How ToParticipate in a

Chat

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How to Find Your Twitter Chat

The host promoting the chat will Tweet or otherwise communicate the hashtag where the chat will take place. Hashtags are preceded by a “#” and are used to group messages containing that term. Here’s an example:

“Join our #ourchat tonight at 8:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!”

How to Find Your Twitter Chat(continued)

In addition, there are various places where you can access lists of chat. Converoo is a good place to start. Point your browser to http://www.converoo.com to enter a search by topic and get ratedchat lists.

How to Find Your Twitter Chat(continued)

Another way to find a chat is to search your topic on the search engine of your choice – or you can try accessing this list on Google Docshttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aprv5ylG3L56dGs1Z1NTXzNNUnZZZ3JMQ2Vyc0xoN3c#gid=0

How to Find Your Twitter Chat(continued)

Here’s a secondary Google Docs resource to try:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhqFy8Dmji4NdGVmRFRma3phUjFQTzFRZ2JHeTVrNlE#gid=0

Twitter Chat Platforms

● After you have chosen the chat(s) in which you want to participate, you will need to choose a platform to access the chat.

● It is difficult to chat directly from Twitter; we suggest you choose from one of these (free) platforms:

O TweetChat http://tweetchat.com/O TweetDeck http://tweetdeck.com/O hootsuite http://hootsuite.com/O TweetGrid http://tweetgrid.com/

Twitter Chat Platforms(continued)

● Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses and everyone has their own favorites. So choose the one that is the best fit for you. Also, if you are already using hootsuite or TweetDeck, you may want to start there.

Our Favorite is TweetChat

We also like to use hootsuite to monitor mentions.

TweetDeck is another option

TweetGrid! is yetanother option

Chat Guidelines/Etiquette

● Allow the moderator/leader to begin the chat, if it hasn’t started already.

● Introduce yourself – don’t be a lurker!● For the first few times you take part in a chat, take extra care to

listen for the conversational tone● Sometimes the moderator or guest will ask participants questions.

Questions will be preceded by Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. When you respond by Tweeting answers, preface each response with A1, A2, etc.

● In every chat, listen to what is being said so that you can ask appropriate questions that are on topic

Chat Guidelines/Etiquette(continued)

● When taking part in a chat, remember to use professional manners

● Do not let a discussion get heated and uncivil in tone even if you disagree. Remember, the comments that you make on Twitter will live on.

Interacting and Responding

Notice in the TweetDeck dashboard, the conversation continues. You want to be sure that you are engaging with the people who are talking to you and thanking you. So monitor carefully for your @ mentions

Using the Hashtag (#) to Continue the Conversation

● When you regularly participate in a chat, you can continue the conversation during the week using the same hashtag from the chat

● If you see an article that relates to something that was said during the previous chat, reference the point, share the article link, and add the hashtag for visibility and to reach the chat participants

A list of Twitter Chat resources may be found on Listly

http://list.ly/list/102-all-about-twitter-chat-sessions?feature=myfollowCourtesy of Steve Cassady