If you have not already seen a bunch of direct messages that claim to have found you in a video somewhere or other useless direct messages that we all call “spam”, perhaps you have not used Twitter very much. However, for those of you who get frustrated by this, I have two solutions for you as follows:

First: Change your password and tell everybody you know to do the same. Do not wait! Do it now, while it is still fresh in your mind. Many of those direct messages are coming from people whose accounts were compromised and they do not even know they are sending them. You may be sending them and not know. After all, have you told each of those people you receive these messages from that they sent you some junk? No, and they may not have told you either. Changing your Twitter password will clear this up in most cases. Do not get frustrated, unfollow them, or be mean. Simply remind them to change their password, and that will clear up a lot of the problem.

Second: Use this Twitter direct message opt-out list to remove yourself from the many companies sending direct messages on behalf of others. This will alleviate so much junk in your direct messages you may be shocked.

I hope you will steer from the crowd who think it could not possibly happen to them and be inspired to update your Twitter password. There has been a huge rash of security matters to show why this is important, but yet, so many people assume that it has not happened to them. Let me break this to you easy … if you think it cannot happen to you, it probably already has. Whether this is at Twitter or elsewhere, if you take that attitude, you are at the highest risk to be compromised. All it often takes is to click on a link and all of the sudden you are sending junk messages to everybody following your feed.

Please pass this along to help yourself and others!

If you found this information useful, you may also find much more information about Twitter in my recent book, Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends. You may order Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends in any of the following ways:

I have opted out of each of these, and I presently enjoy a nice and peaceful life without all of the spam direct messages. I hope you will find this very useful.

Social Oomph / Tweet Later DM Opt Out Instructions

This one simply requires that you follow @OptMeOut on Twitter and then when the account returns your follow, send a DM to OptMeOut to be excluded. Opt out instructions are available on the Social Oomph Website.

Fun140 DM Opt Out Instructions

What is so fun about giving somebody a troll doll or a cookie that they cannot eat? It is a way to annoy your friends and strangers, too! This will require you to authenticate your identity using Twitter Oauth, so you will want to go back to yourTwitter Account Settings (here) to revoke access right afterward. If you get these, click here to opt out.

Spymaster DM Opt Out Instructions

Has anybody asked you to join their spy ring? I am asked repeatedly each day and I am tired of it. This will require you to authenticate your identity using Twitter Oauth, so you will want to go back to your Twitter Account Settings (here) to revoke access right afterward. Here are the Spymaster Opt Out instructions. This should eliminate most or all of the requests to join your friends’ Mafia.

Twables and FB140 DM Opt Out Instructions

This step will block a lot of messages. For me, this is one of the very worst offenders. If you are tired of all the direct messages suggesting that you use this tool to connect all of your Facebook friends with your Twitter account, here is a way to stop it. This will require you to authenticate your identity using Twitter Oauth, so you will want to go back to your Twitter Account Settings (here) to revoke access right afterward. Here are the Twables Opt Out instructions.

Get Back to Your Happy Direct Messaging

I hope that this information will help you return to happy DM’ing. Direct messages account for the majority of my Twitter messages, so this is a very important matter for me. Please note that although I have used each of the links included here, these are not a part of my service, so use at your own risk. I strongly suggest that if you authenticate using Oauth, that you promptly go to revoke access to these applications in your Twitter Account Settings (here).

If you found this information useful, you may also find much more information about Twitter in my recent book, Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends. You may order Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends in any of the following ways:

Why is the whole world talking about Twitter? Mark Aaron Murnahan (Twitter @murnahan) answered many questions about Twitter each day, until the Twitter community asked him to write a book about it. The book reveals how Twitter can be more beneficial to users, and how it bridges gaps between generations, cultures, and media formats. Author is available for interview, via telephone or Skype.  Call 1-866-293-2489 to schedule.

Topeka, Kansas – 1 October 2009: Twitter has created a communication style that cannot be denied. With millions of users “tweeting” the latest happenings, it is hard to call it a fad. After learning of a structure fire one hundred yards away from home that was reported on Twitter by a local television station, Murnahan was convinced that Twitter deserved a closer look.

It is easy to see that television, radio, and print media have found usefulness in Twitter, and Hollywood clearly loves “tweeting”. Last fall, presidential candidates rushed to the service, and during an outbreak of Swine Flu, the Centers for Disease Control used it to send and receive updates. All of this publicity leads many people to Twitter.com each day to find out what it is all about. Some of them are still left with a lot of questions on how it can be useful to them. The Twitter community generally tries to help others, but with the explosive growth of new users, the community can become overburdened.

“The simplicity of Twitter makes it very attractive. That same simplicity also leaves many people with questions of how it can be useful in their business and personal lives. I want to answer those questions.” –Mark Aaron Murnahan

“Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends” is available on Amazon.com and is expected to be released in major retail outlets soon.

About the Author

Mark’s background in Internet technology reaches back to the mid-1990’s, and he is the CEO of YourNew.com, Inc . He has used Twitter to engage with thousands of people around the world. It has been a study in people, cultures, current events, friendship, business development, and public relations. With over 22,000 Twitter updates to-date, hundreds of thousands reading his “tweets”, and frequently topping the charts at third party user rating services, it is easy to see that this book was written by a true fan of Twitter.

For more information about “Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends”, please visit contact Mark Aaron Murnahan toll free at 866-293-2489, Skype username “murnahan”, or by Twitter @murnahan.

###

Tweeting With Strangers?

Are we tweeting with strangers? This question surely makes sense to a lot of people. You may wonder how to meet people with Twitter or how a person can possibly ever feel they have developed friendships and alliances using the Internet. Can you imagine developing meaningful personal and business relationships using what has sometimes even been so misunderstood to be called an “Update Service”? It is often the case that a proper answer is far lengthier than the question. Fortunately, that is why you have this book. Just to ease the burning question of whether we are just tweeting with strangers, I will give you the simple answer, which is “no”.

A more in-depth look at the question at hand will reveal that many great relationships begin with a greeting far shorter than the 140 character limitation of Twitter. Think about how many times you met somebody and the first thing you said to them was simply “Hi”. Consider how you met your dearest friends, or even your spouse. If you can recall the very first communication, it likely all began with one single sentence. Sure, you may have had a great conversation, but when it started, you said something, and then you listened to what they had to say. I trust that you can see where I am going with this.

Is there a right or wrong way to use Twitter?

There are some things that you would surely not wish to reveal in public, and there are some things that you will share with some friends but not with others. There are clearly things that are against the rules of Twitter, and of society for that matter. However, when it comes to Twitter, what I want to make abundantly clear is that the people using Twitter truly are as unique as those you would meet in a shopping mall, restaurant, your children’s school, or anywhere else. You can meet many types, and each has a unique style of using Twitter. Being yourself is far better than trying to conform to how anybody may tell you to use the service. Be real, be yourself, and rest assured that there will be many others who will like you just the way you are.

Overcoming Shyness, Hesitation, and Laziness

If I could help eradicate shyness, hesitation, and laziness just by writing a book, we would really have something special there, right? If this book even makes a significant impact in those areas, I will clearly have a better 2010 racing season than I ever expected. You are surely wondering what the heck this has to do with racing, but pay close attention! You see, you just learned more about me. Yes, I am a race car driver. I instruct high performance driving and racing skills for Porsche Club of America, Audi Club North America, BMW Club of America, race tracks, and several other driving courses including Street Survival (http://streetsurvival.org) for young drivers. It is my burning desire to race cars full time, while considering the stuff that pays me to be my hobby. I also love to help others race better, faster, and safer. I am very accomplished in this area. If you were receiving my tweets, you may have even seen me send a tweet of one of my on-track videos or show my Cop Magnet race Webcast at http://copmagnet.com. So what does this have to do with social media and Twitter, you must ask? It has everything to do with listening to people and realizing that you can meet and get to know people much more easily when you know something about them.

Enter a Warm Conversation

When entering a warm conversation, you are not making cold connections with people you know nothing about. Not unlike any in-person social gathering, if you observe what is around you, there are many ways to tactfully join into a conversation. If I tweet about it, then it is clearly not meant to be private. If somebody tweets about auto racing and you like the sport, send them a message. It could be as simple as saying “I see that you teach teen drivers. Do you know a good school in Atlanta?” It is very non-threatening, and how do you really expect somebody to answer that? I can tell you that it will normally be met with a very friendly response. Twitter users are there to meet other people, so don’t be shy.

Hesitation: The Real Enemy is You!

When I think of hesitation, I picture the person who simply waits for good things to fall into their lap. I receive many telephone calls from people who say they have a great product or service they want to bring to market, but then never follow through with a plan. When it begins to look like an effort is required, many people will hesitate. I used to take a lot more time following up with these people, but I found that they will generally hesitate for at least six to twelve months before they even take the slightest action. Sure, you could assume that a simple call from me could prompt action on their part, but at what cost? If I spend my time chasing the people who talk more than act, I am reducing myself little by little into their mediocrity. So many of them will tell me about how their plans changed, their committee needs to meet again, or that they are still excited to work with me. The bottom line is that in the time they hesitate, the highest cost is accruing right under their nose. This cost is that of lost opportunity. When you hesitate and talk about thinking about considering possibly one day doing something to improve your network of friends and business relations, you are only hurting yourself.

Laziness: 3 Simple Steps

On the topic of laziness, it is easy to spot. Maybe I could come up with a gentler word for it, but so many of the things you wish you could achieve with social media, yet have not, come down to laziness. You can say that you just don’t have the time for it, but that is quite often simply an excuse. You have the same amount of time the rest of us have, but an important question is in whether you are using that time doing the right things. Did you make an effort to reach out and meet somebody new today? Have you taken steps today to create a stronger and wiser approach to achieving your social media goals tomorrow? If not, how could you possibly expect positive results?

I am going to give you three daily tasks to perform that, when done consistently over time, will curb your laziness and give you more of what you want.

Step 1. Meet somebody new today on Twitter! If you cannot think of anything to say to them, keep looking until you find somebody who interests you more. You will see funny stuff on Twitter all the time. Maybe you can just comment on their wit. Whatever it is that sparked your interest, let them know. Something, anything, just go meet somebody! Start a dialog, even if it as simple as “Hi”, but even better, find out to whom you are saying “Hi”.

Step 2. Communicate with the new person in Step 1 every day for at least a week. If you have chosen somebody you found interesting, you will want to do this anyway. Wish them a good day, ask if they are still _____, find out how their kid’s school program went … just say something. I am not saying that you should force out something that is not genuine, I am saying that if you want to get to know somebody, you must make an effort.

Step 3. Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 every day for 30 days! At the end of 30 days, you will have made some new friends and you will be well on your way with a new and positive habit.

If you are disappointed with your social networking and social media marketing efforts, laziness is likely the first place to look. This is true with many things missing in your life. Are you making every effort to reach out and use the tools at your disposal? Do you ever find yourself thinking that you just don’t have the time to keep trying something that does not show you an immediate benefit? Follow these three simple steps. If it does not benefit you the way you expected, the worst scenario is that it still helped.

If you will spend the time to know and care about others, you will build relationships based on far more than the few words that you see in a tweet. The basic principle here is to open your eyes and really see what people are telling you. The question of “Who are these Twitter people?” will soon fade away.

If you like what you have found here, please order “Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends” at Amazon.com.

By now, we all notice television, radio, print, and other media talking about and writing about Twitter. They are the early-adopters. They are the ones you can expect to hear from again, and you can count on to listen and understand how media involves community today. Others may find it increasingly harder to have a voice if they let time slip by without embracing Twitter and other social media.

As an example to show the usefulness of Twitter, and its reach, I just sent a late-breaking, last-minute press release to some local news agencies. I will tweet about it. I will be sure that if they are watching their industry, they will cover it, or at least tweet me to let me know they heard it.

Please see the press release below, and ask yourself, “If I am a news director, what do I do with this?” I invite you to give your thoughts in the comments of this blog post.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Topeka Author Talks With Local Business Owners About Using Twitter

Why is the whole world talking about Twitter? Author Mark Aaron Murnahan (Twitter @murnahan) answered many questions about Twitter each day, until the Twitter community asked him to write a book about it.

Today, Mark will speak to Topeka Business owners about benefits of using Twitter.

Topeka, Kansas – 3 August 2009: Twitter has created a communication style that cannot be denied. With millions of users “tweeting” the latest happenings, it is hard to call it a fad. After learning of a structure fire one hundred yards away from home that was reported on Twitter by a local television station, Murnahan was convinced that Twitter deserved a closer look. At noon today, Mark will speak to a group of Topeka business owners at The Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant about why Twitter is important to them.

It is easy to see that television, radio, and print media have found usefulness in Twitter, and Hollywood clearly loves “tweeting”. Last fall, presidential candidates rushed to the service, and during an outbreak of Swine Flu, the Centers for Disease Control used Twitter to send and receive updates on the impending threat. All of this publicity leads many people to Twitter.com each day to find out what it is all about. Many are still left with a lot of questions on how it can be useful to them.

Murnahan says: “The simplicity of Twitter makes it very attractive. That same simplicity also leaves many people with questions of how it can be useful in their business and personal lives. I want to answer those questions, because when more people understand Twitter, we all benefit.”

“Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends” is available on Amazon.com or at tfbtff.com and is expected to be released in major retail outlets soon.

About the Author

Mark’s background in Internet technology reaches back to the mid-1990’s, and he is the CEO of YourNew.com, Inc. He has used Twitter to engage with thousands of people around the world. It has been a study in people, cultures, current events, friendship, business development, and public relations. With over 22,000 Twitter updates to-date, hundreds of thousands reading his “tweets”, and frequently topping the charts at third party user rating services, it is easy to see that this book was written by a true fan of Twitter.

For more information, please contact Mark Aaron Murnahan toll free at 866-293-2489, by Twitter @murnahan or visit http://twitterforbusinesstwitterforfriends.com.

###

Follow up:

Here is a compilation of clips from the event.

Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends is Here!

As I announced just hours ago, I received my latest physical proof of the book this afternoon. After reviewing it, taking a deep breath, and crossing my fingers, I am pleased to announce that it is now available for purchase.

Who Can Benefit from this Book?

• Twitter lovers who want to know how to get the most of Twitter’s many possible uses and amazing tools.
• Twitter lovers who want to help build a stronger and more enjoyable community.
• Anybody who tried Twitter but didn’t stick around long enough to see the great value in it.
• Anybody who is not using Twitter, but should be.
• The whole Twitter community benefits when more people use Twitter to communicate and build relationships rather than read a few tweets and give up, or worse, seek thousands of followers to send worthless advertisements.

I am waiting for the delivery of my final proof copy. I will make the book available immediately after I have reviewed the physical proof. I did not set a specific release date, because I want the book in the hands of users as quickly as possible. This could be today or tomorrow!

Please subscribe to receive updates by email or RSS so that you may be the first to know.

Asking for Twitter Help

If you read the Introduction or the Table of Contents, it should be clear that my goal is to help improve the communication of Twitter users and make this a better place for all users. I have used Twitter a lot, and I believe that I may help others to learn from my experience and even from my mistakes.

Sure, I would love to sell you a book, but it is even better if I can gain your confidence when you talk to people who ask you “what is this Twitter all about”. I believe that my experience can save new users a lot of time and frustration, and also help existing users to best use the tools at their disposal, and to build great relationships.

I cannot do this alone, so I am asking for your help. If you see a value in helping others to realize the best of Twitter, I hope that you will join me in the effort. Once the book is released, I will provide more details. In the meantime, I welcome your Tweets.

Reaching a specific audience is extremely important for marketing, and also for friendship. Finding others with specific interests and in specific locations has never been easier. Twitter provides great benefit to those seeking a targeted group, if you know how to use it. Here are some tips for reaching the people you seek.

Geotargeting Using Twitter

Using Twitter advanced search features, you can find what people are tweeting about by location. If you take my tip on using a desktop client such as Seesmic Desktop or TweetDeck, try entering a search like the following:

near:KansasCity within:10mi grilling OR cooking ?

This search will return results for tweets within 10 miles of Kansas City with the words grilling or cooking and asking a question. If you were operating a cooking school, cookware store, or grocery, this may give you a great opportunity to help somebody with their cooking questions. If you run a tire shop, you could search for flat tires, or a restaurant may search for hungry OR dinner. You get the idea, right?

People like helpful people, and they may just remember it the next time they need your help. When you enter this in your desktop client such as Seesmic Desktop or TweetDeck, you will be constantly updated with new results.

Another handy tool is Nearby Tweets, which provides a similar function from a Web-based tool.

Demographic Targeting Using Twitter

Similar to geotargeting, it should be simple for you to reach any target demographic using Twitter. In my experience, searching specific terms to find people tweeting about a topic will lead you to an even more focused audience than expected. Using multiple search terms and being creative with your searches will take some practice, but you can quickly find just what you are looking for. It will also allow you to find people who are talking about a topic right now, meaning that you are not reaching a cold audience.

Although much is still speculative as to the overall demographics of Twitter users, largely due to the extreme growth figures, you may find very interesting estimates of Twitter user demographics by visiting Quantcast.com.

My background in social media marketing goes back to the mid-1990’s and has been an amazing lesson in people, business, and the relationship between the two. I met many of my closest friends by way of social media, including my dearest friend and wife, Peggy, whom I met in 2000. Almost as a side-effect, I have also made the connections that have provided for earnings in the top fraction of a percent of money-earners. Yes, I called it a side-effect and you will soon understand why.

In this book, I discuss benefits of social media as well as things to avoid. I also share ways that you can enjoy Twitter more, and make it more manageable. Whether you seek to leverage your use of Twitter for your business, education, friendships, or other reasons, I believe you will find something useful here. I will also share why I credit Twitter as the most engaging social media tool ever created.

I present this book in a conversational style with information intended to help you, starting with using Twitter more efficiently, and then moving into advanced use of social media. Whether you are new to Twitter and setting up your first account, or you have used Twitter since its inception, this information will benefit you.

To date, I have made over 20,000 public updates on Twitter and I often reach the 1,000 direct message daily limit. In the process, I have made many fantastic business and personal connections.

I want to show you how to do the same, so let’s get tweeting!

Introduction

Twitter Now or Twitter Later

The Twitter Basics

Twitter Security: Use Caution, Not Paranoia

Twitter Limits

Twitter Tools

Twitter Implementations

Desktop Applications

Mobile Tweeting

Tweeting With Strangers?

The Following Frenzy

Three Great Ways to Meet Twitter Users

Targeting Using Twitter

Tweetup: A Twitter Meet-Up

Types of Twitter Users

Be Yourself: Create a Personal Brand

Targeting Using Twitter

The Twitter Retweet

Social Media: What’s it really worth?

How Personal Is Social Media?

Advertising Using Twitter

How Twitter Improves Website Exposure

Hiring a Social Media Marketing Consultant

Twitter Cheat Sheet: Put This In Your Pocket!

Twitter Success Stories

The Conversation Starts Here