Much has been said about the micro-blogging service, Twitter – and there is still much to say as the service continues to mature, grow and morph. We have only scratched the surface of what micro blogging has to offer, and Twitter is leading the way.

You may think it has nothing to offer you, or you may be intrigued by confused by how it works or overwhelmed by the time you think it will take away from your work. The only way to really learn how to use Twitter, and if it will work for you is to sign up and give it a try.

Start by following the tweeters that interest you most. Follow them for a week. Ask questions, start conversations. You may find that Twitter is something you enjoy, gives you information you need, and/or is useful to your business or your life.

Or, you may find that Twitter is not for you. There is no shame in not Twittering. After all – “the right tool for the right job.” Twitter may or may not fit into your plan – but you’ll never know for sure unless you give it a try.

Everyday people find new uses for Twitters. Here’s a sampling of the type of usage I’ve experienced on Twitter:

• Customer Service - many companies have Twitter accounts dedicated to customer service. Just one more way to listen to their customers, these companies monitor what’s being tweeted about them, their product or their service and responding when appropriate. They also put out tweets to alert customer to new products, improved services, discounts and specials (examples: Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts)
• News Outlets - from NPR to CNN to BreakingNews – if you follow any news service on Twitter, you’re likely to hear about events and news first. Most of the top news stories are tweeted long before they are broadcasted on TV or radio.
• Politicians – all was a-Twitter during the presidential election and many politicians – if not all of them – are out there tweeting about this, that and the other. They are here to stay.
• Pundits – anyone with a cause, a view or an opinion is tweeting. Twitter is opening doors for all sorts of individuals and groups to get the word out about their particular thing.
• Experts – in your field or in any field. I follow many marketing experts, which keeps me up to date with networking events, industry events, new marketing initiatives and techniques, etc.
• Media – For the media, Twitter is more than just a glorified TV guide, it is a way to reach out to viewers and give them a little extra, plus plug their newest programming.
• Law Enforcement - recently local police departments have started jumping on board the Twitter train. They have discovered that tweeting is a great way to reach a lot of people in a very, very short amount of time. Police use Twitter to alert citizens about missing kids, recent crimes, escape criminals, safety information, etc.

In Twitter’s ever expanding universe, these are just a smattering of examples as to how other use Twitter and how you may come to use Twitter. The key to Twitter and any social media service is interaction. Tweet AND follow. Most of all, enjoy the process – most likely, you’ll encounter lots of good people with lots of good ideas.

Click here to follow me on Twitter!