7 Best Twitter Tools for New Twitter Users

Believe it or not, I still run into many people who don’t believe in the power of Twitter. The general consensus from non Twitter users and some new Twitter users seems to be that it’s only for nerds, groupies, or people who have too much time on their hands. I know these arguments very well because I used to believe them. I just didn’t get it. Why would I want to hear a constant stream of what random people were doing? But now I have seen the light. Now I see why Twitter is a must for every business and anyone who is interested in advancing in their job.

There are so many tools out there to enhance the Twitter experience that it can be confusing if you are new. That’s why I put together a list of the top 7 Twitter tools and applications that I used when I was new to Twitter.

Here Are 7 Top Twitter Tools for New Twitter Users:

• 1.) Lists – These make it easier to keep tabs on the people you’re interested in listening to. Set up lists to keep track of different interests. For example, I have a list of industry leaders, a list of personal friends, another for people in my geographic area, and lists for different facets of my company. If I find someone’s tweets worthwhile I’ll look for their blog and possibly subscribe to it on my RSS. When someone puts you on a list it’s also a great opportunity to follow new like-minded people.
• 2.) Twitter Grader – (http://twitter.grader.com/) – This tool answers much more than the question, “How influential are you on Twitter?” You can find out where you rank in your area, state, and across the Twitter universe while also finding tips to improve your reach, graphs of your activity, and the best people to follow in your local community. There is even a badge you can place on your website or blog to boast your score, but I would only recommend doing that if your score is in the high 90’s.
• 3.) Hash Tags – The # symbol is very important and can be confusing if you are a novice to Twitter. Hash tags tell readers the subject of the tweet and are also searchable. For example, if you are interested in business, search #business and all recent tweets on the subject will be displayed. This is a good starting place. As always, use a discerning eye and be careful for scams.
• 4.) Friend or Follow – (http://friendorfollow.com/) – This is a great website that lists who you are following, who is following you, and your friends. Many spammers will immediately un-follow you once you begin follow them. This tool gives you all the information you need to help “clean up” your Twitter account and remove those spammers from your feed.
• 5.) TwitPic – (http://twitpic.com/) – Once you sign up for a Twitter account you are only one step away from also having a TwitPic account. Just click the button “Sign in with Twitter” when you enter Twitpic’s site and you’re ready to go. It allows you to upload pictures to Twitter from either your computer, email, or directly from your phone. Then you are able to take each picture and tag friends, places and events.
• 6.) Twitter Mobile App – I also highly recommend downloading a Twitter app for your phone. With my Droid the official Twitter application seems to work best, but there are many others to choose from. This allows you to write Tweets on the go and integrate Twitter into your everyday life.
• 7.) Twtvite – (http://twtvite.com/) – Twtvite allows you to create an event and invite all your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or by email on one centralized site. This is very helpful with getting consistent information to your guests. I attend a weekly lunch that is completely organized through this site (by @lynnftw and @brandy3216). These weekly trips to Crave Kitchen and Cocktails (@CraveMtP) normally consist of 15-40 people. The decision to eat at Crave was largely based on their strong social media presence. This is a true testament to the power of social media . I was talking to Crave on Twitter yesterday and they told me, “Twitter has helped us with getting our name out there. Our business has increased”…and all it took them was 140 characters and a willingness to interact.

These are some of the basic tools to help new Twitter users get started. There are plenty more to dig into along the way that help manage multiple accounts, lists, and more advanced functions. So go ahead and Jump onto Twitter, use some apps, and let me know what you think.

What’s your favorite Twitter tool?