Twitter Account Managers

Versus

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TweetDeck!

Twhirl

Introduction

Twitter is a great place to start for Social Media because it is extremely easy to sign up with fast access to sharing and receiving content!

TweetDeck and Twhirl are both free desktop software that allows you to manage your Twitter (and other Social Media accounts)

TweetDeck and Twhirl are compatible with Windows and Mac OSX.

TweetDeck and Twhirl allow you to manage multiple Twitter (and other Social Media platforms).

Now, let’s look at some of the comparisons and contrasts of TweetDeck and Twhirl.

TweetDeck - Setup and Install

To install TweetDeck, visit tweetdeck.com and click on the Desktop link. As with a normal download, you’ll have the option to Open, Save or Cancel. Click Open, and TweetDeck will open automatically once the download is completed.

When you run TweetDeck for the first time, you’ll receive a “Getting Started” window with some basic information to assist in setting up your account.

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Images: http://www.tweetdeck.com

Twhirl - Setup and Install

To install Twhirl, visit tweetdeck.org and click on the Install Now. With Twhirl, once you choose the default install, it will open automatically once the install is completed.

Once it opens, you can enter your Twitter username and password to get started!

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Images: http://www.twhirl.org

TweetDeck - Login and Tweet

Then, you will be prompted to add your Twitter account and login.

The tweet box will be at the top where you will be able to enter up to 140 characters of “What Are You Doing?”. Of course, this is the question that Twitter asked when it started years ago, and today businesses, celebrities and so many others are using it so different people have different things to say. It may not be “What Are You Doing?”, but may be “What Are You Selling?” or “What Do You Have to Offer?”.

The actual post contents is all up to you!

NOTE: You have the option to add multiple accounts.

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Images: http://www.tweetdeck.com

Twhirl - Login and Tweet

Once you login, you can begin tweeting away! You also have the option of adding multiple accounts, whether they are for yourself or for clients in which you manage their Social Media campaigns.

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!Images: http://www.twhirl.org

Add or Change LocationClicking this icon will allow you to pick your physical location from a Google map. A link to this map will be attached to the Tweet you are typing.

Attach Photos and VideosTweets with media come alive. Use this icon to add photos and videos to your Tweets.

Record Video from your WebcamIf your computer has a Webcam attached to it, this icon will allow you to use it to capture a video and then add it directly to the tweet.

TweetShrink this UpdateThis service will analyse your Tweet and shorten the total characters used to create it. It will abbreviate and use Twitter slang to reduce your update. Make sure you review the update after TweetShrinking it.

Translate this UpdateIf your Tweet needs to reach an international audience this icon will analyse your Tweet and translate to a variety of languages.

Recent HashtagsTweetDeck tracks the hashtags you include in your updates and allows you to reuse them.

Schedule this UpdateIf you would like your Tweet to be posted when you are not able to use a computer the schedule feature will hold your update until the scheduled time and then post it for you.

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Additional TweetDeck

Features

Images: http://www.tweetdeck.com

Additional Twhirl Features

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Default Twitter Stream View

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To view all of the tweets that you have sent.

To view all of the direct (private) messages that you have sent.

To view all of the tweets that you have marked as a favorite.This is similar to your web browser Bookmarking feature.

To view all of your friends and followers.

Images: http://www.twhirl.org

ComparisonTweetDeck Twhirl

✴ Free✴ Desktop Software✴ Can be used for Twitter as

well as other Social Network Platforms

✴ Easily monitor what people are saying about you (Reputation management)

✴ Free✴ Desktop Software✴ Can be used for Twitter as

well as other Social Network Platforms

✴ Easily monitor what people are saying about you (Reputation management)

ContrastTweetDeck Twhirl

✴ Utilizes less space on desktop

✴ Customizable interface✴ Bulky appearance ✴ Ability to group friends✴ Gloom/doom default color

✴ Minimal outages or downtime

✴ Bright, appealing default colors

✴ Ability to create group/friends’ list

Summary

I have used both TweetDeck and Twhirl in the past, but currently, I am using HootSuite being that it is a web-based tool. Since I am on the go a lot more than in the past, it works best for me now. I thought it would be nice to do a comparison and contrast of TweetDeck and Twhirl to see what has changed and what has remained the same.

In my opinion, these tools are great for Social Media newbies because they are easy to learn, have user-friendly interfaces and allows users to add other Social Network platforms as you become familiar with others. It appears that the up-time with TweetDeck and Twhirl are much better than when I used them 3-4 years ago, which is a plus. I think that in order for business orders to be productive and effective in their Social Media campaigns, Social Media management tools such as TweetDeck and Twhirl are detrimental.

References

1. Evans, Dave. Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day. Page 67.

2. Miller, Chris (2008, July 15). Twitter Client Head-to-Head: Twhirl vs Tweetdeck. Mashable. http://mashable.com/2008/07/15/twhirl-tweetdeck-comparison/.

3. Scott, David Meerman. The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Blogs, News Releases, Online Video and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly, 2nd Edition.

4. TweetDeck. http://www.tweetdeck.com.

5. Twhirl. http://www.twhirl.org.