A beginner's guide to Twitter for businesses.

2. So what is Twitter?

3. Twitter lets you post brief items about your opinions or your life, shared with the world.

5. But more importantly…

9. Twitter is not unique, but it is dominant.

11. Twitter is crushing them.

12. How is Twitter making money?

13. It’s not.

15. Why do people use Twitter?

17. How do people use Twitter?

18. Share updates on their lives

19. Start conversations

20. Find answers and advice

21. Promote themselves

22. How do businesses use Twitter?

28. Deciphering a few Twitter terms

29. @ reply: A comment aimed at one user, but visible to the public.

30. @ reply:

31. DM: A direct message sent in private to another user.

32. Retweeting: Sharing someone else’s post. Often abbreviated “RT.”

33. Retweeting:

34. Twitterati: The elite Twitter users with massive audiences.

35. Who has the most followers on Twitter?

39. Closing thoughts