Shedding Light on Twitter

in 5 Easy-to-“Follow” Steps

Shedding Light on Twitter

in 5 Easy-to-“Follow” StepsHeather Whaling

@prtiniHeather Whaling

@prtini

• 10 million users• 1,382% year-over-year growth

• Twitter traffic surpasses NY Times• Majority = 35 years old or older• 45-54 years olds = 36% more likely

than average to visit Twitter• 25-34 years olds = 30% more likely

• 10 million users• 1,382% year-over-year growth

• Twitter traffic surpasses NY Times• Majority = 35 years old or older• 45-54 years olds = 36% more likely

than average to visit Twitter• 25-34 years olds = 30% more likely

Twitter PhenomenonTwitter Phenomenon

• Super easy to use• Anywhere, anytime• Build your network• Collaborate• Learn• Insight (the new ROI)• Breaking news• B2B, B2C, D2C

• Super easy to use• Anywhere, anytime• Build your network• Collaborate• Learn• Insight (the new ROI)• Breaking news• B2B, B2C, D2C

Why all the fuss?Why all the fuss?

Still Not Sure?Still Not Sure?

Response to columnist Leonard Pitts:Response to columnist Leonard Pitts:

Getting StartedGetting Started

Twitter BasicsTwitter BasicsTweet Posting a message to Twitter@ + name The command which allows tweets to be

sent; proceeds username (i.e. @journchat)Following You choose to receive someone's updatesFollowers People who choose to receive your updatesDirect Message Private message sent between two peopleBlock Preventing someone from reading your

updatesFavorites A public area to save your favorite tweets Fail Whale Too many people are tweeting!Hashtag The # next to a word allows for conversation tracking (#otweet)Tweetup A face-to-face gathering of those who tweet

Tweet Posting a message to Twitter@ + name The command which allows tweets to be

sent; proceeds username (i.e. @journchat)Following You choose to receive someone's updatesFollowers People who choose to receive your updatesDirect Message Private message sent between two peopleBlock Preventing someone from reading your

updatesFavorites A public area to save your favorite tweets Fail Whale Too many people are tweeting!Hashtag The # next to a word allows for conversation tracking (#otweet)Tweetup A face-to-face gathering of those who tweet

Twitter BasicsTwitter Basics

Credit: @prsarahevans

• Why are you here?• Increased brand visibility• Personal branding• Develop a large network• Monitoring trends• Other goals??

• Why are you here?• Increased brand visibility• Personal branding• Develop a large network• Monitoring trends• Other goals??

Step 1: Identify GoalsStep 1: Identify Goals

• People• http://www.twellow.com• http://wefollow.com• http://mrtweet.com • http://justtweetit.com

• Trends• http://www.search.twitter.com

• People• http://www.twellow.com• http://wefollow.com• http://mrtweet.com • http://justtweetit.com

• Trends• http://www.search.twitter.com

Step 2: Develop NetworkStep 2: Develop Network

• Connect with reporters• www.bit.ly/mediatweet• Searchable by beat, location, name outlet

• Don’t start pitching … yet• Does reporter want to be pitched on

Twitter?• Establish a relationship with reporter FIRST

• Connect with reporters• www.bit.ly/mediatweet• Searchable by beat, location, name outlet

• Don’t start pitching … yet• Does reporter want to be pitched on

Twitter?• Establish a relationship with reporter FIRST

Step 2: More NetworkingStep 2: More Networking

• Understand community “norms”• Quality vs. quantity• Read bios to find connections• Say “hello”• Be a resource• Promote others

• Understand community “norms”• Quality vs. quantity• Read bios to find connections• Say “hello”• Be a resource• Promote others

Step 3: Dip Your Toes InStep 3: Dip Your Toes In

“Find the people that you would like to have conversations with, and start having conversations with them. Just because they’re not following you, doesn’t mean you can’t start conversations with them. If you’re a consumer brand, it’s important to create a large following. If you’re business-to-business, having just the right 50 people following you is important.”

-- Geoff Livingston (@geoffliving)

“Find the people that you would like to have conversations with, and start having conversations with them. Just because they’re not following you, doesn’t mean you can’t start conversations with them. If you’re a consumer brand, it’s important to create a large following. If you’re business-to-business, having just the right 50 people following you is important.”

-- Geoff Livingston (@geoffliving)

Step 4: Start TalkingStep 4: Start Talking

Step 4: Start TalkingStep 4: Start Talking

• Participate in hash-tag chats:• #journchat• #gno• #blogchat

• #followfriday and “starter lists”• Personal email signature• Don’t forget to include your ID on blog

comments• Update Facebook and LinkedIn profiles

• Participate in hash-tag chats:• #journchat• #gno• #blogchat

• #followfriday and “starter lists”• Personal email signature• Don’t forget to include your ID on blog

comments• Update Facebook and LinkedIn profiles

Step 5: Build Your NetworkStep 5: Build Your Network

Helpful HintsHelpful Hints

• TweetDeck, Seesmic, Nambu, • Tweetgrid• Qwitter• Bitly, Hootsuite, TinyURL• iPhone: Tweetie, TwitterFon• Blackberry: TwitterBerry

• TweetDeck, Seesmic, Nambu, • Tweetgrid• Qwitter• Bitly, Hootsuite, TinyURL• iPhone: Tweetie, TwitterFon• Blackberry: TwitterBerry

My Favorite ToolsMy Favorite Tools

• It’s ok to dip in and out • Reveal your personality, but

remember your goals• Create categories to stay organized• Promptly reply to @s and DMs• Twitter isn’t IM-ing• 120 is the new black

• It’s ok to dip in and out • Reveal your personality, but

remember your goals• Create categories to stay organized• Promptly reply to @s and DMs• Twitter isn’t IM-ing• 120 is the new black

Parting AdviceParting Advice