by Cheryl Rickey

Created on: August 03, 2009   Last Updated: August 05, 2009

Twitter is one of the fastest growing social networks on the Internet. If you are new to Twitter, you will be tweeting like an expert in no time. The first step to getting started on Twitter is to set up a complete profile. The better your profile, the more people will want to get to know you on Twitter.

Setting up a Twitter account properly is very important if you plan on making the most of your Twitter experience. Once your account is set up, then you can start to learn the basics of Twitter and use it to promote your blog,

business or just socially.

First you will need to set up your account at http://twitter.com. You will enter your full name, password and email address. You will also need to choose a username.

Choose a username that is memorable. Use your real name, your blog name or your business name. If you aren't sure what to choose for a username, this article might give you some insight: How do I choose a Twitter Username?

After you set up your account, you will be taken to a page that will ask you if you'd like to see if your friends are on Twitter. (You can skip this step by clicking on the "skip this step" link at the bottom of that box.) This is an easy way to add followers right away if you choose to do this. It will search your email account (very safe) for those who you already know via email who also use Twitter.

You will then be taken to the page that will ask you if you would like to find more people to follow. You can browse through now, but it is a good idea to come back to this later so you can set up your profile first.

Next you will want to set up your profile page. Look up at the top right of the Twitter page and you will see the navigation bar. Click on the settings tab.

Enter your name in (use your first name if you do not want to give your entire name). This will not be your user name, but people who want to talk to you on a more personal level will appreciate knowing you real name.

Next you will enter your email (you can set updates so that you know when you get a direct message or a new follower) and your time zone. This information is not visible to others.

Next you will add your location. You can be specific with your city or state or you can choose to put a broader area of the country (such as "Northeast" or "West Coast"). People often like to sort through for followers in their area for upcoming Twitter events or just to connect locally.

Adding a 140 character bio is important! Do not skip this step. Get creative

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>