What is Twitter?

It has been around for a while now. However, some people are still asking “What is Twitter?”

Originally, Twitter was created as an online SMS service. It allowed its users to publish brief and compact bits of information in 140 characters or less. These bits or messages were named ‘tweets’ (a chirping sound of a small bird) and were meant to be publicly visible on the internet. One of Twitter’s co-founder’s was Evan Williams. Williams happen to be the founder of Blogger which is one of the most used blog publishing and hosting services. He paired up with Biz Stone and Jack Dorsey  to create a brand new concept of micro-blogging that was a blend of SMS and traditional blogging platforms.

Over the past few years, Twitter has evolved from being just a simple micro-blogging platform to the fastest information network of the cyber world. What makes Twitter awesome is its ability to broadcast information in real-time to the whole world. Today, the site is estimated to have more than 400 million registered users and is currently processing one billion tweets per week. They have an active community that is constantly thinking of new uses. The site is currently available in about 29 languages thanks to many volunteers that have collaborated in its translation.

The platform allows practically unlimited personalization in regards to what benefit you get from participating. Companies and brands can use it as a way to keep their fans updated on new developments with their business. Celebrities and entertainers often use it as a way to connect to their fans thus building stronger and wider support. Restaurants and retail establishments sometimes offer exclusive specials and deals to their customers through Twitter. All of those things can lead to increased profits and revenue when executed correctly.

Each Twitter user has their own profile which can be customized to help explain to others their purpose on the site. The homepage shows a list of words or phrases that are being frequently used in tweets. This feature is called twitter trends and is considered to be a reflection of global internet trends. The site also has its own API (Application Programming Interface) which allows developers to build applications that will run on Twitter. Users can also use their account to sign in to any other site that has a Sign in with Twitter button embedded on it.

If you aren’t on Twitter yet, join today! It is still a growing network with many uses for people from all walks of life.

Twitter comic seen on: http://www.mainelyseo.com/what-is-twitter-and-how-do-i-tweet/