Getting Started on Twitter

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Getting Started on Twitter
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• What is Twitter?
• A social networking site that started by letting
  people answer the question, What are you doing?
• Microblogging in 140 characters or fewer
• Online relationship-building and
  relationship-maintenance tool
• Twit tip Why 140 characters? The limit was
  originally set to make Twitter compatible with
  mobile phones and text messaging.

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• How can your chapter use it?
• Develop and promote your brand
• Interact with members
• Update members on what youre working on
• Share tidbits about you
• Track what people are saying about your chapter
• Create buzz around AIA issues, programs,
  products, and upcoming events

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• Its useful to first grasp an understanding of
  terms associated with using Twitter
• Direct Message (DM) a private message sent from
  one Twitter user to another its Twitters
  version of e-mail
• Follow to subscribe to someones updates when
  you follow someone, their updates appear in your
  timeline
• Follow Back to subscribe to someones updates
  who is following you already
• Follower someone who has subscribed to your
  updates

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• Hashtag () a tagging system that forms a
  conversation around an event, topic, or theme
  (e.g., follow aiachat to take part in AIA
  Nationals monthly twitter chats)
• Promoted Tweet tweets promoted by paid marketing
  efforts
• Reply (_at_) a message sent to one Twitter user
  from another by putting _at_ in front of the users
  name
• Retweet (RT) to repeat someone elses tweet
• Trending Topic words, phrases, or hashtags that
  are popular on Twitter at a given time

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• Tweet Up an event specially organized for
  Twitter users to meet and network with each other
  
• Twitter Handle the name you use to represent
  yourself also known as your user name
• Twitter List a public list that any Twitter user
  can create
• Twitter Stream a list of your real-time updates
  that appears on your Twitter homepage

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• Sign up for a Twitter account
• Go to http//twitter.com
• Enter your name and e-mail address and a password
  of your choice
• Click the Sign up button

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• Enter your user name it should be your chapter
  name, e.g., AIAWinchester
• Your user name is how people will refer to you on
  Twitter
• Making your user name close to your real name
  will make it easier for people to find you on
  Twitter
• Click the Create my account button

Twit tip Your user name can contain up to 15
characters, no spaces. Twit tip Once you
create your account, Twitter will recommend
people to follow. You can skip this step.
Complete your profile and start tweeting before
following anyone.
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• Your profile is where you can tell followers who
  you are.
• Request the avatar template customized with your
  chapter name to upload (your profile photo)
• Add your location so followers know where youre
  based
• Include a link to your chapters web site
• Be descriptive as possible in the Bio section
  (this is your elevator pitch)
• Twit tip Dont select Protect my tweets. If
  youre worried about strangers seeing your
  updates, remember you are in complete control of
  all your updates posted. Dont post an update
  youll regret later.

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• A customized background bolsters your credibility
  and educates potential followers about you.
• Customize your background under Settings in the
  drop down menu in the upper right corner (see
  Design tab)
• Leave room for Twitters top toolbar
• Design for smaller monitor sizes to keep all of
  your design elements in full view
• Dont tile your background instead use one core
  image
• Twit tip Several web sites, e.g., Themeleon and
  TwitBacks, offer free background images you can
  upload to your account.

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• Connecting your mobile device enables you to use
  Twitter while on the go.
• From the Mobile tab, enter your mobile phone
  number as requested, including your country code
• Twitter will send you a text message with a
  computer-generated code to confirm your mobile
  number

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• Your most valuable asset is the information you
  provide its often the deciding factor for
  whether someone follows you.
• What can you tweet about?
• Tweet your chapter events and activities
• Link to something interesting youve read
• Retweet what someone else has tweeted (begin your
  tweet with RT or click Twitters Retweet button)
• Twit tip To save characters in your tweet, use a
  link shortening site such as Bit.ly.

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Twit tip An introduction is okay for your first
tweet, e.g., Checking out Twitter for the first
time. Ill be tweeting about the latest news from
AIA Winchester.
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• By following people, youll be able to view their
  updates in your Twitter timeline. Where can you
  find people to follow?
• Begin collecting your members Twitter user names
• Use Twitters Who to Follow recommendations in
  the right side bar on your homepage
• Use Twitter Search to find people talking about a
  topic you want to follow
• Use third-party sites such as WeFollow.com and
  Twello for leads
• Follow your AIA colleagues, thought leaders, and
  bloggers you discover
• Twit tip When you find someones Twitter page
  you want to follow, click the green Follow
  button. It will say Following if successful.

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Sample search using Search Twitter for people
talking about Architect Barbie Twit tip Start
off slowly dont follow too many people at once.
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• You can talk with your followers via tweets,
  retweets, and direct messages.
• To send a tweet to a specific person, use an _at_
  before the persons user nameExample of a tweet
  sent to AIA NationalRecommended How can I vote
  in the Barbie competition? _at_aianational (viewable
  to everyone)Not recommended _at_aianational How
  can I vote in the Barbie competition? (viewable
  only to those who follow you and AIA National)
• Twit tip Anytime you put an _at_ in front of a
  users name, it automatically becomes a link to
  that persons profile.

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• When your follower sends you a tweet, it will
  appear in your _at_Mentions tab on your Twitter
  homepage.

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• You can also send someone a private message,
  known as a Direct Message (DM)
• Visit that persons profile and click the Message
  link on the right side of the users profile or
• Begin your tweet with D ltuser namegt
• Example d aianational Did you get my
  convention proposal?
• Twit tip Direct messages are not viewable in the
  public Twitter stream.
• Twit tip Dont set up auto direct messages
  instead use direct messages to connect with
  people on a personal, conversational level.

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• If a follower sends you a direct message, it will
  appear in the Messages tab in the Twitter
  toolbar.

Twit tip You can only DM people if you follow
them and they follow you.
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• Share someone elses interesting content with
  your followers via retweets (RTs).
• Copy and paste their tweet and enter _at_ltusers
  namegt either at the beginning or end of the tweet
  or
• Click on Twitters retweet symbol, which appears
  next to the time stamp
• Twit tip Click on any links in the tweet to
  ensure the link works and the content is suitable
  before retweeting.

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• Find your voice
• Develop a strategy for how and when youll tweet
• Have fun tweeting!
• Got questions?
• Contact Sybil Walker Barnes at AIA National,
  202.626.7331