Mark Schaefer - The Tao of Twitter, Revised and Expanded New Edition

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When I bought my first computer many years ago, it came with two sets of instructions.

The first set was a simple color-coded poster to help you know how to plug in the mouse, the keyboard, and the monitor so you could get up and running in a matter of minutes.

The second was a hefty booklet that described the software basics, shortcuts, and practical tools to help you really make the device useful.

Studies show that about 60 percent of the people who try Twitter quit after the first week, and Im convinced its because they never get past the first set of simple instructions: set up a profile, follow a few celebrities, tweet about what youre doing now, and see what happens.

Problem is the second set of instructions didnt exist.

Until now. And thats why were here.

Twitter has changed my life and the lives of thousands of my clients, readers, and students. Where so many others have quit or failed, we are enjoying the benefits of the most powerful business networking system that has ever existed.

This isnt just a cute kiddie toy or chat function for keeping in touch with friends. With its real-time human-driven results, Twitter has become the networking, information, advertising platform, and search engine of choice for many business professionals. Why? Twitter can help you

Attract new audiences and potential customers, partners, and suppliers

Follow news on your industry, market, competitors, and customers

Find people who can solve problems quickly

Stay on top of the latest research, opinion, insights, and competitive intelligence

Learn new skills

Strengthen new and existing business relationships

Open up low-cost marketing opportunities

Sadly, most people miss this completely because they dont know what I knowand what my students have discovered.

They havent found the path, the Tao of Twitter.

As I prepared to write this new edition, I had to reconsider how Twitter had changed, what it had become, and what it could be. As I studied the evolution of the platform and the ways people are using the platform, it was almost overwhelming to see the breathtaking creativity and collaboration that occurs when you connect people from around the world, 140 characters at a time.

Since my first version of this book, there have been four powerful new developments driving Twitter.

Twitter has experienced explosive growth, finding new audiences among younger and older demographics as well as globally.

It has matured into a public company with a responsibility to shareholders.

It has developed entirely unique advertising programs that are accessible to businesses with nearly any budget.

Twitter has become the de facto second screen for television, providing the channel of interactivity for live programming. This is a role that is now driving many of its strategies. It has also driven the idea of a hashtag (#) into our everyday culture! #ForReal

The first edition of this book was about the heart of Twitter, the pulse of connection that drives new relationships and tangible business results. My goal with this edition is to keep that heart intact but add some muscle to reflect the bold new opportunities for business, personal connection, learning, and fun.

If youre completely new to Twitter, I recommend that you read this book from start to finish but concentrate on , Immersion, to get you up and running. If youre already a Twitter pro, feel free to jump around and collect some new ideas along the way.

Lets get started!

The first tweet I ever received was Its 4 a.m.