1. !
TweetDeck
Versus
Twhirl
!
Twitter Account Managers

2. 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.

3. 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.
!
Images: http://www.tweetdeck.com

4. 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!
!
Images: http://www.twhirl.org

5. 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 Images: http://www.tweetdeck.com
accounts.

6. 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.
!
Images: http://www.twhirl.org

7. Additional
! Add or Change Location
Clicking 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.
TweetDeck
! Attach Photos and Videos
Tweets with media come alive. Use this icon to add photos and videos
to your Tweets.
Record Video from your Webcam
!
If your computer has a Webcam attached to it, this icon will allow you to
Features
use it to capture a video and then add it directly to the tweet.
! TweetShrink this Update
This 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 Update
If your Tweet needs to reach an international audience this icon will
analyse your Tweet and translate to a variety of languages.
! Recent Hashtags
TweetDeck tracks the hashtags you include in your updates and allows
you to reuse them.
! Schedule this Update
If 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.
Images: http://www.tweetdeck.com

8. Additional Twhirl To view all of the tweets that you have sent.
!
Features !
To view all of the direct (private) messages that you have sent.
Default Twitter
!
Stream View 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
!

9. Comparison
TweetDeck Twhirl
✴ Free ✴ Free
✴ Desktop Software ✴ Desktop Software
✴ Can be used for Twitter as ✴ Can be used for Twitter as
well as other Social Network well as other Social Network
Platforms Platforms
✴ Easily monitor what people ✴ Easily monitor what people
are saying about you are saying about you
(Reputation management) (Reputation management)

10. Contrast
TweetDeck Twhirl
✴ Utilizes less space on ✴ Minimal outages or
desktop downtime
✴ Customizable interface ✴ Bright, appealing default
✴ Bulky appearance colors
✴ Ability to group friends ✴ Ability to create group/
✴ Gloom/doom default color friends’ list

11. 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.

12. 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.