The Twitter Start-up Kit: Four Tools for New Twitter Users

Many of my friends and co-workers are just getting started with Twitter and the recurring joke involving the word "twit" doesn't make that any less obvious. So I've compiled a list of four Twitter tools that will help jump-start all you new Twitter users so you can skip the next Twitter 101 meeting.

1. Bit.ly

If you really want to measure your success on Twitter then you need to know how many clicks your links are receiving every time you Tweet. Bit.ly, a link shortening Web site lets registered users do just that. I can't stress this enough. There is no reason to use link shorteners like TinyUrl or SnipUrl when these services provide absolutely no analytics. At first, you may be surprised with how many or how little clicks your bit.ly links receive but keep in mind you're numbers will grow as your network grows.

2. WiseStamp

When most people are sending and receiving up to 40 emails a day why not use email to pull a following? WiseStamp, a FireFox add-on, allows users to add social media icons to their email signatures. Users can choose from an unlimited array of social media sites to add to their signatures including well known sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and lesser known networks like Newsvine and Bebo.

3. Mobile Apps and Text to Twitter

Once you start Tweeting, you're eventually going to want to go places and tell your followers what you're doing. If you're using a smart phone I recommend Tweetie or Tweetie 2. I used the Tweet Deck iPhone app for a few months before deciding its load up time was too slow. By the time I was actually able to tweet, I had decided it wasn't worth the wait anymore.

If you don't have a smart phone you're in luck! Go to your Settings page, click mobile and provide your cell phone number. Twitter will then send you a five digit number to text to and that will go right to your Twitter feed.

4. Twellow

Twellow is an E-Yellow Pages for Twitter. Registered users can find other Twitter users by category or city. Search the "All Categories" tab to find users interested in everything from amnesia to textiles. Or go to the "Twellowhood" tab and search for local Twitter users. You can really build a following when you're looking for local users.