As Twitter continues to gain in popularity and users (as of July 2008, over 2,200,000 accounts were registered), those of us already on Twitter might find ourselves in a position where we have to explain Twitter to a non-techie type person like Grandma.

So what do you say when someone asks you something silly like "What is the Twitter?" or "Are you taking the Twitter?"

WHAT IS TWITTER?

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

Yeah, I can't really see someone like your Grandparents or John McCain understanding that sentence (sadly McCain can't use email yet). So what should you say? How do you explain Twitter?

Try saying something like this:

Twitter is a free online service that allows you to send messages to hundreds of your friends all at the same time. Your Twitter friends receive an alert each time you send a new message either on their mobile phones and/or on their computers.

Common Craft's Explanations in Plain English video series is another great way to explain complicated tech stuff to people. This "plain English" video explains Twitter using friendly paper stick figures and colored pencils:

 

NERD NOTE: In addition to co-founding Twitter, Biz Stone is a designer and writer with a keen interest in personal publishing. Upon discovering the blog format in 1999, Biz embraced it and went to work cultivating the medium first as a creative consultant to various blog providers and associated projects--such as Xanga.com, Blogger.com, WebCrimson.com, and BlogBuddy. You can follow Biz on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/biz

 

REASONS TO USE TWITTER

The inevitable follow up question to "What is Twitter?" is "Why would I want to use Twitter?" So now you need to explain the value of Twitter.

Variety of Content:
Part of the reason why Twitter is growing so fast is because of the variety of content available. Everyone from major icons like Barack Obama and NBC's Today Show to the average teenager, are already on Twitter. Everyone has a unique viewpoint and Twitter makes it very easy to express ourselves.

Instant Information:
Twitter users are all tweeting information as it happens and before it can be elegantly written up into a blog post or news article. It's like tapping into a collective word-of-mouth source with the ability to spread instantly.

Want to know things before other people do? For example, who Barak Obama picked for his 2008 running mate, which conference speaker or after hours party you should check out, or what new Apple product Steve Jobs is announcing during his next keynote? All of this information will be on Twitter first. If you work in the media, the tech industry or like being the first to know things, then Twitter is a very valuable information tool.

 

Promotional Tool:
Twitter can also be an excellent promotional resource. At one point in our lives, we will assume the role of "promoter" for something or another. If you are in a band, have your own blog, are throwing a big party, raising money for a charity or just want to show off your vacation photos to your friends, then Twitter can help you quickly get the word out.

Here are a few examples of "promotional" tweets that can help drive web traffic. Click on the images below to see the individual Twitter status pages:

 

POPULAR TWITTER USERS

If someone asks you who they should "follow" on Twitter besides their friends (and MethodShop.com, duh), tell them about a website called Twitterholic. Twitterholic.com provides a list of the 100 most popular Twitterers based on the number of their followers. The last time this article was updated in August 2008, Barack Obama was ranked #1.

TO BE, OR NOT TO BE... CONNECTED

Remember, Twitter is for staying in touch and keeping up with friends no matter where you or they are. It all depends how connected you and they want to be.

You can "follow"MethodShop on Twitter here.