Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. I share well-written books. While this book  could help with social media for authors trying to navigate the hashtag infested lands of Twitter, it may also be useful for anyone who is new to or confused by Twitter.

Social media can suck a lot of time out of your life, in case you hadn’t noticed. And if you want to learn how to use sites like Twitter more effectively, there area a lot of guides. I searched “how to Twitter” and got 4,908 results

SO if you’re new to Twitter or totally confused by it,  which guide should you choose? There are good and bad books on the topic. Many are written above the head of the newbie who wants to wrap their head around all the hashtags, at signs and brief messages.

Author Ian Lamont offered me a digital copy of Twitter in 30 Minutes, and I have to say, this is the perfect guide for the Twitter greenhorn. Here is the book info from Amazon.

Twitter in 30 Minutes by Ian Lamont

Updated and revised third edition of the top-selling Twitter book! Are you interested in using Twitter, but don’t know where to start? Are you mystified by hashtags, retweets, and other strange conventions? The revised and expanded third edition of Twitter In 30 Minutes is here to help! This unofficial Twitter tutorial will walk you through the basics, using plain English, step-by-step instructions, and lots of examples from real Twitter users. In no time, you’ll learn how to:

• Create a new Twitter account online or on your phone
• Customize your Twitter profile with photos and a bio that’s right for you
• Navigate Twitter icons, the Twitter app, and Twitter.com
• Follow other Twitter accounts … and block those you don’t like
• Identify local people and organizations on Twitter
• Find people who share the same interests and hobbies
• Compose your first Tweets
• Share photos on Twitter
• Use hashtags, retweets, and other Twitter conventions

There’s more. Twitter In 30 Minutes shows you how all kinds of people use Twitter to promote their businesses, connect with their Twitter followers, explore their interests, and have fun! It’s peppered with real-world examples, from everyday people to top Twitter celebrities.

Authored by award-winning technology journalist Ian Lamont, the revised third edition of Twitter In 30 Minutes covers Twitter’s new interface for the Web and mobile devices such as the iPhone and Android phones. There are new screenshots, along with instructions for Twitter registration on iOS and Android devices.

s is a perfect introduction to people who are new to Twitter, as well as those who already have accounts and want to learn how to get the most out of Twitter. Buy the book today!

What makes this a great investment?

Click to read my 5 star review.

Follow-along instructions

You can literally have the book beside you, follow along and do everything from setting up your account to finding people to follow to writing your first tweet. Instructions are simple to understand and implement.

Why, not just how

It’s great to know where to click, but it’s better to know WHY. Lamont also tells you things like why you want a picture and how to decide what is tweet-worthy.

Screenshots

Screenshots don’t do much for me as someone who is mostly blind, but the sighted people will love them. That means you can see exactly what something looks like (at least today) where to click and what to do.

Covers all the basics

I’ve seen plenty of social media guides supposedly written for beginners that are more advanced. This is truly a basic guide for the person who is wet behind the ear tufts yet wants to use Twitter with ease. I’m sure you’ll feel comfortable as you follow the advice in Twitter in 30 Minutes.

Buy the Book

Get the Book on Amazon.

About Ian Lamont

Ronda Del Boccio