Twitter (Example)

Simply put, it's a blogging engine, but micro'ed down. Hence, microblog (I hope that's right, otherwise I'm in trouble). Only needing 140 characters (that's letters and other chicken scratch) you can post what's on your mind at any given moment. After the initial registeration using just the site itself all you need to worry yourself over is that box at the top of your user page or the front page where you see your Tweeple feed. If you want to get more in depth you can visit other people's pages and see what they're up to and choose to follow them or not. Now, you can use it as is, but most likely you'll find yourself using the expanded lexicon that is the Twitter language. Using @ symbols or the acronym RT to reply to or retweet a message from other people. Oh, each message is referred to as a "tweet".

Notable features are the level of customization (within bounds of the central design), ability to easily delete tweets and/or your account if you grow tired of it and want to start over, and its just plain straight forward way of usefulness. After the initial phase of getting used to what it is and how you can use it (trust me, it took at least 3 times to try it before I "got it") you'll be tweeting your little ass off. Don't expect to gain followers right away. If it's slow to gain momentum don't fret. Eventually you'll gain them. But first you have to add people to your follow list. This can be done by looking out for people mentioning their Twitter names on various sites including forums you frequent. A good place to gather followers is to listen to podcasts. Guests will mention them as a matter of fact. Another way to gain followers too is to follow a service that many people use to discover new followers. And followers you will have. You'll have so many followers you won't know what to do with yourself. So many followers... Uh... Actually that sounds kinda creepy... It's like... they're watching you... Those scary vacant Twitter follower eyes... OH GOD! Those EYES! *ahem* Sorry, lost my train of thought. You may have some actual friends you know on Twitter and elsewhere, but the rest are really just voyeurs... And a few may be stalkers. You never know. YOU never KNOW! [cue spooky theremin music] A good way to find new fellow Twitterers (there, that sounds better) is through WeFollow at http://wefollow.com/. There you can register yourself in a big directory so people can find you based on what tags you attach to your Twitter name there. Many, but not all, people use it. There are more services like this, but that's a major one that I found early on. Also, watch out for bots. They may follow you, but that doesn't mean you have to follow them back. Certainly beefs up your follower numbers though... It may be not such a good thing... But hey, gotta catch 'em all, right? Twitter does provide you with suggested Twitter celebs (called the Twitteratti) which you may or may not find interesting.

Why do people do this? Why do people talk to their invisible friends on the street while wearing fancy blinky doodads in their ears? Communication! Some people think it's narcissistic. Others, just plain odd. But the point is you're talking to no-one and everyone! And still others use it, though, as a promotion vehicle for projects and other goods and services (it's really good for that). So have fun! And happy tweeting!