What first brought my attention to Twitter back in February this year, was the advice given to me by a panel of experts that Nett Magazine had assembled for the purposes of their Kick Start Programme. The experts assessed my online business and provided insight into areas they thought could be improved upon. Based on this, and the suggestion that I "absolutely had to be a part of Twitter", I created an account the very next day and the world of Twitter was opened to me.

Twitter is many different things to different people. Often in conversation I have been told by friends and colleagues that they "just don't get Twitter". The simple answer is, there are steps you can take to understand it quickly and easily without it presenting any major problems. I don't have any Facebook or social networking experience to compare Twitter with, as I have resolutely refused Facebook over the years based on my personality type. I'm simply not interested. However, there are definitely positives to be had for businesses by building a receptive network of listeners on Twitter, and as an entrepreneur and owner of three businesses, this was something I wanted to look into.

There are a number of Twitter manuals available but the one I chose to help me learn the ropes and build confidence was Twitter Guide, by Brisbane writer Clare Lancaster. This guide is not lengthy, and leads with simple, step by step directives towards making your first inroads into this medium. Clare Lancaster defines Twitter to the beginner and to businesses in an easy to understand way, informing of the "Golden Rules" and etiquette associated with interactions, and the methods in which businesses can harness the potential of Twitter. Tips on building your network of followers and connecting with people you follow are given, as are handy tools and applications used for enhancing your management of Twitter.

Twitter Guide has been of great assistance to me in navigating my own pathway through the maze of information in the Twittersphere. I would recommend it to any business owner looking to add Twitter to their marketing programme.