Twitter has a new homepage

Confused about Twitter? Well wonder no more! Their new homepage is designed to give you a 'try before you sign up' peek at the network. Type anything in the very prominant search box or pick from the hot topics below. With the trending topics of the minute, day and week, they are offering a real time glimpse at the most current posts on the most current topics of interest. As quickly as the conversation moves these topics are ever changing and that's part of the draw. Want to know more about Body Piercing, Google Voice or Iranian Politics... it's all at Twitter!

Unlike Facebook and MySpace this is a no frills approach to social networking. There are no crazy apps, games, or imbeded music players. You have just 140 characters to make your point and with our handy list of simple syntax, getting around is easy.

1. @ = allows you to specify another Twitterer in your message (i.e. @WGAAEN); Put it at the beginning of the message and its considered a reply (i.e. @WGAAEN thank you for the great website) OR put anywhere in the message is considered a mention (i.e. I just had @WGAAEN design my website and am so happy)


2. d = allows you to send a direct message that only the specified user sees. (i.e. d WGAAEN)
   
3. RT = allows you to re-tweet a message. Someone post something you want to share with your list, retweet it (i.e. RT @WGAAEN is offering a 'referral' discounts, check them out!) This will allows users on your list to see our message even though they may not be following us. It will also allow them to click on our name, find us on Twitter and follow us themselves.
   
4. # = is actually a creation of the twitter population and allows posts about a topic to be grouped together. Several authors on Twitter use the hashtag #writechat. You can search it and view what their saying, save the search to return to that topic often, and post to that topic by adding that hashtag anywhere in your message (i.e. Just pre-ordered the new Dan Brown novel #writechat ) Or create your own so that you can group messages on a topic of your chosing, simply add it to your message and tell others that you want to use it. (i.e. Planning Smith Family reunion, use / search #smithfam09 for details).
   
5. Following means that you see that users posts on your homepage. Being followed means they see yours. Following each others gives you the ability to communicate with each other. After your done adding your family and friends, look for more interesting people based on a variety of criteria at http://wefollow.com/ and don't forget to follow us at http://www.twitter.com/wgaaen