twitter: one size does not fit all

TWITTERONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Jane Friedman, Assistant Professor

E-Media (CCM), University of Cincinnati

JaneFriedman.com / Twitter: @JaneFriedman

http://podcampcincinnati.com/s17

The Secret That Can’t Be Taught• This is mostly about being YOU• Your strategy may change as your career progresses

• Using Twitter as a means to an end can backfire

3 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE STARTING

1. Twitter is public.• Access anyone.• Show your support to anyone.

• See who your supporters are.

Everyone can see the same things as you.

2. Don’t use the Twitter site.

Use a free Twitter client

Use an application with columns

3. Your Twitter use is not my Twitter use.

By Ploop 26 / DeviantArt

3 MODELS TO HELP YOU GET STARTEDThis is not an exhaustive list of models you could pursue. But it is a good framework to begin to understand what Twitter is about.

Model 1: Listen• Gather information• Research your community

• Be entertained• Lurk

Model 2: Relationship building• Socializing• Community building• Networking

Models to follow• @jeannevb• @johannaharness

Model 3: Service• Share info & advice• Requires engaged following

• Can be like broadcasting

Other Models• Traditional media feeds

• @PublishersLunch• Specialist feeds

• @Porter_Anderson• Celebrities

• @ConanOBrien• Creative writing

• “Tweets from Hell”• Spammers

Twitter has tremendous strength when used to complement other online activity.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF TWITTERBest practices & helpful hints

Carefully craft your bio and handle

Examples of weak bios

Examples of strong bios

The All-Important Hashtag• Events

• #wwcon11• Live chats

• #scriptchat• Continuous chats

• #amwriting• Searchability / topics

• #portland• Social movements

• #fuckyouwashington• Humor

• #awesometwittersession

How Do You Know Who to Follow?• Twitter recommends• Ask your friends• Twitter lists• Hashtag searches• Twitter chats• Blog posts and websites

in your community

How You Start Getting Followers• Tweet good stuff• Retweet others• Use hashtags; tweet events• Participate in chats• Cross-promote • Be consistent • Others recommend you

(#FF)

Should You Follow Others to Get Followers?

• Follow people relevant to you and your topic

• Gaming the system is short-sighted

A Few Do’s and Don’tsDO

• Use shortened links• Link to specific content• Give credit to sources• Use @ handles• Tweet when you

feel like it• Less is more

DON’T

• Use full URLs• Link to general pages w/o

explanation• Flood your followers

without warning• Waste people’s time

Study Your Effectiveness Over Time• Clicks• RTs• @ mentions / replies• Favorites• Follower growth

Best tool:

HootSuite

HootSuite Analytics

Indications of Reach or Authority

USEFUL TOOLS AND ENHANCEMENTSThere’s more to Twitter than 140 characters

Multimedia Tweets

Storify

Blackbird Pie

TwitterFeed

Paper.li

Flipboard

SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES TO LEARN FROM

@BrainPicker / Maria Popova• Tweets are like tiny

single-servings of weekly e-newsletter

• Always linking to something esoteric & fascinating

• Twitter profile image is same as website/newsletter

@JeanneVB / Jeanne Bowerman• #scriptchat founder• #TwitterPIMPAngel• Creates hashtags that

help build community • Uses Twitter to network and

build community; not tweeting out information (that’s what the chat is for)

@EvilWylie / Andrew Shaffer• Parody & humor• Got attention by using @ replies

• Serves as sly promotion arm for author

Parting AdviceThink of all of the online tools as an extension of your own nervous system. If you walk into a room, you would get an immediate intuitive sense of the environment. The same is true of Twitter or any online environment. When you connect into to theses contexts, you are not acquiring billboard space. You are entering a context, an environment. Don’t over-think how you are going to act.

—Christina Katz

Continue the Conversation• Site: JaneFriedman.com• Twitter: @JaneFriedman• E-mail: jane@janefriedman.com

Get the session materials:

http://podcampcincinnati.com/s17