TWITTER 101A B A S I C I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T W I T T E R

What is Twitter?-Twitter is an online social networking andmicroblogging service that enables users tosend and read 140-character messages. -Registered users can read and post tweets,interact with other users, and all otherfeatures of Twitter. -Unregistered have limited access and canonly read them.

Why should I use it?-Identify interesting people -Immediate connections -No apps or groups necessary, just conversation -No barriers to engage in relationships -Keep up with the news -It’s a great way to get to know people!

The Do’s and Don’tsDo:

-Talk “to” people-Create unique messageseach time you tweet-Allow your content tofind people-Join conversations thatare relevant to yourindustry/interest/hobbies

Don't:

-Talk “at” people-Broadcast the samemessage repeatedly-Force content onpeople/conversations-Join conversations that areirrelevant to you

The basics of getting started

1. Creating a profile 2. Your audience 3. How to Tweet 4. Functions of Twitter

Creating a profileProfile picture: A nice inviting, professional, good qualityimage. Header Image: Something you are passionate about(show the human side of who you are) Bio: include info about business, position, and passionpoints/interest. Use short concise words that capturewho you are will help people connect with you. The keyis being you. Remember: Use same photos on all social handles;Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.

Example of my Twitter bio

-Profile Picture: Nice, inviting,high quality -Bio: Shows the human side ofme with interests and passions.Includes information about thecompany I work for

Example Twitter profile

My background imagedisplays a passion point. If possible, try updatingbackground image 2-3times per year. For thewinter, I update it toreflect my interest withsnowboarding.

Building an audienceTo start building, you must start connecting with otherpeople. Unless you’re a celebrity or company, no one will beinterested in following you until you create interest.Try to follow people with similar interests that can relate toyour industry and passion points. When people try to connect with you, respond back to them.You want to grow connections with these types of usersbecause they can relate with you and are more likely toengage. Bots are not good to follow. Although they can make youappear to have a larger following base, they are useless in thelong run and will never engage with you throughconversations.

Building an audienceYou can't build an audienceovernight. Just like real liferelationships, your audience isbuilt over time. It’s a process,not an event.

If you work at it over time, youcan build engagingrelationships. Think less of “networking”,and more of “connector” and“community builder”.

Use Twitter’s search function to locate users talking about similar interests or topics. If one of your interests are hiking, some example searches are:

Keywords: hiking, backpacking, trails, etc.Mentions of companies that relate to hiking such as REI, Dicks Sporting Goods, Sierra Trading Post, etc.

Try searching local to your are as well.

Example way to find users

tips for Tweeting-Try to keep your tweets short and sweet. Use the 140characters wisely.-Use URL shortening services when sharing links. -Use hashtags to enter relevant conversations to talk abouttopics.-Do not overwhelm your tweet with tons of hashtags. Nomore than 2 per tweet is recommended.-Use pictures, they drive engagement differently thantweets without them. Remember: if you wouldn’t tweet a piece of content fromyour company Twitter page, you probably shouldn't tweet itfrom your personal page.

Basic functions of twitter-Retweet: A user likes your post so much, they wanted toshare it with their followers. -Favorite: Shows some love to a tweet, but doesn't share it.There is no defined purpose for favorites. -Lists: ways of sorting users. Great ways to keep track ofusers -Direct Messages: privately held conversations. You cancreate groups chats or it can be one on one.

By default, you will be notified when other users interact withyour account. Examples of notifications:New followersA user mentions you in a tweet You should try responding to each notificationIf you get a new follower, follow backIf a new follower expresses similar interests, spark aconversation.If you get retweeted or favorited, follow that personIf someone tweets at you, try to start conversation/dialoguewith them.

Understanding notifications