Twitter

Twitter.com is a site that let's you update the world on anything and everything you are doing. After a quick registration, just an email confirmation you have your own page where you enter a brief description (140 characters max) of what you are doing. You can share this site with readers of your blog who have the option of becoming a 'friend' or 'follower' which means they will get instant updates whenever you post something either via text message, email or IM, depending on what they choose. This is free for both you and your readers with the exception of possible text message chargers incurred by your reader depending on their cell phone plan. You can also send text message updates to your own account if you are away from your computer, say at a debate or campaign appearance. This is particularly useful if there is breaking news you want readers to be aware of that you don't have the chance to blog about immediately.

Twitter is a small tool that only works if people sign up to get your updates. Also twitter itself is not something that integrates with you blog. However you can add a twitter badge to your blog which can easily live in a sidebar and display your 'twits' (messages). Also try adding a signature to your posts such as 'To get up to the minute blog news subscribe to our Twitter updates'.

It is also worth noting that TwitterFeed can be used to post to Twitter from RSS feeds, like those for your blog, or for your Facebook Status.