#tweeting4nonprofits

Hashtags, Tweets & Bitlys, oh my!

Part 1: Getting Started on Twitterfor Nonprofits

#tweeting4nonprofits

Presenters

Katey ParkerSocial Media Manager,

Media Cause

Tammy SprouleContent Marketing Manager,

Salsa Labs

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Self-described as a “real-time network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting.”

• How we describe Twitter: micro-blogs and mini-stories; short-form messaging; a conversation

What is Twitter?

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Know your audience• Have a goal• A great platform to:

• Raise awareness• Increase donations• Obtain new volunteers• Motivate supporters• Pass on valuable information from another

source

Is Twitter “right” for you?

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Tweet - any message posted to Twitter, that is140 characters or less.

• Twitter stream - A list of a person’s real-time updates. Every time you post a tweet, it goes into your Twitter stream, which is found on your account page also at http://twitter.com/USERNAME.

What is a Tweet?

#tweeting4nonprofits

To Follow- To subscribe to someone’s updates on Twitter. When you follow someone, their updates will be displayed on your Twitter homepage so you know what they are doing.

Follower - A person who has subscribed to receive your updates. See your total number of followers on your Twitter profile page

Who is listening?

#tweeting4nonprofits

Examples of TweetsAwareness

Conversation

Shout out to

client or donor

Thank You

#tweeting4nonprofits

Decide your handle

Establish Your Profile Write bio

Get Started onTwitter

#tweeting4nonprofits

Profile/Bio

#tweeting4nonprofits

Profile

• Use a photo/logo with your org’s brand

• 160 characters or less• Use your org name

(character limit is 20)• Add your location• Add your website

Bio

• Make your bio consistent with your brand

• Keep it simple• Do tell them your names

(Optional)• DO NOT just use your

tagline. Be funny. Be creative.

Setting Up Your Bio and Profile

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Profile Summary

#tweeting4nonprofits

TWEET - also known as an update. Each update can be no longer than 140 characters long.

RETWEET (or RT) - To repeat what someone else has already tweeted. People do this if someone has said something especially valuable & they want their own network to see the information too.

@REPLY - A public message sent from one Twitter user to another by putting @USERNAME at the front of the tweet.

MENTION - A tweet containing another user’s Twitter username, preceded by the “@” symbol

Ways to Communicate

#tweeting4nonprofits

FAVORITE - Favorites, represented by a small star icon next to a Tweet, are most commonly used when users like a Tweet. Favoriting a Tweet can let the original poster know that you liked their Tweet, or you can save the Tweet for later.

DIRECT MESSAGE (or DM) - A private message sent from one Twitter user to another by either clicking the “message” link on their profile or typing D USERNAME.

Ways to Communicate

#tweeting4nonprofits

Using Hashtags

#tweeting4nonprofits

HASHTAG (#) – A tagging system used to aggregate the conversation surrounding an event, topic, or theme. Hashtags can easily be created by combining a # with a word, acronym, or phrase.

Using Hashtags

DO: Use popular hashtags relevant to your organization and tweet topic.

DO: Use hashtags to promote an event or campaign.

DON’T: #Spam #with #hashtags. Try not to include more than 2 per tweet.

#tweeting4nonprofits

TWITTER LISTS - Public lists that any Twitter user can create. Twitter Lists generate Twitter streams that include specific Twitter users.

TRENDING TOPICS - Displayed on the right-hand side of your Twitter homepage, trending topics are words, phrases, or hashtags that are popular on Twitter at a given time. These can be organized by location and are updated in real time.

PROMOTED TWEETS - Tweets that have been supported and promoted by paid marketing efforts.

Other Twitter Terms

#tweeting4nonprofits

Best Practice: Use of the period before @

✓

✗Only seen by @NRDCFood, but intended for large audience.

Seen by all followers.

#tweeting4nonprofits

All links (URLs) posted in Tweets are shortened by Twitter’s t.co service.

To post a link in a Tweet on the web:

Type or paste the URL into the Tweet box on Twitter.com. A URL of any length will be altered to 20 characters, even if the link

itself is less than 20 characters long. Your character count will reflect this.

Posting Links

BEST PRACTICE: Use bit.ly service for tracking clicks on shared links.

FACT: Tweets containing URLs are three times more likely to be retweeted.

#tweeting4nonprofits

BEST PRACTICES:

Abbreviations Limit #hashtag use (1-2) Limited to 120 characters for RT’s and MT’s

140 characters…really?!?

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Images grab attention in someone’s timeline, and can strengthen a call-to-action.

Using Visuals on Twitter

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Videos can be played in someone’s timeline, and can add more context

in getting a message across.

Using Visuals on Twitter

#tweeting4nonprofits

(Shown: 435 x 375)Keep in mind: The full photo won’t show in someone’s timeline, unless they click on it.

Using Visuals on Twitter

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Make your organization’s Twitter username easy to find. Don’t be scared to share your Twitter handle by placing “follow” buttons on your website, and sharing your handle on other social media profiles.

• Make your tweets useful resources. If people rely on your content, they will follow you.

• Don’t focus solely on the number of followers. It’s about quality, not just quantity. Focus on cultivating valuable relationships.

Building Your Community: Followers

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Engage with your network. Thank, RT, reply and mention as often as possible. Join active conversations around your nonprofit’s topic areas.

• Participate in Follow Friday. #FF (Follow Friday) is a great opportunity to cultivate relationships inside and outside of your base.

• Be supportive. Promote others and share their best information.

• Twitter community is all about karma. Follow back like-minded users, retweet liberally, and link to interesting news stories about your partners or sector.

Building Your Community: Followers

#tweeting4nonprofits

Give updates on your organization, big and small.

Public thank you’s and recognition.

Share important and relevant articles, blogs, links, photos, etc...

Building Your Community: Content

Retweet information that is relevant to your organization or its affiliates.

Keep in mind: Tweet what your supporters find valuable.

#tweeting4nonprofits

Building Your Community: Engage

RT's/Promotion of Others

Conversation/Replies

Announcements/Events

• Tweet in the moment. During an event or conference, don’t be afraid to live tweet as it’s happening.

• Follow the 60-30-10 rule. 60% retweets and promoting items from other users or sites, 30% conversation and responses, and 10% announcements and events. If all you ever talk about is you, no one is going to pay attention after awhile.

• Tweet about things people care about. Link to newsworthy events that people are already talking about and how they relate to your cause.

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Be consistent. Consider having a regular, daily tweet, such as “Photo of the Day” or “Tip of the Day.”

• Rephrase and repeat. It’s okay to promote an event or CTA with the same tweet, just spread them out by a few hours and reword it.

• Ask questions. Use twitter to conduct research, to solicit ideas, to identify experts, to thank donors, and to ask questions of your followers.

Building Your Community: Engage

#tweeting4nonprofits

• Use calls to action. It’s OK to say “Please RT” or “Check out our new report” - just don’t abuse it.

• Be gracious. Respond to people when they mention you. Reply when people ask questions. Follow back people who follow you.

• Be authentic. Use your own voice, be honest, be real and be human. Tweet like you would talk.

Building Your Community: Engage

#tweeting4nonprofits

Last but not least…

Have fun!

#tweeting4nonprofits

Next Up: Communicating for Impact

Join us on June 25th at 2 p.m. EST for Part 2 of our Twitter webinar series!

In this webinar, we’ll discuss:

The best way to make the ask (for fundraising and advocacy) How to communicate achievable goals to your audience (and then report

back on progress) How to write content for Twitter Identifying key influencers on Twitter Positioning your organization as an influencer Using Twitter for dialogue and conversations

Sign Up: http://www.salsalabs.com/support-community/upcoming-events

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Questions?

#tweeting4nonprofits

Media Cause@mediacause

connect@mediacause.org

www.mediacause.org

Salsa @salsalabs

info@salsalabs.comwww.salsalabs.com

Get in Touch with Us.

Join us for part 2: Take it Up a Notch: Communicating

for Impact on Twitter

www.salsalabs.com/part2

#tweeting4nonprofits

THANK YOU!