Twitter basics

By pauliinavslideshare.net/pauliinav

Dec 23, 2015

What Twitter is1

What Twitter is

◉ Microblogging/networking service that uses 140-character messages called ”tweets”, images and recorded or live video

◉ Founded in 2006◉ 320 million active users monthly

How Twitter works

◉ Users tweet 140-character messages and retweet others’ tweets

- Tweets can also contain images or video

◉ Users can start following each other- Unlike for example on Facebook, following doesn’t need

to be mutual- The user can set their tweets as public or approve each

follower separately

Basic Twitter features 1How to tweet

2

Basic Twitter features: @username

◉ Usernames are called upon by using the @ sign in front of them

- This makes the username a link to that individual profile

◉ Calling users by their @username also lets them know that they’ve been mentioned

- Direct replies and questions are started with a username- Example: @pauliinav Good point!

◉ Usernames can also be mentioned elsewhere in a tweet: Have a look at @slideshare’s presentations!

Basic Twitter features: Tweets, retweets and favorites

◉ Twitter users tweet max. 140-character messages called tweets

- Tweets can also include images and video (which decrease available character amount)

◉ Users can share others’ tweets – it’s called a retweet

- Tweets include a button for retweeting- Some users use the letters ”RT” to mark a retweet

◉ You can also put tweets on your “Favorites” list by using the heart icon

Basic Twitter features: Linking

◉ Tweets can include links◉ Twitter’s link shortening service t.co

automatically shortens most links to 20 characters

◉ The link’s characters are counted towards the 140-character limit

(When linking on social media, see also my tutorial How to add campaign tags to links)

Basic Twitter features: Hashtags

◉ Hashtags are used for marking that the tweet is related to a certain topic

◉ Hashtags a marked with a # in front of them, no spaces allowed

◉ Anyone can create any hashtag just by using it- Examples: #energyefficiency, #iLoveSpring

◉ Clicking on a hashtag shows all tweets with that hashtag

◉ Hashtags can be used anywhere within the tweet

Basic Twitter features 2Direct messages, Lists

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Basic Twitter features: Direct messages

◉ Direct message are similar to Facebook’s messages

◉ Users can send direct messages to their followers (or any user that has allowed messaging from anyone)

◉ Direct messages are private◉ Also called DM

Basic Twitter features: Lists

◉ Anyone can create lists of users to follow- Lists can be public or private- Public lists are shown in the user’s profile under ”Lists”

◉ Lists are a practical way to follow users that tweet about specific topics, belong to a certain interest group etc.

◉ Users can subscribe to other users’ public lists

Tools for handling Twitter4

Tools for handling Twitter

◉ The simplest way to tweet is to use Twitter’s mobile app or desktop site

◉ There are also many tools for handling Twitter and other social media channels: tweeting, scheduling tweets, following other users’ tweets, following topics etc.

◉ Check out for example Tweetdeck and Hootsuite

Richer tweetingVine, Periscope, Twitter Cards

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Richer tweeting: Vine and Periscope

◉ Vine is a mobile app that shoots and posts looping 6-second videos to Twitter (and Facebook & Tumblr)

- Good for grabbing attention, demonstrating sequence, sharing moment/mood, humanizing brand, sneak peaks

◉ Periscope is a mobile app that streams live video to Twitter

- Launched in 2015 and rapidly growing in popularity- Good for events, interviews, any type of live video

Richer tweeting: Twitter Cards

◉ By using cards, companies or individuals can define rich content that website visitors can share on Twitter

◉ Requires coding work on the website

Advertising on Twitter6

Advertising on Twitter

◉ Promoted tweets are a way to advertise on Twitter

◉ Targeting options include e.g. geographic, interest-based and keyword targeting

Checklist7

Checklist on tweeting

Compose your tweetRemember to use @usernames and links to websites where applicable

Use hashtagsUse #hashtags anywhere within your tweet to mark topics and help people find your tweets

Use imagesImages grab attention in the Twitter feed

Retweet othersRetweet other people’s tweets to your own followers

Enrich your tweetsTry looping 6-second videos with Vine and live streaming with Periscope

If you have a websiteUse Twitter Cards and advertising options to promote your site

Want to learn more?

◉ Visit slideshare.net/pauliinav for more tutorials

◉ Contact me with you questions!

Thanks!