Transcript Slide 1

Getting Started on Twitter
What is Twitter?
• A social networking site that started by letting people answer the
question, “What are you doing?”
• Microblogging in 140 characters or fewer
• Online relationship-building and relationship-maintenance tool
Twit tip: Why 140 characters? The limit was originally set to make Twitter
compatible with mobile phones and text messaging.
How can your chapter use it?
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Develop and promote your brand
Interact with members
Update members on what you’re working on
Share tidbits about you
Track what people are saying about your chapter
Create buzz around AIA issues, programs, products, and
upcoming events
Getting Started: Learn TwitterSpeak
It’s useful to first grasp an understanding of terms associated with
using Twitter:
Direct Message (DM): a private message sent from one Twitter user
to another; it’s Twitter’s version of e-mail
Follow: to subscribe to someone’s updates; when you follow
someone, their updates appear in your timeline
Follow Back: to subscribe to someone’s updates who is following
you already
Follower: someone who has subscribed to your updates
Getting Started: Learn TwitterSpeak
Hashtag (#): a tagging system that forms a conversation around an
event, topic, or theme (e.g., follow #aiachat to take part in AIA
National’s monthly twitter chats)
Promoted Tweet: tweets promoted by paid marketing efforts
Reply (@): a message sent to one Twitter user from another by
putting @ in front of the user’s name
Retweet (RT): to repeat someone else’s tweet
Trending Topic: words, phrases, or hashtags that are popular on
Twitter at a given time
Getting Started: Learn TwitterSpeak
Tweet Up: an event specially organized for Twitter users to meet and
network with each other
Twitter Handle: the name you use to represent yourself; also known
as your user name
Twitter List: a public list that any Twitter user can create
Twitter Stream: a list of your real-time updates that appears on your
Twitter homepage
Getting Started: Create an Account
Sign up for a Twitter account:
• Go to http://twitter.com
• Enter your name and e-mail address and a password of your
choice
• Click the Sign up button
Getting Started: Create an Account
• Enter your user name; it should be your chapter name, e.g.,
AIAWinchester
• Your user name is how people will refer to you on Twitter
• Making your user name close to your real name will make it
easier for people to find you on Twitter
• Click the Create my account button
Twit tip: Your user name can contain up to 15 characters, no spaces.
Twit tip: Once you create your account, Twitter will recommend people to
follow. You can skip this step. Complete your profile and start tweeting
before following anyone.
Getting Started: Personalize Your Profile
Your profile is where you can tell followers who you are.
• Request the avatar template customized with your chapter name
to upload (your profile photo)
• Add your location so followers know where you’re based
• Include a link to your chapter’s web site
• Be descriptive as possible in the Bio section (this is your “elevator
pitch”)
Twit tip: Don’t select Protect my tweets. If you’re worried about strangers
seeing your updates, remember you are in complete control of all your
updates posted. Don’t post an update you’ll regret later.
Getting Started: Personalize Your Profile
Getting Started: Personalize Your Profile
A customized background bolsters your credibility and educates
potential followers about you.
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Customize your background under Settings in the drop down
menu in the upper right corner (see Design tab)
Leave room for Twitter’s top toolbar
Design for smaller monitor sizes to keep all of your design
elements in full view
Don’t tile your background; instead use one core image
Twit tip: Several web sites, e.g., Themeleon and TwitBacks, offer free
background images you can upload to your account.
Getting Started: Personalize Your Profile
Getting Started: Personalize Your Profile
Connecting your mobile device enables you to use Twitter while on
the go.
• From the Mobile tab, enter your mobile phone number as
requested, including your country code
• Twitter will send you a text message with a computer-generated
code to confirm your mobile number
Getting Started: Start Tweeting
Your most valuable asset is the information you provide; it’s often the
deciding factor for whether someone follows you.
What can you tweet about?
• Tweet your chapter events and activities
• Link to something interesting you’ve read
• Retweet what someone else has tweeted (begin your tweet with
RT or click Twitter’s Retweet button)
Twit tip: To save characters in your tweet, use a link shortening site such as
Bit.ly.
Getting Started: Start Tweeting
Twit tip: An introduction is okay for your first tweet, e.g., “Checking out
Twitter for the first time. I’ll be tweeting about the latest news from AIA
Winchester.”
Getting Started: Find People to Follow
By following people, you’ll be able to view their updates in your
Twitter timeline. Where can you find people to follow?
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Begin collecting your members’ Twitter user names
Use Twitter’s Who to Follow recommendations in the right side
bar on your homepage
Use Twitter Search to find people talking about a topic you want
to follow
Use third-party sites such as WeFollow.com and Twello for leads
Follow your AIA colleagues, thought leaders, and bloggers you
discover
Twit tip: When you find someone’s Twitter page you want to follow, click the
green Follow button. It will say “Following” if successful.
Getting Started: Find People to Follow
Sample search
using Search
Twitter for people
talking about
Architect Barbie
Twit tip: Start off
slowly; don’t follow
too many people at
once.
Getting Started: Engage with Your Followers
You can talk with your followers via tweets, retweets, and direct
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messages
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To send a tweet to a specific person, use an @ before the person’s
user name
Example of a tweet sent to AIA National:
Recommended: How can I vote in the Barbie competition?
@aianational (viewable to everyone)
Not recommended: @aianational How can I vote in the Barbie
competition? (viewable only to those who follow you and AIA
National)
Twit tip: Anytime you put an @ in front of a user’s name, it automatically
becomes a link to that person’s profile.
Getting Started: Engage with Your Followers
When your follower sends you a tweet, it will appear in your
@Mentions tab on your Twitter homepage.
Getting Started: Engage with Your Followers
You can also send someone a private message, known as a Direct
Message (DM)
• Visit that person’s profile and click the Message link on the right
side of the user’s profile or
• Begin your tweet with D <user name>
Example: d aianational Did you get my convention proposal?
Twit tip: Direct messages are not viewable in the public Twitter stream.
Twit tip: Don’t set up auto direct messages; instead use direct messages to
connect with people on a personal, conversational level.
Getting Started: Engage with Your Followers
If a follower sends you a direct message, it will appear in the
Messages tab in the Twitter toolbar.
Twit tip: You can only DM people if you follow
them and they follow you.
Getting Started: Engage with Your Followers
Share someone else’s interesting content with your followers via
retweets (RTs).
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Copy and paste their tweet and enter @<user’s name> either at
the beginning or end of the tweet or
• Click on Twitter’s retweet symbol, which appears next to the time
stamp
Twit tip: Click on any links in the tweet to ensure the link works and the
content is suitable before retweeting.
Getting Started: Final Words
• Find your voice
• Develop a strategy for how and when you’ll tweet
• Have fun tweeting!
Got questions?
Contact Sybil Walker Barnes at AIA National, 202.626.7331