Using Twitter to Promote and Connect With Members

Weblink SummitSeptember 23, 2009

Will Burns, Communications DirectorMaryland Chamber of Commerce

Twitter

Agenda

• Website

• Email Program

• Social Technologies

Agenda

• The Basics

• Tips for Getting Started

• How Chambers Can Use Twitter

• Best Practices & Chamber Examples

• Questions & Discussion

Twitter• Growing Fast

• 140 Character Limit

• Opt-In

• Replies | Mentions

• Direct Messages

Twitter Basics

• Short Bursts of Info: You read and write messages of up to 140 characters

• Opt-In: Messages are public and you decide what users you want to receive messages from.

• Easy to use on a computer or a cell phone

• Interact with other users: @ | DM | RT

Twitter Lingo• Tweet: An individual message or post

• Follow: Subscribe to someone’s tweets

• Mentions: @username public message to or about a Twitter user

• DM or Direct message: A private message to a Twitter user

• RT or Retweet: Repost a valuable message from someone else, giving them credit

• Hashtag: Use the # symbol followed by a term. Take advantage of Twitter search to categorize tweets.

Getting Started

• Sign up is easy

• Complete your profile

• Start by listening

• Post something

• Choose your username wisely

• Include a photo

• Write a descriptive bio

• Include a link to your website

• Include the name of the staffer updating Twitter

Setting Up Your Profile

• Choose your username wisely

• Include a photo

• Write a descriptive bio

• Include a link to your website

• Include the name of the staffer updating Twitter

Setting Up Your Profile

• Choose your username wisely

• Include a photo

• Write a descriptive bio

• Include a link to your website

• Include the name of the staffer updating Twitter

Setting Up Your Profile

• Choose your username wisely

• Include a photo

• Write a descriptive bio

• Include a link to your website

• Include the name of the staffer updating Twitter

Setting Up Your Profile

• Choose your username wisely

• Include a photo

• Write a descriptive bio

• Include a link to your website

• Include the name of the staffer updating Twitter

Setting Up Your Profile

• Choose your username wisely

• Include a photo

• Write a descriptive bio

• Include a link to your website

• Include the name of the staffer updating Twitter

Setting Up Your Profile

Start By Listening

• Find some local people to follow

• Local newspapers, businesses, professionals, etc.

• Who are people you trust following

• Search for important keywords

• City names, neighborhoods, business names, issues, etc.

• Follow other chambers

Post Something

Post Something

• Looking for interesting Maryland business people to follow

• The Maryland Chamber is new to Twitter. What kind of tweets do you want to hear from us?

Twitter Best Practices

• Post tips and links to interesting information

• Be genuine. People appreciate authenticity.

• Use a casual tone

• Develop a chamber persona

• Interact - Ask & Answer questions

Case Study - Colonel Tribune“The Colonel acts as a touch point for the Tribune and serves as our voice on the web. Thus we needed a front man, which turned into Colonel Tribune, who is kind of a goofy man about town.”

--Daniel HonigmanSocial Media Strategist Tribune Interactive

Chamber - Information Filter

“It’s Not Information Overload. It’s Filter Failure”

--Clay Shirkywww.shirky.com

Author of: Here Comes EverybodyThe Power of Organizing Without Organizations

Social TechnologiesA social trend in which people use technologies to get the things they need from each other, rather than from traditional institutions like corporations --Forrester Research’s definition of the Groundswell

Social Technologies

• Objectives

• Listen - Better understand our members and prospective members.

• Talk - Spread messages about the Chamber

• Energize - Put our most energetic supporters to work

• Support - Give our members the tools to interact with and support one another

• Embrace - Harness member ideas to improve our services and programs

Chamber Goals

• Promote a Positive Pro-Business Legislative Agenda

• Generate Membership Sales & Leads

• Deliver Timely, Useful Information

• Establish a Position of Thought Leadership

• Bring Personality to the Chamber Brand

• Encourage Interaction

Chamber Twitter Ideas

• Promote Programs, Services, Events, Etc.

• Advocacy

• Promote Members

• Share News & Ideas

• Ask & Answer Questions

• Bring Personality to Your Chamber

• Engage & Interact with Your Community

Twitter Legislative Advocacy

Twitter Legislative Advocacy

Twitter Legislative Advocacy

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter Event Promotion

Twitter TweetUps

Twitter TweetUps

Twitter TweetUps

Twitter During Events

• Hashtag

• Event Twitter Account

• List of Twitter Users Who Plan to Attend

Twitter Promote Your Members

Twitter Promote Your Members

Twitter Promote Your Members

Twitter Media Relations

Twitter Outreach

Email• Push to Social

Email Push to Social

Email Push to Social

Email Push to Social

Email Push to Social

Twitter Tools

• Create Your Twitter Dashboard

• Organize Tweets

• Local Businesses

• Journalists

• Elected Officials

• Chamber Tweeps

• Create a Focus or Always Follow Group

• Key Search Terms

Twitter Seesmic Desktop

Twitter Tweetdeck

Twitter TweetChat

Questions & Discussion

Thank YouWill Burns

wburns@mdchamber.orgtwitter.com/will_burns