Getting Social. Using Twitter

Did you ever heard about Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

More and more people in the System Center world are using Twitter as a means to communicate with each other. The latest in line is the The Manageability Team and according to J.C. Hornbeck why do they use Twitter? 

“Well, the main reason is because while RSS and ATOM feeds are nice, with Twitter you can receive updates on your phone, via IM or on the web at places like Facebook.  It's much of the same information, it's just now you have more options on how you receive it."

And what I would add is the great way you can respond to Tweets (messages on Twitter) by replying just like emails.

I hope I’ve convinced you to start using Twitter.

What are the steps to get started?

1. Create a Twitter account here.
2. Go and Follow people (following someone simply means receiving their Twitter updates)
3. Who do I know which people I should follow?
   Here is a list of System Center/OpsMgr interested people I follow:
   • rodtrent
   • MSManageability
   • MPNotifier
   • opsmgr
   • aquilaweb
   • lazyindustries
   • dani3l3
   • jpavleck
   • wwwally
   • bernardosanchez
   • sstranger (me ;-))
   • ivn_d_trrble (new)
   • pzerger (new)
4. Read and create Tweets.
   For reading and creating Tweets you can use the Twitter website or you can install different clients.
   • Twadget — The Twitter Vista Sidebar Gadget
   • Twhirl based on the Adobe AIR platform.
   • And for Windows Mobile I use Tiny Twitter

That’s it ;-)

For more info on read the faq on Twitter.

Most important twitter tip make sure that your Twitter settings say "get all @replies". Otherwise you only receive replies from people you follow.

Warning! It’s addictive!