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Twitter 101: Getting Started
Melissa De Witte @melissadewitte @UCSCSocSci
[email protected]#UCSCtweets
This presentation was delivered to UC Santa Cruz students, faculty and staff on April 23, 2015 as part of the Digital Humanities event series
Today we’re going to…
• Define terms
• Set up your Twitter Profile to include: a Photo & a bio
• Send two Tweets
#UCSCtweets
If we have time, I’d like to…
• Talk through who to follow
• Managing your followers and newsfeed
• Discuss etiquette and best practices
#UCSCtweets
Glossary
A Tweet: A Tweet is a message sent on Twitter that is 140 characters or less. A Retweet: A Retweet (RT) is when a Tweet is repeated by another user. A Modified Tweet: A Modified Tweet (MT) is a RT that is usually shortened for length and a comment Reply: A reply is when someone responds to your Tweet that will show up in their timeline. Mention: A mention is when someone features your @username in their Tweet A Direct Message: A direct message (DM) is a feature only available when users both follow each other Favorites: A favorite is a way to bookmark a Tweet you can easily find it later.Hashtags: A hashtag is a keyword phrase. It ties conversations from different users together in one stream. It is marked by the # sign in front of a word (or words not separated by commas or numbers). Using a hashtag makes your content searchable. Many events can have a unique hashtag to follow and participate in. Like this workshop: #UCSCtweets
twitter.com/signup
•Find a username (also called a handle). •If you are an affiliation from a larger organization, take a look to browse
naming conventions. •If you are an individual, pick your name carefully. Do you go by Jon Smith, Jonathan Smith, Jon R Smith, Jonathan R Smith? Think about how you want to be recognized. What is your website URL (if you have a website?). Consider choosing a Twitter handle to mirror your web presence.
#UCSCtweets
Welcome Messages
you
You will see a welcome screen that will encourage you to browse the platforms and follow people
#UCSCtweets
Welcome Messages
Twitter will try to get you to sign up for accounts. Skip this simply by typing in www.twitter.com into your browser to exit.
#UCSCtweets
Confirm your Email Address
Don’t forget to confirm your Email address! You will see more steps encouraging you to follow people - we’ll get to my advice about that later. Because your profile isn’t set up yet I don’t encourage you to start following people with an empty page!
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Upload a Photo
up
Do: keep your picture big (Twitter resizes it when you click on the photo). !Do keep your picture big within Twitter’s maximum size (700KB). !Do be creative and current with your photo. !! #UCSCtweets
Edit your Profile
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Adding information
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Almost there!
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Getting started: write a stellar About sentence/ summary
Do
Do: use hashtags with your keywords! Hashtags become searchable links !
Do: link to your affiliations !Do: link to your website or UCSC profile page if you don’t have one
Do: show your personality through an interest or hobby
Do: Have a user pic!
#UCSCtweets
How To Tweet
•Type your Tweet into the box at the top of your Home timeline, or click the Tweet Icon in the top navigation bar.
•You have 140 characters. Twitter counts the characters for you.
Twitter chose 140 characters based on the idea that a text
message is 160.
#UCSCtweets
Twitter Basics• If you start a tweet with @username, it will not appear in your followers newsfeed. It
will appear in only two places: @username will see it & on your own timeline. If you are wanting your followers to see the person, start with a period:
!
• When Retweeting, either include your own comment or click the retweet icon so you do not end up accidentally spamming your followers newsfeed with repetitive content. !
!
• If you are sharing content that is not yours, always cite where the article came from. Include via @theperson who originally Tweeted it and/or @thepublication that it came from.
#UCSCtweets
Tweeting Tips: What to Tweet?
• Think of 3 or 4 specialties/ research topics you want to be known for. Retweet or tweet topical articles you find and discover through your newsfeed and elsewhere related to that topic.
• Share thoughts and ideas related to your specialties/ research topics.
• Ask questions related to your specialties/ research topics or a short discussion question you’d like to engage with online.
• Alert followers about the next event you are speaking at or attending. Find out if there is a hashtag and reach out over Twitter to the speakers.
• Take advantage of hashtags, defined by a # (pound, number sign) that are keywords for your target audience (we’ll talk about this in more detail later).
#UCSCtweets
Examples of what to Tweet and Retweet
Tips Tweet original sentences and phrases (a sound bite) from your own research, !! Tip: Share current news and research
related to your specialty/ field of interest.
#UCSCtweets
Thoughts• When Tweeting, I ask myself the following
questions:
• Would I want to read this?
• Would I click this?
• Would I Retweet this?
• If the answer is NO… Don’t Tweet it!
#UCSCtweets
Using a hashtag
• A hashtag is a keyword phrase. It ties conversations from different users together in one stream. It is marked by the # sign in front of a word (or words not separated by commas or numbers). Also, using a hashtag makes your content searchable. Special Events can have a unique hashtag to follow and participate in.
#UCSCtweets
This Event Has a Hashtag!
#UCSCtweets
Using a Hashtag at an event• A hashtag is a great way to comment.
example: Who else think Melissa De Witte is a terrible presenter? #ucsctweets
• A hashtag presents networking opportunities.example: Anyone want to grab a coffee after this? I totally need caffeine! #ucsctweets
• A hashtag can be a catalyst to share storiesHow #ucsctweets transformed me from a novice to networker: melissadewitte.com
#UCSCtweets
Hashtags: a real world example
• #UCSC50 - the designated tag for Alumni Weekend & the 50th anniversary exercise: Using the hashtag #UCSC50, send out a Tweet of the alumni weekend event you are attending or your department/division is hosting.
#UCSCtweets
#UCSC50• examples:
I want to bring back the quarry! Can’t wait to find out how at #UCSC50.Which teach-in at #UCSC50 should I go to? Bettina Aptheker or Craig Haney? #toughdecisionsWondering who else I will see at the Econ Alumni Reception this Saturday… #UCSC50
• Over alumni weekend, put your new Twitter skills to use and join the conversation. See what others are sharing: http://50years.ucsc.edu/ucsc50.html
Other important things to consider as you get started
#UCSCtweets
Managing your Feed
• Think about creating lists to organize who you follow (more information on how to do that in the next few slides. !
• Also use other users lists to find people to follow !
• Use technology to help! Consider a platform like Tweetdeck, Hootsuit or Buffer to schedule Tweets and manage multiple lists/ accounts at once.
#UCSCtweets
Who to Follow
•Where you work!
•Departments and Divisions you are involved with !
•Look for peers in your field!
•Search for people you admire and respect: people you know and don’t know from the academic, political, cultural spheres.!
•Find the industry publications and academic journals you read and contribute to.
#UCSCtweets
Find People to Follow
Find related organizations. For example, when I created the Twitter account for the Blum Center, I looked to see if other Blum Centers at other UC campuses had a presence.
#UCSCtweets
Tip: Discover who your “Friends” follow
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Your News Feed
Once you have followed a few people, you will notice your news feed is lively with idea, information and content
#UCSCtweets
Manage your Newsfeed With Lists
Hover over the wheel next to follow/ following button. You do not need to follow someone to add them to a list.
Create a list that speaks to you and you interests. For example, I added UCSC IHR to my “UCSC Tweeting” list.
#UCSCtweets
Examples of Lists
#UCSCtweets
Need Inspiration?• See how other academics are using Twitter. I’ve
created three lists you might find of interest.Academics Tweeting, UCSC Academics Tweeting and UC Academics Tweeting: https://twitter.com/melissadewitte/lists
• Read social media blogs and websites like Mashable and Social Media Club.
#UCSCtweets
THANK YOU! !
Email and Tweet me your questions, videos of cats, whatever!
!
Melissa De Witte @melissadewitte @UCSCSocSci
!
#UCSCtweets
