Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. More detailed info on Twitter on Wikipedia.

To sign up for a free Twitter account:

• go to http://twitter.com

• you will see the following set up screen. Fill in details – the username can be whatever you want (mine is technotrotter).

Twitter sign up screen

• once account is set up and you are logged in you will see a screen which at top right hand corner of page are menu options
• under settings you can add as little or as much info as you wish
• useful to at least choose correct Time Zone and fill in the one line bio box
• under settings you can also upload your picture by clicking the ‘picture’ tax and change background under ‘design’

***Help page for Twitter is available at http://help.twitter.com

How to use Twitter

To use Twitter you need either a mobile phone or an internet connection.

Mobile Phone

• instructions on using Twitter using a mobile phone
• note the info on charges levied by different networks for sending messages

Web browser

• to use on a web browser go to http://twitter.com/yourusername and click login at top right or login on main http://twitter.com page
• login using the username and password you chose when you set up the account
• click “Home” on menu at top right of page
• type update in box titled “What are you doing?”

Following other people’s updates on Twitter, @replies and direct messages

The FAQs on the Twitter site provide information on how:-

• to receive other people’s updates
• how to direct one of your updates at a specific user
• sending a direct message to a specific user

Read how the TechnoTrotter is using Twitter to plan and update on her runs (and related things!)
TechnoTrotter is currently testing Twitter to see if keeps her motivated to be consistent in running. A review and rating will be posted here in due course.

Posted under web tools