I’ve gotten into this whole social media thing, and I enjoy it – but I know a lot of you don’t have much time or feel you don’t have the expertise – or maybe you’re thinking, I don’t want to go on Twitter and tell everyone what I’m up to every minute of the day.

Relax – you don’t have to. But there are other good reasons to learn Twitter: it opens up a new channel of communication – that can help you get cheaper flights – and more.

For example, once you get on Twitter, you can do the following:

• Get alerted to real-time deals from FareCompare – the ones you want, from your home airport
• Follow important announcement from your airline about weather delays and more
• Send direct messages to your airline – and yes, a tweet will often get their attention, and an answer (airlines love “social media”)

My editor says  it only took her about an hour to “get” Twitter. As she explained it, “I’m a total idiot when it comes to anything the least bit ‘techy’, so I just hired a college kid who lived down the street to teach me the basics. Amazingly enough, it was really easy.”

Did you know that you don’t even have to have a special phone to access twitter? Your computer will work just fine (although you’re not so mobile). Give it a try – and once you do, follow me on Twitter – and see what I’ve got cooking.