Technorati Tags: hootsuite, how to use twitter, twitter app, twitter client, twitter how to, twitter tools, twitter web client

According to reports today, it would appear there is a clear and obvious way for any third party Twitter app you have allowed to tweet on your account can actually change your profile information.

Your name, location and URL could be changed by an app using three simple ‘command tweets’. I am sure Twitter will tidy this up pretty quickly but till then you really should go check the apps that have this access to your account.

From your Twitter home page:

1. Go to “Settings” tab.
2. Click on “Connections”.
3. Displayed will be all the third party Twitter apps with access to your account, when you approved them and the type of access each app has (ie: read only, read and write).
4. If there any apps you are not familiar with or no longer use you can remove your permission for an app to have access to your account by clicking the “Revoke Access” link.

If you see any evidence of account tampering please do let us know @Twtr_Gator (once you have told Twitter @safety @support of course.)

Technorati Tags: twitter apps, twitter how to, twitter security

The iPad is the latest techno craze that is taking over the world and everyone that is anyone is getting an iPad to change their life.  These same people tend to have a hunger for Twitter and it was inevitable that these two passions would blend and mend into one great app.  If you are looking to use Twitter on the iPad one of the following apps will be for you.

1. TwitePad- This great little app allows you to create multiple accounts and use multiple columns.  Almost all of your favorite Twitter functions are here and for Twitter on the iPad it doesn’t get much better than the original!

2. Twitterrific for iPad- Every possible thing that you love about Twitter is available on this great app for Twitter on the iPad.  This app even makes the interface much larger so you can see and tweet with ease.

3. TweetDeck for iPad- You can do so much with this app (multiple columns, multiple account support, reply, retweet, DM and favorite from a tweet, follow or unfollow Twitter users, just to name a few) that it is hard to turn down.

4. Osfoora HD- Finally, and frankly my fave right now is Osfoora HD. With Instapaper intergration this is the Twitter app for me as I spend way to much time clicking through links from Twitter finding useful and not so useful sites to come back to later!

All of these Twitter iPad apps are available for under $2 and you will be able to tweet from your iPad at any time.

Do you Twitter on the iPad? Which app do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below or tweet me @Twtr_Gator

Technorati Tags: how to use twitter, twitter apps, twitter clients, twitter mobile, twitter on the ipad

In tutorial six tweeps will take a look at the options for a Twitter client that I feel are most productive.

We will be comparing features and user opinions to give a great insight into the options available to new tweeps.

Right now the options and Twitter clients to be included are;

• Desktop Twitter Clients, Tweetdeck and Twhirl
• Browser / web Twitter Clients, Hootsuite and PeopleBrowser
• and not forgeting the Twitter Home Page

Which Twitter client would you recommend? Let us know in the comments below and have your say in teaching new tweeps how to use Twitter.

Technorati Tags: back to basics, day6, how to tweet, how to use twitter, twitter client, twitter how to

Twitter has started rolling out the Discovery Search Engine, a small test group of accounts now have Twitter search fully integrated to the home page.

As one of the accounts to already have this feature, I wanted to show you what the fuss is all about.

The first difference I noticed was the position of the search box which has moved from the top of the page, to a more natural position in the side bar.

The real improvement is the way your search results are returned. No longer are you taken to a new page. Instead, when you do a search, the relevant tweets instantly show up right where they should be, on your home page.

I think this change really improves both the functionality and feel of using Twitter search to find any tweets that contain the word or phrase you’re interested.

Another feature added is the ability to save a search for a term or interest that you want to follow . Saved search terms are placed permanently in your sidebar for easy access. So if you want to know what people are saying about the weeks football games, a product you sell, or just about anything else, it becomes a link on your home page.

And there’s more…

Also now appearing in the home page sidebar are Twitter trends. The top ten words and phrases being mentioned on Twitter make up the currently trending Twitter topics. This is a great place to start if you are looking forinfomation or a discussion on a current event or topic. Clicking on a trend will bring up the latest tweets that include the trending term.

Introducing the improved search features will surely encourage new tweeps to remain inside Twitter as oppose to using third party search app’s. However, I do not see a huge number of tweeps that make use of desktop and browser Twitter clients with built in search switching over. This said, I do think Twitter has got the search integration spot on.

Well done Twitter!

Technorati Tags: twitter, twitter blog, twitter client, twitter search

This is a game changer!

Before I get into the how to, I just want to say a massive well done and huge thank you, to @iandodsworth the genius creator of TweetDeck.

As if TweetDeck wasn’t great already, today as I am waiting for Twhirl/Seesmic to fully intergrate Facebook, Ian released a beta update to TweetDeck bringing Twitter and Facebook into one desktop client.

Anyway, here is how to update Twitter and FaceBook from the marvelous Twitter client, TweetDeck.

The test release of TweetDeck now allows you to:

• See your Facebook friends’ status updates right there in a TweetDeck column, auto-updating, just like your other TweetDeck columns.
• View your Facebook friends’ profiles on the web with one click.
• Post your status update to Twitter and/or Facebook at the same time.
• See which of your Facebook friends are available for Facebook chat.
• Start a FaceBook chat session from direct inside TweetDeck.

Once you have updated to the pre-release of TweetDeck you can easily see your friends Facebook status updates in TweetDeck, you just add a Facebook column by clicking the new FaceBook button on the right end of the top-left toolbar.

You will then be greated with a Facebook login window. Put in your Facebook login details and check the remember me box before hitting the connect/login button.

Almost there, now you will see a allow access window. Allow TweetDeck access to your Facebook profile and you are done.

You will now be the proud owner of a Facebook column in your TweetDeck. When ever you click on the Facebook button in future you will not have to go through this process, your Facebook column will simply appear like any other TweetDeck column.

Also like all other TweetDeck columns, when ever a friend updates their status, you will receive the normal TweetDeck notifications.

Now for the really cool features!

When you click on a Facebook username under a status update if the friend is currently online in Facebook chat, TweetDeck will open a Facebook chat window with that friend. When you click on the username of a friend currently offline in Facebook chat, you will be taken to that friend’s profile page on the Facebook web site.

You can easily see if a friend is online in Facebook chat by the green light next to the username of any friend currently online in Facebook chat.

When you hover over the profile picture within a Facebook update you will get the same options as regular tweets.

• The envelope icon will open up your prefered email client to email on this update.
• The arrow icon will retweet this update prefixed by FB RT. This will be great for cross platform interaction between friends and followers.

If you want to go straight to your friends Facebook profile you just need to click on the tweet source link, in this case “via Facebook”. This link is found alongside the name, date and time in all updates.

To post an update to Twitter and/or Facebook there are now two check boxes next to the tweet box.

Since asking early users of the new beta and getting a unaminous yes vote, for the benefit of understandable conversation TweetDeck will NOT post @replies to Facebook. To stop your private tweets going public, DMs will also not be posted to Facebook even if the Facebook check box is ticked.

For all other tweets and retweets, you simply tick the box of Twitter and/or Facebook to select where your update will be posted to.

Like the first time you open up the Facebook column, when you first use TweetDeck to post to Facebook you will need to give permission for TweetDeck to update your status.

When you click on the name of a friend who is available in Facebook chat, or on the green online status indicator, you will open up a Facebook chat session.

This chat window is the standard Facebook chat window, you use it just as if you had opened it from the Facebook page. To start chatting, just click a friend’s name in the right hand column of the window and start chatting with them.

When you close the chat window you will return to TweetDeck.

I have found the flow of using Facebook via TweetDeck quite easy, and I am sure there are more updates to make this feature even better on the way.

You can the beta version of TweetDeck at tweetdeck.posterous.com

If you do not yet have a Facebook or Twitter account you can sign-up to both at

Twitter

Facebook

To get updates about TweetDeck follow @TweetDeck.

Remember, this version of TweetDeck is still in beta, so you may come across a few bugs until the official release is pushed to all users.

If you are new to TweetDeck you can get the Twitter How To Guide to using TweetDeck here.

Use the comments below to let me know how you get on with this awesome new feature, and if you have any suggestions, tweet them to @TweetDeck.

Finally, thanks to my good friend Diana for the quick Facebook update.

Technorati Tags: facebook, tweetdeck, twitter client, twitter how to

Did you try the twitter how to on Tweetdeck groups that I showed you in part 1 of this mini series?

If you did you should have already seen how much better twitter can be when you know how to use the right tools, the right way.

Now for part 2 of this twitter how to mini series and today I want to show you just how brilliant the search feature with in Tweetdeck is. Actually to describe it as one feature is to totaly undervalue this neat multi-tool for twitter.

First up, the basics.

Why is this search function so powerful then?

Because if you want to get involved with a twitter conversation(s) on a specific topic, product, tweep or event you simply run a search for this interest and Tweetdeck will fetch all relevant tweets into a new column. Yes twitter search also does this but remember you now have these topic based conversations seperate but right next to your group columns allowing you to easily watch and interact with both from one interface. This is a great way for us tweeps to find the coversations we really want to tweet about whilst keeping an eye on the tweeps we like to follow in a group column.

The search function is supremely powerful for casual tweeps,advertisers and business users alike for a number of reasons. Here is how to get a search column up and running.

This will open up a search box for you to enter your search term and hit enter.

Thats it!

Tweetdeck will now continue to fetch all tweets that match your search terms into the column titled with the term you entered.

So what should we search for and how do these searches keep us on top of our niche with no effort at all?

Easy, using the following ways to get the most from the search facility you can blow your followers away! (in a good no, great way)

1. Straight up helping other tweeps. Start by entering a question or term into the search that relates to your niche and that tweeps may be asking for help with. (Hint~ pick some thing you have the answer to, or can provide a link that will help solve this question)

2. Keeping your eye on the ball. I use this search to find what others are saying about me, and follow any @replies directed to me. I simply enter twittergator into the search box and Tweetdeck opens and continually updates a column with any tweets mentioning twittergator also catching any @replies (tweets that start with @twittergator). This means I never miss what you are saying about me and can quickly become involved in that conversation. (Hint~ having this search column open means you can lose the @replies column, freeing up vital column space and allowing you to tune your API % setting accordingly (I will explaine tweaking your API in part 3)) You could use your products name or your web sites name instead of/aswell as your twitter name, this is a great way to provide pro-active customer service.

3. Conversations. Well it is what twitter is there for. If you want to keep up with one particular conversation use a search column. This works extremely well with hash-taged (#) subjects and events.

4. Market research. Simular to the help other tweeps search, I actually do this to find what twitter how to blog post you tweeps have a need for right now. Search for your niche or interest and let the twitterverse guide you on what they really need from you in your niche. It is like getting a market research survey done for free!

5. Promoting yourself or product. Again not unlike the helping other tweeps search. With this one I search for tweets asking for help on something I know my blog has the solution to, instead of helping directly on twitter I will tweet something like ‘@user that is a great question that many tweeps are asking. Thats why I have found a solution, you can check it out here www.linktorelevantblogpost ‘(use the link shortner) Now with self-promotion or promotion of somebody elses product or web site (But especially self-promotion) you must be careful not to over do it. Nobody likes a twammer (twitter spammer) and you will just get a bunch of unfollows. How ever, stay relevant and add value through your links and you will soon increase your twitter status to the top of your niche.

6. Twitscoop and 12 seconds. Look for the little bird and the number ’12′ in the top left option buttons. Clicking Twitscoop will bring up a column with the hot words on twitter right now, superb if you want to keep up with the latest buzz on twitter. Clicking will give you a log in box for your 12 second video account. I am researching video and picture posting to twitter for a future twitter how to post, so stay tuned to find out if this is the best video on twitter option.

7. Favourites. The heart shaped picture in the top left option buttons. Because I have my following tweeps organised as seen in the twitter how to part 1 (groups) I have and neither should you have any need for this search. The groups way I showed you is ten times more effective!

8. Questions? Last and most definately not least (in fact really important). If you want some advice or have a question, ask it in a search. Nine times out of ten you will find what you are looking for or at least discover a tweep who can help you. Remember, just ask.

The only question I can think of at the mo’ that you might have left is, how do you watch and all these searches at once let alone interact and tweet back in all columns?

Simple answer I don’t!

Here is the breakdown of the columns I normally have running on Tweetdeck;

Starting far left,

My top priority group column.

Next is my secondary group column.

Followed by my DM (direct message) column.

Fourth along I have my ‘keeping your eye on the ball’ column.

And finally my far right column is my workspace, here I use one of the described search methods to help fellow tweeps with twitter how to questions or research and promote my blog/brand by giving valuable how to info and links.

Now you know how to use Tweetdeck search columns to turbo charge your tweeting habits, add this to what you learnt in part 1 (groups) and you will find yourself not only seeing more of the important tweets you have been missing but also you will be able to get involved like never before.  This will without doubt help you spread your message (what ever it may be) and gain more interested followers, yet tweets you are wanting to see will still cut through the noise like a hot blade.

Please, if you have any questions or anything to add to this twitter how to, leave your comments or catch me on the twitter @twittergator.

If you still are missing out on the most awesome twitter client that is Tweetdeck go get it here.

Part 3 of the twitter how to make the most of tweetdeck to improve your twitter experience and productivity, will be looking at the final more advance features and theories of using Tweetdeck. If you love Tweetdeck like I do, you are going to love this next twitter how to.

Technorati Tags: tweetdeck, twitter client, twitter how to

Since the first part of the Twitter how to use Tweetdeck series was posted I have had a few new users of Tweetdeck asking me on Twitter, how to change the colors of their Tweetdeck as seen in the screen shots below. So I interupt the Twitter how to use Tweetdeck series with this quick and fun tip on how to change your Tweetdeck color scheme. (Yes I am British but as tweetdeck spells colour ‘color’, for this post I will use the American spelling)

Standard

Attention Grabbing Red

Envy Green

This is how to change your color scheme in Tweetdeck.

You will see a menu box in which you can set your Tweetdeck color scheme.

Now you have your new Tweetdeck color scheme, easy right?

If your looking for some inspiration have a look at the hidden tip within the first three screen shots on this post.

When you get a complete scheme you love, why not click the ‘tweet colors’ button, you can share you scheme settings here also. Just tweet them, then copy the tweet and paste it in the comments form for this post.

Go have fun and do not forget to share with the rest of the Twitterverse.

Technorati Tags: tweetdeck, twitter client, twitter how to

In this Twitter how to series I will show you how to use the Twitter client Tweetdeck to reduce noise in your twitter stream, as well as become more effective at finding and participating in the conversations you like most.

Tweetdeck is a desktop Adobe AIR based twitter client that in my humble opinion is the best Twitter client available. Tweetdeck basically takes the entire twitterverse and breaks it down into consumable pieces for you to enjoy.

When I started this Twitter how to post I soon realised that there are so many powerful features within Tweetdeck that I am using and want to help you master this would have to be a series, probably of three parts (for now). Any how for today I shall show you how great the Tweetdeck group function is at reducing Twitter noise and prioritising your tweeting habits. This is even more important if you are using Twitter for your business and/or have a large follow list.

I normally have two groups running within Tweetdeck, with the first being my high priority group.

This group is where I can find all the tweeps who tweet regularly and actively within my main interest (for me this is Twitter know how). The people you have in your high priority group should not only interest you but be tweeting back at their followers regular and be involved in conversations about your main interest(s), this is after all what Twitter is for.

To set up your first group click on the ‘group’ icon in Tweetdeck, as shown below.

This will open up a new column with the new group menu in. Choose a name for your group, then select the check box of all the tweeps you want included in this group.

When you have done this hit the ‘save group’ button. You will now have the column showing the tweets of just the people in your first priority group.

Next you will want to move this group into a position of visibilty using the options at the bottom of the column. I have my group columns to the left so I always see them first.

Whilst you are at the options that sit at the bottom of the column, take a look at the filter option. This allows you to dial right in to conversations and thoughts that your priority group are having on any specific topic. For instance, I might run a filter to see what my favourite tweeps thought about Tweetdeck, or I could go further and find what only the Brits in my group thought about Tweetdeck.

This is so cool as now when you load up Tweetdeck you will instantly have the tweets of and just the tweets of interesting and helpful tweeps talking about your main interest, hobby or perhaps the niche that you sell a product for. No longer will you need to go searching for these tweets amongst your entire Twitter stream and keeping you from being distracted before you get to the conversations that are important to you.

The second group I have running is like a news feed to me. Within this group I have the Twitter users who mostly post important news and links for my area of interest. Often these are the Twitter accounts of influential web sites like @mashable of mashable.com, who are leaders in web 2.0 developments. This group is so important because it allows you to not only have the latest hot topics and talking points of the moment, but also means you can instantly tweet about them so you are the one with your finger on the pulse in your subject of interest.

You can of course set up as many groups as you like, maybe you would also like to have the tweets from family members available without having to search for them, or perhaps you use Twitter at the office as well as home and need to have your work mates tweets easily accessable during the day and then  move your work group column to a less visible position when you have finished work. One tweep (sorry I can not credit you I forgot who this came from) told me that she had a group consisting of only people who tweeted cheerful humour, if she was having a bad day she would turn her attention to her ‘cheer me up group’.

As with all Twitter clients Tweetdeck is there to help you be involved in the conversations and find interesting people to tweet with, go set up your groups and start getting involved in the tweets that matter to you.

If you have any thing you would like to suggest to help your fellow tweeps with Tweetdeck groups, please do comment. Or if you have any questions about this Twitter how to feel free to ask, use the comments or find me on Twitter.

Not downloaded Tweedeck yet? Get it here.

In the next Twitter how to use Tweetdeck post I will show you how awesome for your tweeting the search feature within Tweetdeck can be, if you know how to use it right.

Technorati Tags: reduce twitter noise, tweetdeck, twitter client, twitter how to