Any Twitter Experts Here??

[Smowball]

For work reasons I need to have a Twitter account and tweet now and then as part of my promo work, but I really havent a clue! Ive created an account, but am confused with the @ and the #. From what I gather, everybody you write after the @ is copied in? ie @answerbank would also see my tweet? And with the hashtag anybody searching the phrase I write after the # would bring up all tweets with that phrase? Or is that completely wrong?? And if I write anything after the # is it right that you have no gaps in the words at all? Help?? lol

[AB Editor]

@username at the beginning of a tweet is a way to send a public message to that person. Not everyone who follows you will see it by default though.

Putting "hello @smowball" will let you know you've been mentioned by me, but will be seen by all my followers by default.

#hashtags are a way of having a larger conversation with a group of people you don't follow. Usually a hashtag is a topic. If AB had hashtags they might say #DailyMailCryptic or #SmallestHardestCrossword or #MamyasGNsongs

[AB Editor]

"And with the hashtag anybody searching the phrase I write after the # would bring up all tweets with that phrase?"

That is correct. We could also have #MOFC

"And if I write anything after the # is it right that you have no gaps in the words at all?"

Yep, that's correct. You'll see it turn blue in any twitter client if you've got it right :)

[Smowball]

Ahh, so Im on the right track! So how do I get followers??

[Ellipsis]

See ...

https://business.twitter.com/twitter-basics

[Smowball]

Thanks Ellipsis x

Any helpful aadvice still gladly received though!

[LazyGun]

@ Smowball

Some articles on the hashtag (#) and ampersat or "at" symbol (@) when using twitter that you might find helpful, Smow.

http://www.wavuti.com/4/post/2010/01/what-does-the-sign-and-tag-mean-in-twitter.html#axzz2TovKolvx

http://www.techforluddites.com/2009/02/the-twitter-hash-tag-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-use-it.html

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3988-Using-Twitter-Hashtags-for-Ecommerce-Marketing

[AB Editor]

That's what I was looking for Ellipsis!

"So how do I get followers??"

Talk to people.

Follow some interesting people (not just famous people...) and have conversations. You'll pick up followers in the same way you might make friends at a party.

[Smowball]

Thankyou lazygun ! And Ed - most helpful indeed. Its just like a foreign language to me at the moment! x

[AB Editor]

"Its just like a foreign language to me at the moment! x"

You'll shortly realise it's just another tool :)

[Smowball]

Hopefully!!

[Eina26]

You're tagging a person or an any account on twitter if you write his/her name after the @ sign.
Yes about the hashtag, it is like a subject of your tweet, anyone who's got the same hashtag is also talking of tweeting about the same thing.
Yes it is right that when you write words after #, you don't have to put spaces in between.

[Smowball]

Thanks Eina.