18 Tools to Maximize Twitter

Though the word "twitter" means "idle or ignorant talk," there's nothing inconsequential about Twitter, the online service that made sharing messages in 140 characters effective. Twitter has been used to share opinions, communicate crucial information in times of emergencies, and even start protests.

There are many ways to use Twitter, including logging in and typing out your tweets (the short messages that form the basis of the service) via the Twitter.com URL. Here we detail eighteen other tools, from mobile apps to desktop applications and web services you can use to maximize the Twitter as a method of expression, or even a tracking and marketing tool.