Twitter basics Andy Bechtel, associate professor (JOMC) editdesk.wordpress.com @andybechtel.

Twitter basicsAndy Bechtel, associate professor (JOMC)editdesk.wordpress.com@andybechtel

What is Twitter?• A free social networking site• Sometimes called a micro-blogging site• One of the 50 most popular websites in the

world

Let’s take a tour• www.twitter.com

How to get started• Consider how you or your organization will use

Twitter.• Consider your username.• Maximum of 15 characters, but aim for shorter.• Consider something memorable and unique.• Remember that you can change your username

later if you need to.• Create an account.• Use a profile picture.

How Twitter works• People can follow you on Twitter. When you send

a message, they will see that message, known as a tweet.

• You can follow others on Twitter. Follow people and organizations who interest you.

• A Twitter feed is like a personalized list of headlines or a news wire service.

More about how it works• A tweet may be up to

140 characters in length.

• People can forward, or retweet, a tweet that they think is interesting. That can get your message spread in a hurry.

Following on Twitter• Sources of information relevant to you and

your colleagues.• See who is following you. Consider

following them back.• Think of people you follow as your scouts

— and vice versa.• It’s OK to unfollow.

How to get followers• Offer valuable information.• Include links.• Reply to followers when they ask questions.• Publicize your Twitter feed on your website,

blog, business cards, LinkedIn page, etc.

UNC on Twitter https://twitter.com/EmployeeForum https://twitter.com/ChancellorFolt https://twitter.com/TarHeelProvost https://twitter.com/UNCFacGov https://twitter.com/JoMCParkLib

Fun follows https://twitter.com/UNCMemes https://twitter.com/makunc https://twitter.com/NCcollection https://twitter.com/DaggumRoy https://twitter.com/UNCJschoolProbs

What to tweet about• Breaking news, announcements, events• News about your field• Job listings• Scenes from daily life• Personal observations• Important: Keep it professional.

Sample tweets

Effective tweets• Have a personal touch. Be conversational.• Explain how information will affect your followers.• Use a key detail.• Use a number.• Use abbreviations.• Use a photo, map or chart.

On July 1, the sales tax in L.A. County was increasing a half-point, to 9.75 percent.

So the night before, instead of writing just “L.A. County's sales tax to increase to 9.75%,” I tweeted: “Only 3 more shopping hours until L.A. County's sales tax goes up to 9.75%” It had a huge response! It was RT'd like crazy.

— Deirdre Edgar, a copy editor at the Los Angeles Times

Tweet vs. news headline

Effective tweets

Spelling and grammar• They still count, but you

can be more flexible.• Minor errors are more

forgivable.• Big ones will be

noticed.

Maintain good taste (unlike here)

To encourage an RT• Write your tweet a little short to make it easy for

people to retweet with their comment.

Linking• Include a shortened link. Twitter usually does this

automatically, but bit.ly allows tracking of clicks.

#Hashing it out

Twitter abbreviations• RT = retweet• MT = modified tweet• HT = hat tip• OH = overheard• ICYMI = in case you missed it• #FF = Follow Friday

More on Twitter

• Direct Messages• Favorites• Trends• Lists• Muting

Tracking your account

• analytics.twitter.com

Any questions?