To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Buy used:
$6.42
FREE delivery January 16 - 22. Details
Or fastest delivery January 15 - 17. Details
Used: Good | Details
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Twitter Book 1st Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

There is a newer edition of this item:

The Twitter Book
$2.91
(34)
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Provides information on using the social networking site Twitter.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This practical guide will teach you everything you need to know to quickly become a Twitter power user, including strategies and tactics for using Twitter's 140-character messages as a serious--and effective--way to boost your business. Co-written by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein, widely followed and highly respected Twitterers, the practical information in The Twitter Book is presented in a fun, full-color format that's packed with helpful examples and clear explanations.

Twitter Tips

1. Even if you use Twitter primarily to post information that’s not directly about your company, you can—and should—use it to sometimes link back to your own site or blog. Many companies find that Twitter can become a top referrer to their sites, so avail yourself of that benefit—just do it in a smart way.
The key is to frame the link in a way that’s interesting to your Twitter followers. So instead of saying, “New Blog Post: Mundane Headline, http://yourblog.com,” try something like the examples here, each of which links back to the Bigelow Tea blog.



2. If you’re looking to get the most out of Twitter, don’t fall into the trap of posting an RSS feed of headlines from your site or blog. Although there are services that will automate such a connection for you, they simply help you create an impersonal account that duplicates the main feature of an RSS reader. Why bother?

Four Important Things to Search For

If you want really useful search results from Twitter, you have to spend some time playing with the advanced search options to figure out the relevant terms and topics people are talking about. Here are four topics to get you started:
1. Your name. It may be known as a “vanity search,” but keeping an eye on what people say about you is a smart idea. (Don’t forget that putting quotes around your name can help refine the results. Search for “Jane Doe” instead of Jane Doe.)
2. Your Twitter account name. Don’t miss messages to or about you.
3. Your company, brand or product. Peek into the minds of customers, competitors, journalists and other key constituents. If you’re a local business, use the advanced search “Location” option to narrow down results. Also, if your company name is common, use the minus sign to weed out inappropriate results. For instance, if you work for Kaiser Permanente, search for Kaiser -Chiefs to make sure messages about the band don’t overwhelm your results. (Here, a targeted search yields some relevant results.)
4. Your competitors. Get market intel and ideas.

Review

"...appropriate for those you're trying to convince that Twitter is all the rage. The book reads like a beginner's how-to guide, which means you could even use it as a subtle way to encourage less than stellar Twitter users to improve their Twittering ways."
-- Jennifer Van Grove, Mashable.com

"As easy to grasp as a tweet, this book cuts through the tiresome twitterhype and delivers a bunch of sensible, down-to-earth material on using and enjoying Twitter."
-- Cory Doctorow, co-editor of Boing Boing and author of
Little Brother

"As with anything that gains high profile popularity there are plenty of Twitter haters out there, though the role that Twitter has played in the recent Iranian elections seems to have brought more legitimacy to Twitter in the eyes of many. With popularity come books and quite a few are already out there about and for twitter, but my favorite so far is The Twitter Book by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein."
-- JR Peck, Slashdot.org

"Ever been to Nepal? Me neither. However if I ever do go, even though the aborigines who live there are just like us, I will enlist a Sherpa to guide me through the landscape and the nuances of the culture. That's what The Twitter Book is to Twitter. The Twitter community is, at its heart, filled with passionate people engaged in conversations. It's just like Main Street USA. However, culturally, Twitter is its own country with its own language. Its various conventions like DMs and hashtags sound more like retro phrases from the 1960s than the underpinnings of one of the largest social networks on the web today. However, with a quick study, anyone can jump in, engage and accomplish their goals. With The Twitter Book, Sarah Milstein and Tim O'Reilly give you everything you need to get started while leaving just enough for readers to explore on their own. It's an terrific resource I am recommending to all of our clients and anyone else who is curious about Twitter."
-- Steve Rubel, SVP/Director of Insights, Edelman Digital

"Once again, O'Reilly has put together a great, comprehensive primer. If you're ready to dive into the world of Twitter, I highly recommend this book!"
-- Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos

"Movie stars, media figures, captains of industry and book reviewers are doing it, but how can businesses discern the twits from the tweets? O'Reilly and Milstein present as lucid and intelligent an overview as you'd want or need. The format is concise but quite rich, and there's plenty here to convince skeptics that employing Twitter as a marketing tool is a very good way to engage customers."
-- Richard Pachter, The Miami Herald

"The 234-page guide is so helpful that many readers no doubt will tweet its praises and thank '(at)timoreilly' and '(at)sarahm' - the authors' Twitter handles - for helping people understand why Twitter is emerging as the Internet's most powerful communications vehicle since e-mail."
-- Michael Liedtkeap, Associated Press

"Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein are two of my favorite tweeters, and they've just written The Twitter Book, a pleasingly-designed 240-page guide to making the most out of Twitter."
-- Mark Frauenfelder, BoingBoing.net


Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (May 26, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0596802811
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0596802813
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.57 x 6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
61 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book provides a good introduction to Twitter. They appreciate the simple and attractive graphic design with pictorial examples. The content is comprehensive, covering most topics in one page. Readers appreciate the brevity and structure of the book. It mentions useful third-party programs and resources for managing multiple followers and tracking usage.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

19 customers mention "Information quality"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a good introduction to Twitter, showing how to get started and common mistakes to avoid. It demystifies the new world and is useful for getting up to speed on the platform.

"...The authors did a very good job of explaining what sort of practices to avoid and to adopt in order to maximize your followers...." Read more

"...out on my own, but the other half revealed easily digested, useful advice. For instance, I wish I had chosen a shorter name...." Read more

"...Like Facebook, Twitter appears simple...." Read more

"...quick and interesting orientation to Twitter... but also an accessible ongoing reference, as well, with an index (thank God!)...." Read more

18 customers mention "Twitter knowledge"18 positive0 negative

Customers find this book an excellent introduction to Twitter. It provides a good overview of the subculture and helps readers navigate common mistakes. Readers appreciate its practical approach and enthusiasm for using Twitter as a business research tool. The book also covers strategies for using Twitter to network and develop businesses.

"...addition, the table of contents is laid out in such a way that it is quick & easy to find answers to a specific questions or to research a..." Read more

"...But co-authors O'Reilly and Milstein explore all the features of Twitter, including a host of third-party resources that lend it tremendous power...." Read more

"This is a perfect first book about twitter for those very new to the service, if you have been using twitter for awhile and are familiar with the..." Read more

"...The Twitter Book is not only a quick and interesting orientation to Twitter... but also an accessible ongoing reference, as well, with an index..." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual style"5 positive0 negative

Customers like the visual style of the book. They find the graphic design simple and attractive, with rich illustrations and pictorial examples. The book is described as a light read that's up-to-date and cool.

"...Twitter, as it turns out, is very, very cool...." Read more

"...Very simple and attractive graphic design make this a real winner...." Read more

"...This book hits that spot precisely. Richly illustrated with pictorial examples, the book is a light read but right but up to date and pretty..." Read more

"...It is an easy read, EVERY page provides photo example of what the Author is describing, and it does not skip a thing...." Read more

4 customers mention "Content coverage"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's coverage. They find it comprehensive, with topics covered in one page and enough information to give a good primer. The spreads cover one feature, with examples-in-use on the left and a short description on the right. The table of contents is laid out in a quick and easy way.

"...In addition, the table of contents is laid out in such a way that it is quick & easy to find answers to a specific questions or to research a..." Read more

"...Each spread covers one feature, showing examples-in-use on the left and a short but complete explanation with experienced advice on the right...." Read more

"...Most topics are covered in one page and it is just enough info to give you a good primer on each topic...." Read more

"...the book is a light read but right but up to date and pretty comprehensive in its coverage...." Read more

3 customers mention "Brevity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's brevity and structure. They find it easy to read and a quick overview.

"...It does achieve its purpose and is a brief, easy to read primer to twitter 101." Read more

"...Pros 1. The Twitter Book's strengths are in its brevity and structure...." Read more

"Short an Sweet! A very easy to read quick overview. I read 3 Twitter books in 3 weeks, this was the first and easiest...." Read more

3 customers mention "Content quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the content useful. They mention helpful third-party programs and resources for managing multiple followers, tracking, and using Twitter effectively.

"...It also mentions a bunch of third party resources for managing multiple followers, tracking the popularity of your posts and finding followers by..." Read more

"...then moving on to advanced features such as retweeting and useful third-party programs...." Read more

"...Many ways of using Twitter are shown -- indispensable tools!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2009
    I was deciding between this book and "The Twitter Technique" so I sent out a Tweet to get feedback and was impressed when co-author, Sarah Milstein, actually sent me back a tweet reply. That won me over, and I immediately downloaded "The Twitter Book" onto my Kindle 2. I use Twitter for business and found that this book really covered all the major details needed to not just get started, but also to develop a strategy to use Twitter to network and develop business. Some of the most useful tips involve the list of companion websites that support Twitter users doing things like shortening URLs and viewing & managing messages from a stream of followers. Not only were the sites listed, but the authors took care to identify if any special downloads or software were required to run the applications, and then explained where you could find them.

    The authors did a very good job of explaining what sort of practices to avoid and to adopt in order to maximize your followers. They also provided many examples of Tweets to support the topics they were covering. In addition, the table of contents is laid out in such a way that it is quick & easy to find answers to a specific questions or to research a particular topic.

    Hash tags were another great source of mystery for me. The book clearly explains how to use them to locate others on Twitter who share similar interests; this could be peers in your industry, industry experts or potential clients. I used this information to build a list of people to follow, and in turn, some of the people I was following ultimately followed me. The end result of this for me was that in my first week on Twitter, I was able to write a guest blog entry on another peer's blog!

    If you're even thinking about Twittering, you should buy this book and read it. Although, I use Twitter for business, this book is structured in such a way that it applies to just about anyone who wants to use Twitter.

    Final thought: if you've not yet signed up on Twitter, then you should purchase this book first because they also offer advice on selecting your Twitter username.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2011
    When I contemplated getting this book I felt the same twinge of embarrassment, and I don't think I am alone in this, that someone feels when they take an Excel class or read an Excel book: `Shouldn't I know this already?' or perhaps `Can't I figure this out on my own?". Well, in the end I always discover that there is something left to learn after all. Think about the $10 cost, give or take, and the approximately half day investment spent reading this book with time left over to physically perform its advice on your computer. That is certainly an investment that those learning about Twitter for fun can make, and for those whose use of Twitter is more professional in nature, it is a small investment indeed.

    Before learning of this book, I had a personal Twitter account for years, but it lay idle. A few weeks ago, I decide to create a new account to support a blog that I write. By the time the book arrived, I had been active for about a week. I found about half of the first chapter I had figured out on my own, but the other half revealed easily digested, useful advice. For instance, I wish I had chosen a shorter name. At 14 characters my name when Retweeted wastes space. I wanted an easily remembered name, which on reflection doesn't matter much. Other novice advice included spending more time `listening', and finding the right people to follow. I never felt my time was wasted when I encountered something that I already knew since it took only seconds to move on. Although, I would like to think I am capable of it, I am not much of a wit on Twitter. I am also not one to tweet about the ice cream cone that I just bought. I needed to figure out what my own style would be. This had the strategic advice I needed. I needed a Twitter interlocutor, and this book was it.

    As I read more chapters, I found a larger and larger percentage of the material that I had not discovered on my own including: searching efficiently, staying organized with TweetDeck, being a mindful member of the twitter community, gaining visibility, and using a host of useful third party applications.

    The format of the book, and Tim O'Reilly explains this in an Amazon video, is screen shots on the left page, and commentary on the right page. Upon receiving the book, I felt that perhaps it wasn't rich enough in content. I was wrong. It is perfect. Also, as O'Reilly points out this makes it easy to produce (and update) rapidly.

    Finally, I had one more surprise in store for me. I thought that I would read it in one sitting, and pass it on to a friend. There is still more advice that either I haven't tried yet, or that does not apply to me at the moment. I am not ready to let it go. I don't think this is only for absolute novices. I still have more to get out of it. I am holding on to my copy, and will revisit it down the road.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2009
    Like many people - probably millions of them - I've looked at Twitter, toyed with it, tried to figure out what the excitement is about and ignored it.

    After reading this 230 page book on Twitter, I can't wait to get back to it.

    Like Facebook, Twitter appears simple. But co-authors O'Reilly and Milstein explore all the features of Twitter, including a host of third-party resources that lend it tremendous power. It is truly amazing to see how potent Twitter is. O'Reilly and Milstein don't leave any stones unturned. They teach you how to find people who share your interests, how to choose those Tweeters you will follow, how to get attention and followers for your Tweets and so on. Each tip and technique is laid out on two pages: the left-hand side carries clear illustrations of the subject and the right carries the discussion. (In fact, the only thing I don't like about the book is its odd-size, but there's choice other than living with it.)

    I tried some of the tools they explain in the early chapters and was floored to see just how diverse Twitter is. I typed in some reasonably esoteric terms, like Perl and regex, and was amazed at the number of people discussing those subjects.

    O'Reilly and Milstein introduce tools that help you tune in to trends on Twitter and how to use them to introduce yourself to new people.

    Twitter, as it turns out, is very, very cool. But without O'Reilly and Milstein taking me by the hand, I probably would never have learned just how cool Twitter is. A great tech book.

    Jerry

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • J. E. Atkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Twitter Book for Twitts (like me)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2013
    I had been using Twitter for some time but realized that I was not using it to its full potential. Twenty minutes in to this book and I had discovered some things I was not aware of. When I get around to finishing this book I am sure that I'll be tweeting with the best of the tweeters! I am convinced that there are a lot of people like me who opened a Twitter account, logged on and expected it to be entirely intuitive, for me it was not! This little book will be a great help to all newbie twitters' and some not so newbies!
  • Philippe Poux
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tout savoir sur Twitter
    Reviewed in France on August 18, 2009
    Il reste de la place pour les livres ... même lorsqu'il s'agit de parler d'un phénomène internet où l'on s'exprime avec seulement 140 caractères !
    Tim O'Reilly, bien connu pour ses éditions de livres informatiques remarquables, et Sarah Milstein, nous proposent là un joli livre agréablement illustré qui ne se limite pas à une simple découverte de twitter.

    Pour les novices, le TwitterBook permettra de savoir démarrer dans de bonnes conditions et d'éviter les erreurs les plus fréquentes ... beaucoup de débutants s'étonnent d'avoir peu de "followers" car ils n'ont pas encore assez d'expérience. Ce livre les aidera à combler leurs lacunes en quelques pages.

    Pour les autres, de nombreuses astuces et exemples feront découvrir quelques services passionnants, depuis les outils statistiques jusqu'aux mapping de mots clés. Et là aussi on profitera de l'expérience de deux spécialistes qui ont trié dans les innombrables services de l'écosystème twitter.

    Tim et Sarah proposent quelques idées d'amélioration du service, on ne serait pas surpris que beaucoup soient repris rapidement.

    Pour aller plus loin, évidemment, ils ont crée un hashtag dédié : #TwitterBook ... vous ne savez pas ce qu'est un hashtag ? Alors vous savez ce qu'il vous reste à apprendre ;-)
  • Techno Addict
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très bonne entrée en matière
    Reviewed in France on May 11, 2014
    Pour débuter sur twitter, ce livre explique toutes les règles un peu obscures pour le profane, les hashtags, la nétiquette, les followers. Beaucoup de très bons conseils. Bien illustré.
  • CroydonBoy
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Bigger Book of Twitter
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2009
    Yes, it is a colourful and informative book if you need an explanation of all the bits and bobs of Twitter. Of course, Twitter "help" pages will tell you all you need to know; this book does it in a more colourful way.

    Is it value for money? The answer will vary according to the individual of course. All I would say is that there are smaller and cheaper books on Twitter that do a very decent job of explaining all the "@" symbols and suchlike.
  • Robert Alexander Dixon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2016
    Great product