Why Every Mom Should Tweet

Do you tweet? Twitter has taken the social networking world by storm, bringing together people with similar interests from around the world. Twitter is a social networking site where users share tidbits about life, news items, work or whatever else they feel like chatting about. The catch? Because Twitter is considered micro-blogging, the thoughts have to be limited to 140 characters -- not words, characters.

People interact on a public level, writing messages (called "tweets"), responding to them and re-sending them ("re-tweeting"). It seems like everyone these days is talking about Twitter - moms, writers, celebrities, politicans and businesses. Users create their own networks of people to read and chat with by building a list of people they "follow." That's Twitter-speak for the people whose tweets (those 140-character updates) a user wants to read.

But why should you use this social networking site? Social media consultant and blogger Jessica Gottlieb says Twitter is a great tool to help moms keep up with current events -- and it's a great tool to help moms connect. She likens it to the phone company of yesteryear, when users could either dial someone directly (as they can with Twitter's Direct Message) or call the party line (as they can by tweeting). "I can't imagine any adult that couldn't find some value in it," says Gottlieb, a mother of two from California.

Why Moms Use It

Moms are all over Twitter, using it to share their parenting dilemmas and find some solace in the fact that they really aren't alone. Parenting can be isolating, but Twitter allows moms to connect easily with people who really do understand what they're going through.

It's also an easy way to keep in touch with friends and family. Twitter can be integrated into a blog's sidebar, allowing the tweets you send to automatically display there, a feature that Julie Kundhi, a mom and blogger from Nebraska, finds helpful.

"I didn't have a lot of time for my personal blog and I liked that I could post my tweets in my sidebar. Most of my friends and family are on the East Coast and my blog was a way of keeping in touch with them," says Kundhi.

How to Find Other Moms

The key to Twitter is to follow and chat with people you're interested in.

"New users should look at the right sidebar on any Twitter page," says Gottlieb. "There's a little search box. Search for 'my kids' and look at the conversations that are going on. That's where you're going to find the other moms." And if you have other interests, use that search box too. Just switch "my kids" to whatever topic you want to read about.

Kelby Carr, a North Carolina journalist who now writes for web sites, used the technique Gottlieb suggests when she built her network of friends on Twitter. She says she "realized the amazing potential once I started searching for other moms who blog. It was like a lightbulb went off, and I spent hours finding mom bloggers and other writers to follow." Today Carr, who owns and operates TypeAMom.com, is a well-known contributor on Twitter.

What Are #Hashtags?

If you've been checking out Twitter, you may have noticed that sometimes people put a hashmark (#) before a word or combination of words. On Twitter, this is called a hashtag. It's used to designate a tweet as being about a certain subject.

Why do this? There are several reasons. First, it links that tweet with other tweets on the topic and ensures that it comes up in search. Hashtags are also used during Twitter parties and events -- online gatherings where Twitter users talk about or promote specific subjects. For instance, the hashtag #gno is used for an event called Girls Night Out, which happens every Tuesday night. Party guests chat with each other and designated speakers about that week's theme. The hashtag makes it easy to follow the conversation.

Why Isn't Anyone Talking to Me?

Sometimes on Twitter, it can feel like you're talking to yourself. You share links and write about the funny thing your child did, but no one responds. Don't worry -- that doesn't mean that no one is listening or paying attention.

Ease your way in by talking about your activities and also responding to what others say (but only respond if you've got something valuable to add!).

As Carr says, "Treat Twitter as a party. Don't jump in, assume you know everything, promote yourself and annoy everyone. Behave as you would in any new social situation and mingle, observe, learn and get to know people. If you ease in, spend some time learning how to use it and meet the community, you will have a much better experience."