1-5 October 2009 Sydney Convetion Centre

 APA Conference Week 2009 is on Twitter! Follow us at www.twitter.com/apaconference09.  

What is Twitter?

Twitter (www.twitter.com) is a popular online micro-blogging platform that you can use to send messages of 140 characters or less to friends, family, or the wider Web community.

You can also choose to follow other people's posts (or "tweets").

What do people use Twitter for?

1. 1. Instant Updates, for example, the Australian Federal Government sends regular "tweets" on what is happening in Parliament, and what "krudd" is up to
2. 2. News, for example, the ABC "tweet" up-to-the-minute news broadcasts
3. 3. Networking, Twitter users can keep colleagues, friends, family up to date on personal news

Here is an article explaining more of the basics - What is Twitter for Beginners.

Why use Twitter at a conference?

Many conferences now utilise all three of these Twitter functions to maximise delegates' conference experience.

Only seen in the past at "geek" conferences, now that Twitter has gone mainstream, it's being used by all sorts of professions to allow participants the chance to share their thoughts instantly with their colleagues.

At APA Conference Week 2009, we'll be sending instant updates through to our Twitter followers on social events, any last minute changes to schedules, and logistical hints. We'll be using Twitter to send news broadcasts, share links to resources, and the latest conference photos. And, we'll be encouraging delegates, and speakers, to sign up, and share their opinions, questions and news with their online professional network.

I'm already on Twitter

Follow us @apaconference09, and add comments to the Conference Week tweetstream using the hashtag #apaconference.

Here's a link to an interesting article on the use of Twitter at conferences.  

I'm keen - but where do I begin?

Step One - How do I sign up?

1. 1. Open your browser, and go to www.twitter.com.
2. 2. In the top right hand side of the page, you'll see a link in green that says  "Sign Up Now". Click on that link.
3. 3. Register with your information (nb. you can use an alias, if you wish) and click on "Create my Account" when you're done.
4. 4. You'll see a couple of pages asking you to "Find Friends" you can choose "Skip this Step" at the bottom of the page, or complete (you choose!).
5. 5. Once you're done, it will take you to your "Profile" page.
6. 6. Now ... in your browsers URL address bar, go to www.twitter.com/apaconference09.
7. 7. You'll see a link under the APA Conference Week logo that says "Follow". Click on this link.
8. 8. Now you are "following" APA Conference Week 2009.

Need some help getting connected?

Before Conference Week 2009 - email Ruth Hyland, APA Communications Officer, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

During Conference Week 2009 - Come to the APA exhibition stand, in the Bayside Grand Hall, and one of our conference Tweeters will help you get set up, and ready to tweet away!