap.com/ideasmag/the-knowledge/five-common-twitter-mistakes
Sorry guys!

My advice is follow people who interest you and use it to stay updated (bands will announce upcoming gigs etc) and after a while you'll get the idea. Find interesting non-celebs too and people will follow you back eventually! Probably spambots at first though XD
Just don't follow too many to keep track of and don't tweet ALL THE TIME because you'll lose followers that way.