Twitter unveiled a new tool to help marcom professionals unfamiliar with the microblogging site navigate the Twitterverse. Twitter 101 is a Web site with an easy-to-use downloadable slideshow that explains the who, what, when, why and how of Twitter. It’s a great place to start if you are new to Twitter but want to learn more about how you can effectively put it to use for your brands.

This site takes you through the basics. It helps you get started, learn the Twitter lingo, offers best practices and case studies, as well as offering links to books, blogs and articles with other best practices.

Right now Twitter is a hot topic in most marketing circles. If companies aren’t on board yet, they most likely are wondering if they should be. As with any new tool, Twitter isn’t necessarily for everyone. But if you decide you’re ready to take the Twitter plunge, this is a great place to start the discovery process to help you decide if it strategically fits into your marcom plan.