getting started with twitter
TRANSCRIPT
The Revolution Shall Be Tweeted!
So How Do You Get Started?
Danielle HatchettSocial Media Manager, AFL-CIOFacebook: www.facebook.com/aflcioTwitter: www.twitter.com/aflcio
February 24, 2010
What is Twitter?
Free online service that allows you broadcast short messages to your friends or followers
Combination of various forms of communication like e-mail, instant messenger, blogs, and RSS feeds. Difference is that posts, or tweets, are restricted to 140 characters or less.
What Is Twitter? Evolved from simply answering the
question, “What are you doing?” into Shared links to interesting content on the web Conversations around hot topics Shared photos, videos, music Most importantly real time accounts from people
who are in midst of a newsworthy event (like a convention or conference), crisis or natural disaster (such as back in June during the elections in Tehran)
Twitter Statistics Twitter has 1.5 million active users
with a median age of 31. Towards the end of 2009, the average
number of tweets per day was over 27 million. Average number per hour was 1.3 million.
Tuesday is the most active day for tweeting, followed by Wednesday and then Friday
Getting Started Claim your Twitter handle (i.e. twitter.com/aflcio) Completely fill out your user profile Create your customized background
Twitter has a few templates you can choose from Several applications you can use to create your
background: http://mashable.com/2009/05/23/twitter-backgrounds/
Know some HTML? Design your own. Promote your new social media presence (e-mail
signature, website, blog entries, cross promotion)
Start tweeting! Jump in and get started to give your
account some authenticity Remember that you only have 140
characters so make them count! To automatically share blog entries
Twitterfeed (www.twitterfeed.com) To share links
Set up an account with Bitly (www.bitly.com) which allows you to shorten your URLs and track how many clicks your link received
Retweeting or “RT”
Twitter users share the best links, tweets, and gems they find from others they are following
Important to do in order to build community and not just appear to be putting out your own content,
Connect with people and let them know you’re there (gain followers!)
How do I build community? Start by following everyone in this group
and look at who they are following and retweeting
Twitter lists Directory of progressives
Tweet Progress (www.tweetprogress.org) Can also sign up for a Twitter mentor here
Union Twibe (www.twibes.com/group/union) People who use #p2 or #topprog hashtags in
their tweets
What is a hashtag? A community driven naming convention on Twitter to
help spread information while also helping to organize it.
Favorite tool of conferences and event organizers If everyone agrees to add a certain hashtag after their
tweet, it becomes easier to find that topic in search (search.twitter.com) #hcr, #health– health care #p2 and #topprog (progressives)
Create your own #aflcio #aflcio09 (convention) #aflciojobs (jobs initiative)
If you do nothing else after this meeting:
Please claim your Twitter ID!