TWITTER ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Jane Friedman, Assistant Professor E-Media (CCM), University of Cincinnati JaneFriedman.com / Twitter: @JaneFriedman http://podcampcincinnati.com/s17
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
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: [email protected]
Get the session materials:
http://podcampcincinnati.com/s17