Twitter 101 and NIWeek

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Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

At NIWeek there will be a ton of NI employees, scientists and engineers eager to connect on Twitter.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of Twitter at NIWeek:

1. The NI Twitter Pack: To begin connecting NI employees and community members who are already Tweeting, check out the NI Twitter Pack. By following them on Twitter you will be able to see their status updates, and they can follow you back and in turn see your updates.

2. Set up Twitter with your phone: If you have an IPhone or Blackberry download an application, like Twitterific or Twitterberry, to keep track of your friends as they tweet live from NIWeek. Through these applications you can share information, your location and your interests with others. You can also send updates through SMS and receive notifications through SMS as well at http://twitter.com/devices.

3. Keep everyone up to date: Update others on your NIWeek location, thoughts and any interesting information you come across.

4. Orchestrate a Tweetup: A Tweetup is a gathering of Twitter users in a specific location. If you realize that another Twitter user is near you at NIWeek, try to Tweetup and invite other users to join.

5. Follow @NIWeek: For Tweets on the coolest things happening at NIWeek, make sure to follow @NIWeek.

6. Use Twitter with LabVIEW: Using this VI, you can update your Twitter status directly from LabVIEW. Using this VI, you can view your friend’s update timelines on Twitter too.

7. Use Hashtags: Hashtags allow Twitter users to keep similar Tweets together. Use the hashtag #NIWeek at the end of every Tweet you make so other Twitter users can see what you are up to.

8. See all #NIWeek posts: Go to Twitter Search and search for #NIWeek to see what others at NIWeek participants are tweeting about.