If you have a friend that you’re following on Twitter and on Facebook, you’ll sometimes see their status updates coincide. It’s not voodoo magic, it’s a Facebook application created by the fine folks at Twitter. It’s meant to bridge the gap between the two services and allow you to update both in one fell swoop. Today, I’d like to show you how you can set that up with your own accounts.

Step 1: Log in to Facebook

Step 2: Locate the search box in the upper right corner and type in “twitter” – hit enter or click “Search Facebook”

Step 3: The top result should be the official Twitter application – you can tell because the developer is Twitter. Click “View Application” or “Twitter“.

Step 4: You may or may not be taken directly to the following screen. If you aren’t, click “Go to Application” and you’ll be back with us. Now, go ahead and click “Allow” to authorize the Twitter app to be added to your Facebook account.

Step 5: Authenticate yourself to the app

Step 6: Once authenticated, you’ll see your timeline embedded into Facebook. You can update your status from here, but if you’re reading this blog chances are you’re going to be doing things the other way around (eg Twitter to Facebook). The thing we’re looking for here is the button labeled “Allow Twitter to Update Your Facebook Status“.

Step 7: This screen confirms your choice, so click “Allow Status Updates”

At this point, the app has been added and the bridge should be live. If you have no intentions of updating Twitter from Facebook, skip to step 11. Otherwise, forge on.

Step 8: You’re going to want a quick way to update Twitter, so repeat Step 1 – but this time you’ll see a result. Click the result labeled “Twitter”

Step 9: Once you’re at your Twitter page, look into the applications toolbar and you’ll see an option for bookmarking Twitter. Click it.

Step 10: Depending on how many apps you have, Twitter might not show up in the toolbar. If it doesn’t, click the Applications box in the toolbar and drag Twitter into the section labeled “Bookmarks”

Step 11: Update your Twitter status, then come back to your Facebook account (either Home or Profile works) and make sure it updated. If all went well, it will have.

(that’s a Photo Booth effect, not my real face)

A Few Notes

• Don’t worry about replies being sent to Facebook, because they don’t get sent. If you start out an update with “@username”, it won’t show up. If you deviate at all from that (space after @, @name later) it gets sent.
• Mike claims stopping the app from updating your Facebook status is as easy as removing the application, but I’ve heard from multiple people that they can’t get it to stop. If you remove the app and it doesn’t stop, please contact us.