A really concise and action oriented guide to using twitter more effectively targeted at novice users, particularly media folk by someone who has done A LOT of twitter training.

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TWITTER
EFFECTIVENESS: A
Susan Mernit Primer for newsies (and
Presented to Center for Investigative Reporting &
California Watch
January 11, 2010
newbies)

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Why do you want to use Twitter?
 Build your own brand within an almost real-time network
 Connect with communities of interest
 Drive traffic to web site or link
 Stay current with your peers
 Extend your social media ecosystem (Twitter, Facebook,
flickr, video-sharing sites)

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What you need to get started
 Log in/account; Profile with photo, keywords, URLS
 List of people to follow (start with Find People and select the Find on
Other Networks tab)
 Know how Twitter search works & can use it
 Know what a hashtag is; Know what @ symbol is
 Know what RT or retweet is
 Know how to use BIT.LY
 Know how to search and measure results
 Plan for how you want to use twitter

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Getting started: Top Tips
 Profile: Make sure you have a URL in your profile, a PHOTO &
use keyword for your description
 Twitter search--Best way to follow a topic: type a phrase,
@username, or #hashtag in the search box
 Follow & unfollow: Follow someone whose tweets you like—
and unfollow them as well! (no stigma)
 Use RT. Retweet is what you put in front of a re-tweeting of
someone else—like a quote!
 Example: @rosey18, Would like feedback, suggestions for site
and story ideas @californiawatch #futureofnews #california

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Learn about #Hashtags
 #hashtag makes a topic searchable across ALL twitter
accounts: try #futureofnews or #FAILEDPICKUPLINES and
see what you get
 EX: @gotcha21 #failedpickuplines Do you believe in love at first
sight, or should I walk by again?
 Note: Find #hashtags on twitter randomly, and at
http://www.hashtags.org/.
 If you follow #hashtags, the site will automatically add any
hashtags you create.

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USE BIT.LY
 Ever think about how, if you used a “real URL” it might take up
all 140 characters of your tweet?
 That is why URL shorteners now exist. I recommend bit.ly
 Bit.ly offers URL redirection service with real-time link
tracking added in, so you can see how many people clicked
on a link you set up.
 To use bit.ly, create an account so you can take advantage of
its tracking features.
 You can link multiple accounts together to track, such as
@californiawatch, @cironline, @rosey18.

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Have conversations!
 Twitter is about dialogue.
 One terrific (and very active) media Twitterer is Joan Walsh of
Salon (http://twitter.com/joanwalsh). Some sample tweets
from her:
 @MWJ1231 I don't dare RT that Michael Steele letter! @JoeNBC would
be mad at me! It is simply not fair! But it is hilarious.
 @MarkKohut Yes, that is the brilliant @harrislacewell, and I haven't
checked her profile to see if she's weighed in on this...
http://twitter.com/joanwalsh/status/7603815863
 @blogdiva Yes and thanks for #FF reminders: @KatrinaNation
@racialicious @jennpozner
 Can anyone think of an example of Bush detailing intelligence failures
and saying "the buck stops here.”
 Discussion: Why is Walsh a good Twitterer?

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Use Twitter to share links
 Drive traffic to a specific site or story, some examples
from around the web:
 AspenInstitute: The WaPo reviewed Paul Goldberger's "Why
Arch. Matters today: Listen to Goldberger discuss fave DC bldgs
in 2009 talk: http://bit.ly/2OPccO
 digiphile The @NatGeoSociety relaunched
http://NationalGeographic.com - Details: http://j.mp/8X0lX8 Uses
#opensource platform (Django) [HT @RitaJKing]
 MyrnaTheMinx : Reviewing my notes for "Future of News" on
KNPB at 6pm. Might mention @OaklandLocal & @CaliforniaWatch
as ex. of new journo models. #fb
 Discussion question: What is a cultural curator and how does
that relate to how you twitter?

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Get the most out of your efforts
 Be consistent: Set a schedule for twittering (and posting
to Facebook). Example:
 15-30 minutes in am, reading and posting 1-3 tweets
 15-20 minutes lunch break, reading and posting, 1-2 tweets
 5 pm: quick 15 minutes, reading and posting
 Evening: optional
 Remember: you can never follow everything.
 Manage interests via Search function, friends’ names (see what
they twittered today).
 Discussion: Did you know you can tweet from your phone?

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Invest in using some basic tools
 Measurement & Tools To Use
 Google analytics: Check traffic sources to see how many
referrals a specific site got
 Bit.ly: Check Bit.ly account to see who clicked on your bit.ly links
 Retweets: Check retweets right on twitter—Click retweets, see
Your tweets, retweeted
 Twitterholic: http://twitterholic.com/ See who is most popular,
sort by region
 Directory: We follow, http://wefollow.com/ Add your account
where it is relevant, search for accounts to follow
 Question: Are there other tools you like?

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Practice, right now!
 Add everyone in this workshop to your twitter stream.
 Send a tweet right now! Retweet a tweet of someone who you
follow
 Send a message that starts with @(name of user) and addresses
them directly
 Search twitter for a topic that interests you. Follow someone who
is tweeting about that topic. Retweet the tweet of someone you
have not followed before
 Search Find people to see who is on twitter who is an email
connection; add everyone you are interested in, whether you are
good friends or not.
 Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

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Questions?
 Some common questions:
 Why use Twitter?
 Who do I follow?
 Will people follow me?
 But what if I have nothing to say?
 Are people going to judge my tweets?

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For more info
 Susan Mernit
 mernit@gmail.com
 http://susanmernit.com
 PS Mobile twitter options:
 M.twitter.com—twitter’s mobile site
 Tweetie-, iPhone app for twitter--http://www.atebits.com/tweetie-
iphone/
 Blackberry clients: Ubertwitter, OpenBeak