I'm a designer, running my clothing business, not technically minded but computers are one of those tools that have become an asset that I cannot do without in modern day living. Particularly as I sell my petite garments on the internet!
So with my new website under construction the subjects of Facebook and Twitter came up.
I haven't got time for idol chit chat”, I exclaimed, “I've got a business to run!”.
Well, I was scared and since then I have learnt that these are really useful tools to provide a simple, short and non-obtrusive way to send you a message without clogging up your email inbox. The message may be the launch of a fabulous new garment, for example, or perhaps that I have posted a new blog giving my latest style ideas. You won't get that message unless you choose to.
So how do you receive the message? Well, at the bottom of my web page there are two icons Follow me on Facebook and Join me on Twitter. Click on either or both of these icons.
If you click on “Join me on Facebook” then it will take you directly to my Facebook page where you can, without signing up to facebook, see my “Wall”, here you will see my latest message. You can also click on “Photos” where I can post images, or “Discussions”. If you want to respond or discuss anything you will need to have a Facebook account. If you haven't already got one you will need to click on the “Sign Up” icon on this page to set up a (free) Facebook account (www.facebook.com).
>If you, like me, are concerned about security using Facebook all you need to do, when you open a Facebook account is to immediately go to the “Account” icon and click on the “Privacy Setting” and then click “Cutomize Settings”. Personally, I clicked on every icon for “Friends Only” which means that nobody else can see my details or what I have written unless I have invited them as a friend. The “Friends Only” for all settings is what I insist my children use on their Facebook accounts.
If you are already registered on Facebook or choose to register then please visit my Facebook page and press the “Like” icon, next to my title. When I update my “Status” (message) this will appear in your “Newsfeed” in your Facebook account.
If you click on “Follow me on Twitter” this will take you to my Twitter page. Here, without signing up to Twitter, you can view all the latest messages that I have posted.
If you want to become a “Follower” then my messages will automatically come onto your Twitter home page. You can also “Reply” to my message or “Retweet” my message which means that you can forward it to your “Followers”. There is an invitation at the top of my Twitter page inviting you to “Sign Up” to Twitter (www.twitter.com). Then click on “Find People” at the top right of your Twitter page and enter Karen Gillam or go back to my Twitter page and click on the “Follow” icon.
Twitter is a little bit different, the idea is it allows everyone to see what you are saying, although you can make your tweets private on your account page. So if there is something you are saying and you dont want lots of people to know about then please don't “Tweet” it! Be careful on Twitter, as you don't have to use your real name as your username, so people may not be who you think they are, so always read the user name description.
It's taken me a while to get the gist of things, so as a techno-phobe myself I thought it might be useful to share with you what I have learnt in this techno-phobes guide. I hope that this might help you to overcome any barriers to using these really useful tools on the internet and as a fellow petite you will join me on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter. You can visit your Facebook and or Twitter page regularly quite simply by adding it to your “Favorites” (Internet Expolorer) or “Bookmarks” (Firefox) in your web browser. The benefits are, with the click of a button, you can keep in touch with people and topics that interest you.
