The Twitter Book
May 31st, 2010 by LookOutGFX.com
- ISBN13: 9780596802813
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
"Media organizations should take note of Twitter's power to quickly reach their target consumers." –Tim O'Reilly (@timoreilly), in a Los Angeles Times interview, March 2009 This practical guide will teach you everything you need to know to quickly become a Twitter power user. It includes information on the latest third party applications, strategies and tactics for using Twitter's 140-character messages as a serious–and effective–way to boost your business, as w… More >>
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May 31st, 2010 at 5:38 am
When I read, appropriately enough on Twitter, that Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein had written The Twitter Book, I couldn't wait to scoop up a copy. Literally. So I sent a message to the book's Twitter account and asked if I could get an early copy to review. The book is so clear and concise, so necessary to the social media world, that I wondered why on Earth it has taken so long for this kind of book to be written. Tim and Sarah are the perfect people to publish this type of work, both experts in the tool itself and in the art of communication. We're lucky to have them.
The Twitter Book is appropriate for people who've never heard of Twitter, who don't understand it, who like the concept though aren't sure how to use it, and for Twitter addicts like me. Whether you're an individual looking to build your own personal brand on-line, someone who is considering starting a business, or part of a large company, the book is chock full of ideas, resources, and helpful advice.
I recommend getting a copy of this book and using it as a constant reference the same way you'd use any top-rate how-to guide. I also found that it was incredibly helpful to have my computer in front of me so I could actually experiment with the different tips and resources that Tim and Sarah suggest. Within the pages of the book I also found a few other great people to follow on Twitter.
From a personal brand building stand-point, I found dozens of great ideas in The Twitter Book. (For those interested in how The Twitter Book helps business brand building, please see my Business Strategies column on Examiner.com. [...]Here are three of my favorite ideas to give you a flavor of what awaits you in this book:
1.) Twitter gives you the opportunity have superhuman powers you've always wanted: you can read people's minds and overhear conversations as if you're a fly on the wall.
2.) The art of brevity and timing is priceless. Highest traffic days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, business hours in EST. That's when the most links, ideas, and thoughts get replies (direct messages – dms – or @ messages) and passed around ("re-tweeted"). People need to see your message ("tweet") within 5 minutes of you posting it or they likely won't see it at all. And make it concise and interesting because you've only got 140 characters to get your point across.
3.) Jargon explained. I hate to be in acronym city. I think a lot of people use acronyms and catch-phrases to make themselves seem better informed than anyone else around. It annoys me. Twitter is no exception. A lot of people scratch their heads when they hear words like "tweet", "tweeple", and "tweetup". I don't blame them. I did the same thing and for a long while the jargon scared me off. I belonged to Twitter for a year and was mostly inactive before I figured out why it mattered and how it could be useful to me. The most valuable reason to pick up The Twitter Book is to have experts Tim and Sarah explain the jargon in very straight-forward terms, and then show you how the tool can be a very powerful part of your overall brand-building toolkit.
Before Tim and Sarah even get the discussion going in the book, they ask for suggestions to improve and enhance the content. The book has given me a lot of great ideas and I want to return the favor to them with a few ideas to consider for the next edition.
1.) For people brand new to Twitter, a glossary of terms would be very helpful.
2.) A set of easy to reference lists in the appendix would be handy. Common mistakes to avoid on Twitter, top companies using Twitter effectively, etc.
3.) An expanded section on how non-profits can use Twitter. It is briefly touched on in the book and I'd love to learn more from Tim and Sarah on new ideas that are particular to nonprofits that would help organizations increase awareness through Twitter.
4.) A resource directory, divided up into sections, in the appendix would be handy. For example, a list of third party programs, resources to help trim messages that are over 140 characters, etc.
An easy and endlessly helpful resource, The Twitter Book will accelerate the growth and power of Twitter. Generous and honest, Tim and Sarah skillfully help their readers take part in the conversation. The Twitter Book will be available in hard copy on May 26, 2009.
It is available in e-book format now at: [...]
Rating: 5 / 5
May 31st, 2010 at 7:37 am
This book is brilliant, simple, straightforward, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone using Twitter. I've been on Twitter for years, and still learned a bunch. More importantly, for someone just starting out, this book is the best starting point I can imagine.
Chapter by chapter, the authors cover Twitter – and its related technologies – with just enough depth to keep you interested and informed. They don't just talk about Twitter, they also talk about helpful websites, applications, and techniques. Their tips are also simple and handy – such as how to keep your messages short enough to be re-tweeted, and how to market your business on Twitter without appearing to be a spammer.
There are, however, some flaws. The screen shots are inconsistent and of poor quality. They could easily have taken the time to generate PDF versions to get better quality, but they did not. And I noticed several proofreading issues, which is not really in character for O'Reilly, but there you have it.
So, four stars out of five. I think they could have gone the extra mile, but they did a great job and you really shouldn't miss this book.
Rating: 4 / 5
May 31st, 2010 at 9:00 am
I signed up for a Twitter account last December in order to take advantage of a SitePoint PDF book give-away. I really didn't know much about it at the time, just that it was a tool for broadcasting brief messages, but not a spam generator. Since that time I've been hearing terms like `tweet' and `retweet' on the local news and in real-time conversations. However, I still didn't really get it. The Twitter Book, by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein, to the rescue! They very neatly break down Twitter into easy to digest concepts and features in this O'Reilly publication. The service is explained succinctly in large type on the right page and illustrated by a variety of screen shots on the left page, no information overload.
What is Twitter? Briefly and simply put, it is a communication service. It debuted in March of 2006 as Twttr and a `Big Bang' of users and messages has since followed. Messages sent and received are limited to 140 characters, including spaces. At last, a way to force folks to get to the point, any point! Your messages are public, meaning that everyone on Twitter can see them. So, think before you tweet. You choose whether or not to receive other's messages (called `following'). Messages can be sent and received using a variety of technologies.
From the authors;
`Twitter poses the question, "what are you doing?"
What's Twitter good for?
Breaking news and shared experiences.
Finally, Twitter is emerging as a key business channel …'
So, what more is there to know? Admittedly, I felt I wasn't quite getting into the `meat' of it by just signing up at twitter.com (accessibletwitter.com for assistive technologies). That's what pages 19 through 231 are all about. For those of us of the not-quite-now-gen, not to worry, you won't think that you're Alice entering Wonderland. However, joining in at Twitterland does involve learning some Twitter jargon and syntax and learning to use shortened vocabulary.
This succinct insight into Twitter is divided into six chapters. Getting Started introduces you to some Twitter basics and key terms. Listen In provides some search skills for finding the `good stuff' to listen in on. Hold Great Conversations is about contributing to conversations using a secure, clear, respectful and helpful approach. Share Information and Ideas presents suggestions for making the most out of those 140 characters messages. Sub-title this section `How to get noticed for being interesting'. There are tips for broadening your audience such as using links to your advantage, posting your picture, the best days to post, get the book for more! Reveal Yourself describes ways to create a sense of `meaningful intimacy'. My favorite suggestions here are `Spiff up your background: Part 1 & Part 2', which are about the visual tweaks you can add to your account page. Lastly is Twitter for Business: Special Considerations and Ideas. The intro page lists links to companies on Twitter and suggests two providers for facilitating internal micro-messages for organization networks. This section builds on everything already discussed and enhances points of particular pertinence to a business setting. It seems to me that being encouraged to communicate in a clear, concise, and uncharged manner (covered in the previous sections of this book) can only enhance an organizations efficiency and effectiveness.
There are gobs of links for extending Twitter functionality and curiosity. You can `tweet up', or to put it another way, organize an in-person gathering using twtvite.com. Follow the most currently popular words or phrases being twittered about. Using a site such as whatthetrend.com gives a quick blurb on why a word is trending. At twopular.com you can view the hottest trends over a variety of time periods. Icons indicate a rise, fall or static standing and for more info, there are links to Twitter Search, Google News and Yahoo! News.
Here are two personal `best pics' that caught this newbie's eye:
(pg 91) Life-changing program #1: Twirl
This is a free desktop appliance that streams tweets with built-in URL shortening and automatic searching for your username in any posts, a very nice interface and great documentation accessed through the twhirl.org website!
(pg 370) Shorten and customize your links with Bit.ly
In addition to shortening URLs this service also tracks click-throughs. And, there's an extension for adding a bit.ly button to the Firefox toolbar!
In Summary:
Do you sense your life twittering into cyberspace? That 140 character limitation does a great job of curtailing excessive and time-consuming posts. However, limiting how many people to follow is up to you. You'll find this brief volume is the best way to get up to speed with Twitter and have some fun with it.
Rating: 5 / 5
May 31st, 2010 at 9:04 am
I have been an avid reader of O'Reilly books for many years now. Rarely am I disappointed, and The Twitter Book is no exception. For both absolute beginners AND advanced users, this oddly shaped Twitter Book is a veritable gold mine of information.
I say "oddly" shaped because the book measures 8" wide by 6" long. The size is intriguing, and the best part is the book stays open on its own (thanks to wide pages) while you type. Inside, the book's layout immediately strikes you as welcoming. Big color pictures, short blocks of text.
My Twitter chops were pretty sparse before I picked up this book. Its value far exceeds its price. There are so many money-making strategies here (although not described as such) that one of them has got to work for you. All it takes is a bit of creativity, critical thinking and dedicated tweeting.
And this book is fun to learn from! And isn't that kinda what it's all about anyway?
Rating: 5 / 5
May 31st, 2010 at 11:51 am
If your new to Twitter or have only been using it casually, check the book out. They go through hashtags, @mentions, D messages, RT, and adding your own comments to RTs.
The most beneficial aspect of the book, besides the comprehensive lists of Twitter related resources, was the last chapter.
In the final chapter, The Twitter Book goes into great detail of how to use Twitter for businesses. Everything from how to run a Twitter account with multiple authors to best follow practices. This information has been extremely valuable for me since I've been working recently with one of out business units to set a new communications strategy that leverages Twitter.
In fact, since reading the book, I've passed it onto to several people within my organization, explaining that the book is a great read, quick, but most importantly, for them to read the last chapter.
I highly recommend The Twitter Book, it went above and beyond even Twitter's own 101 for Business web site and with Twitter expected to roll out commercial accounts later this year, we should all brush up on our Twitter skills.
Rating: 5 / 5