dizzysoft softwareFollow your LinkedIn Network through Twitter
The other day LinkedIn and Twitter announced a partnership. Not only does this partnership allow your LinkedIn network updates to post in your Twitter account, but you can conversely post (all or some) Twitter updates to your LinkedIn account.
Although I think this is a great idea, LinkedIn is so much more than another social network to provide status updates. I want to know when people in my network make new contacts, join new groups, and even change jobs. This is something that is missing from the new LinkedIn-Twitter partnership- even if all my contacts were to connect their accounts.
Twitter Programing Example
I cut my Twitter programming teeth by writing FeedTwit- a program that can send Twitter RSS feeds as direct messages and text messages.
Of course, I’d be happy to do some Twitter programming for you as well.
Meanwhile, I’d love your input on this simple example. Try it out yourself and tell me what you think:
<?php
function curlRequest($url, $post) {
$curl = curl_init();
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
// this is not the recommended way to login- use OAUTH instead
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "username:password");
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, true);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_TIMEOUT, 20);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, 0);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array('Expect:'));
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
// we are not using the $post variable yet, but stay tuned!
if ($post) {
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_POST, TRUE);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $post);
}
return curl_exec($curl);
}
Get Twitter Lists on Your Phone by Text Message
Last week Twitter started rolling out lists. These are a great way to categorize Twitter users into manageable groups. I think, as people get used to lists, they will provide a new usefulness for Twitter.
For example, as an SEO, I have created a list of Twitter users who work for Google and different Google services on Twitter. A Twitter friend has created a list of restaurants in Charlotte that have Twitter accounts (and sometimes post deals or specials). What’s great about these lists is you can follow them without following specific individuals’ accounts. In other words, you can keep up with these users whenever you want without them filling up your Twitter timeline.
How to Twitter?
I’ve been watching you! As a professional SEO I have been looking into the questions you’ve asked Google that have brought you to this site.
Don’t worry- it’s a good thing. I have compiled a list of the most frequently asked, “How to” questions in one place- especially those relating to text messages. I hope to show you how to use Twitter.
How will Google integrate Twitter in their search results?
The big announcement Wednesday about Google integrating Twitter updates into its search results has made me wonder how this might affect natural search. It all depends on how they include Twitter in the results.
Clearly this is an attempt to make its results more time-relevant. Lots of electrons have been used to describe what Google did when Michael Jackson died- so many people searched for news that Google thought it was a malware attack and started blocking anyone searching for “Michael Jackson”. Meanwhile Twitter, who had recently added a search box to their homepage, emerged as a real-time search engine by keeping everyone informed with the latest information. Google has to integrate Twitter into its search results or it will not be useful or relevant in times like these.
Twitter Phone Access- Even If You Don’t Have An iPhone or a Data Plan
Twitter phone access is one of the most common ways people use their twitter account. Did you know you can do more on your phone than simply tell people what you are doing? Using twitter on mobile phones can be very handy. For example, the other day I was looking for a place that had free wifi, so I sent a twitter from my phone asking where I could find it and where I was. Within 15 minutes someone sent a twitter reply, giving me a suggestion- and I had never even heard from this twitter user before.
How can I send Twitter a text, but Twitter won’t send me one?
When I first encountered Twitter I thought it was great that I could send Twitter a text. It was easy, too, I just had to send a text message to 40404 (since I live in the United States). If I wanted to send someone a direct message- that only they can see- I could text it to the same number, but start it with a “d” and then the friend’s Twitter name. No problem.
Texting with Twitter
Twitter just wouldn’t be the same without texting. In fact, texting is the most common way I update my twitter status. Twitter and texting go hand-in-hand, if you ask me.
So why doesn’t twitter combine my @ replies and texting. I can receive everyone else’s status by texting but my own. This is a glaring oversight.
Get Twitter Text Messages
I can’t explain the excitement I get when I pick up my cell phone and see that I have a Twitter text message waiting for me. Which friend on Twitter could the text message be from? Could the text message be important information about my industry, first leaked through Twitter? Is the text message another snarky comment from someone’s Twitter account to give me a brief laugh? I don’t know- but the excitement is killing me.
Get Twitter Texts
I have always found it strange that Twitter allows you to receive texts from anybody’s replies but your own. So many people use texts with Twitter that it surprises me they did not offer this service.
I read somewhere recently that Twitter does not send texts for replies directed towards you because that would be too many texts- it would get really expensive really fast for Twitter. As a company who has yet to determine a method for making a profit- this is an important consideration.