Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service. It allows users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters known as tweets. Tweets are displayed on the writer's profile page and delivered to people following the writer known as followers. Message writers can restrict delivery to those in their circle of follower/friends or allow public access. Tweeters can exchange tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. Twitter is free but accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees.

According to a Los Angeles Times story regarding the brainstorming sessions to find a name, Jack Dorsey recounts how they “wanted to capture that feeling: the physical sensation that you’re buzzing your friend’s pocket.”  The group ended up looking in the dictionary for words, and we came across the word "twitter," and it was exactly what they were wanted. The definition was "a short burst of inconsequential information," and "chirps from birds."

In an interview with The Daily Anchor Jack Dorsey stated that Twitter later spun off into its own company in April 2007. The turning point for Twitter's popularity was the 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. At that event usage went from 20,000 tweets per day to 60,000 according to Twitter blows up at SXSW Conference". "The Twitter people cleverly placed two 60-inch plasma screens in the conference hallways, exclusively streaming Twitter messages," remarked Newsweek's Steven Levy.  Twitter staff accepted their prize for the festival's Web Award with the remark "we'd like to thank you in  140 characters or less. And we just did!"

Why You Should Start Over On Twitter With A BRAND NEW Account article at TwiTip is a must read for tweeters who have been around for at least a year. That’s just about the time the newness and confusion of Twitter disappears. At the time you decide you had enough and/or you need to revamp your account. The 10 Users You’ll Meet on Twitter will give a bit of background on Twitter users. This information supports why one may want a brand new account. According to the article it identifies ten types of tweeters. Twitter is a sample of societies of the world. There are the Twitter accounts that give Scriptures, prayers and sermons. There are the accounts that provide fun games to kill time.

Then there are the products, companies and brands on Twitter. Some make a great product and they understand the importance of engaging their consumers. Others are brands that use Twitter to spam. These accounts are on Twitter to advertise new deals, new products, or anything else about their product. They follow more people than follow them.

The corporate people do everything for a livelihood. The self-proclaimed social media experts are usually a CEO or founder. Their bio includes words like this: startup, expert, artist, visionary, social media, enthusiast, specialist, marketing, PR, sales, properties, and maven according to The 10 Users You’ll Meet on Twitter.

The accounts with the default avatar are an n00b, a spam account, or they don’t know Twitter. Many Twitter users won’t follow accounts without avatars. On the other hand there are the idols of social media. In the midst of tens of thousands of followers, and as many updates between them, there’s no doubt if you are on Twitter you will contact with them.

There are the rich and famous people you know from various other media channels. They are famous entertainers and athletes, and have become top Twitter users by gathering a large number of followers. But not all celebrities on Twitter are legit. There are impersonators like @rod_stewart with hundred of followers thinking they are following their idol. @rod_stewart is not the singer. If he was his Twitter profile would show on his official MySpace page.

The information sources often push all types of breaking news across Twitter before traditional media sources have a chance to report it. They are a good follow if you want to know as much as possible.

The famous personalities that aren’t real, and don’t necessarily live but are characters from movies, TV shows, and other sources that have a presence on Twitter. That leaves everyone else on Twitter not in a catalog.

In the article Why You Should Start Over On Twitter With A BRAND NEW Account the author, Alan Skorkin @skorks, tells about the year long experience of going from a newbie to deciding on a brand new account. He set out to learn how to use twitter properly. He learned the art of getting followers and who to follow. He even joined the ‘popular’ twitter services such Twitter Grader. Alan Skorkin stated he tried the desk top app for Twitter like TweetDeck and Twhirl. At its peak Alan Skorkin’s Twitter account had more than 5000 followers, and he was following over 4500 tweeters according to his own accounting. With all that popularity, Mr. Skorkin did not feel the profound relationship he was seeking after tweeting all kinds of people more than 30 times per day.

After some retrospective analysis of his Twitter experience, the author found several issues which are outlined in the article. He identified the problem with mass following, not filtering one’s list of followers and retweeting for no reason other than to retweet. Being unhappy and dissatisfied with his Twitter experience, Alan Skorkin got a Brand New Account!

This is an excellent article for people new to Twitter learning the ins and outs of social networking. It’s a great read for tweeters who are looking for more value from their present Twitter experience. As the article noted what you really want is for people to follow you because they care about what you have to say, not because they expect a follow-back. The aim is to engage more than 80% of your followers as opposed to have 10,000 followers and engaging 1%.

Echoing the author’s word here by saying the Twitter experience should be enjoying, refreshing, fun and liberating. He offers you an opportunity to send him a tweet if you like the article and he’ll reply you @skorks. The invite is also a challenge because as he stated in conclusion, “I care about what you have to say, and I can keep track of my whole stream, from the web, with no trouble and minimal time investment. Can you?”

Douglas, Nick (2007-03-12). "Twitter blows up at SXSW Conference". Gawker. http://gawker.com/tech/next-big-thing/twitter-blows-up-at-sxsw-conference-243634.php. Retrieved on 2009-06-20.

http://viigo.im/0sFO

http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/explaining-twitter-to-those-who-don%E2%80%99t-get-it/

http://www.twitip.com/types-of-birds-on-twitter-and-how-to-be-an-eagle/

Lennon, Andrew. "A Conversation With Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey". The Daily Anchor. http://www.thedailyanchor.com/2009/02/12/a-conversation-with-twitter-co-founder-jack-dorsey/. Retrieved on 2009-08-04.

Sano, David (2009-02-18). "Twitter creator Jack Dorsey illuminates the site's founding document". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/02/twitter-creator.html Retrieved on 2009-08-04.

Stone, Biz (2007-03-14). "We Won!". Twitter. http://blog.twitter.com/2007/03/we-won.html Retrieved on 2009-08-04