Millions of people today are experiencing Twitter for the first time. On June 5 I appeared on a radio show in Los Angeles to share my thoughts on how Baby Boomers can get the most from their Twitter experience. Here’s what I shared:

Understanding what you hope to gain from Twitter will help you have a rewarding experience. My favorite benefits are using Twitter in the following way:

1. As a personal classroom. Follow people who teach you. Place them into lists and use TweetDeck to keep track of them. These are there lists I created and an example of someone I am following in each list.

• Poetswriterslifelovers (@MargaretAtwood)

• WorldChangers (@NickKristof)

• BusinessHeavyHitter (@Tom_Peters)

Everyone on the list teaches me something every day through the articles, quotes and commentary they share.

2. As a search engine on steroids. Run your Google search on search.twitter.com for real-time results. Use the advanced search to specify tweets based on location, whether they contain links, and more.

3. As a behind way to get behind the scenes access to personalities. (@alyssa_milano, @andersoncooper)

4. As a way to get shopping benefits. Get coupons, discounts and special access from your favorite brands (@bestbuy, @nordstrom)

5. As a way to make new friends and business contacts. Demonstrate you care by paying attention to your followers, respond with comments and over time, you’ll create meaningful relationships.

6. Getting closer to existing friends. Follow your friends for the every day details of their lives. You’ll feel closer to them – or decide to unfollow them! (@slarkpope)

The purpose of Twitter is yours to find. These points may make it easier to see why so many people love it.

Happy Tweeting

- @ZachBraiker

Related posts:

1. Balanced Approachability on Twitter Let us go
2. Advertising on Twitter Sponsored
3. Have you met Tuesdays Join the c

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.