Twitter 101
Christy Hammond
What is Twitter?
Micro-blogging Platform
140 character limit in each tweet Originally started as a “What are you doing” social media platform (think just Facebook’s status updates), but now it’s much more Over 6 million users Started in 2006
Twitter Usage
Median Age: 31 19% of online adults 1824 20% of online adults 2534 Slightly more diverse & more urban than general population
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Basic Twitter Terms
DM - direct message
RT - retweet #topic - hashtag used for threads
@username - reply to another user
TinyURL.com - a website that shortens the URL so you can fit it in your tweet
Twitter and the News
Great for breaking news & providing unique content
US Airways crash
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Mumbai attacks
Inauguration Day Presidential Debates
Reporters Using Twitter
Rick Sanchez - CNN anchor (link) John A. Byrne - BusinessWeek Editor-in-Chief (link) Jim Schacter - NYT Digital Initiatives Editor (link) Julio Ojeda-Zapata - Technology Writer/Columnist for St. Paul Pioneer Press (link) Colonel Tribune - Chicago Tribune ambassador (link)
Example: Ron Sylvester
Court Reporter for the Wichita Eagle Tweets about jury selection, comments made during the trial and more On Feb. 24, federal judge approved him tweeting during a case Newspaper website inserted his Twitter feed on his blog (What the Judge Ate for Breakfast) Follow him @rsylvester Over 800 followers
Twitter & Social Media Branding
Comcast Cares (link)
Customer Service Giving a personal face (Frank Eliason) to the brand Resulted in plenty of media attention (link)
Dell (link)
Offered a special holiday promotion Got over $1 million in sales
Methods: Prize Giveaways, Unique Content (pictures, stories, links), etc. Top 40 Brands on Twitter (link)
Personal Branding
Make connections with people in your field
Show that you know your stuff
Point you to articles and blog posts you wouldn’t have found otherwise
Gives you an online presence (i.e. if a prospective employee googles you)
Sports & Twitter
Athletes: Shaquille O’Neal, Lance Armstrong, Natalie Gulbis Teams: Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Suns, San Diego Chargers, SF Giants Leagues: PGA, IndyCar Schools: University of Iowa, University of Michigan Super Bowl Twitter Usage (link)
How to Use Twitter Effectively
Focus on quality, not quantity Promote your blog posts, ideas Interact (most important)
Ask Questions Retweet other people’s interesting tweets Share links to articles & blog posts
Don’t spam people or use auto DM feature Don’t share too much personal info (avoid stating what you had for breakfast, etc.)
Why should you tweet?
If you want to go into a communications career, knowing social media is becoming increasingly important. Can develop your personal brand Makes you practice writing concisely Opens your eyes to new topics & reading materials
How do I get started?
Go to Twitter.com
Sign up for an account Create a bio, upload an avatar, and select a background Start tweeting After you have some tweets up, start following people
How do I know who to follow?
Search Twitter for names or brands Use directories like Twellow.com to find users with similar interests & hobbies (ie. CNN, hockey, social media, etc.) 50 people to follow to help with your job search You can follow me @ behindthejersey