12 tips to get you started on Twitter

1. 12 tips to get you
started on Twitter
Sue Beckingham
@suebecks
Sue Beckingham | @suebecks
12
1
2
3
4
57
6
8
9
10
11

2. Your Username
 Choose a name that
is easy for others
to remember and use
 Don't make it too
long as this will
eat into the 140
characters if others
retweet your posts
@suebecks

3. Your Avatar
 Don’t be an egghead…
add a photo
(default avatar)
@suebecks

4. Your Bio
 This your
opportunity to
create a first
impression, make it
a good one.
 Include a link to
your blog or website
within your bio
@suebecks

5. Tweet regularly
By all means listen
and learn, but then
join in and
contribute:
 Post useful links
 Add comments to
other people's posts
 Ask questions
@suebecks

6. Respond
 Don't just focus on your
own tweets, read and
respond to others
questions and comments
 Twitter is social so
check and reply to your
direct messages (DMs)
and mentions from others
 Thank others for
retweeting your own
posts
@suebecks

7. Retweet
 Retweet useful posts
to share with your
followers
 Show your appreciation
to the people you
follow and acknowledge
you have found it
useful – they will
reciprocate
@suebecks

8. Consider the length
 Don't always use all
of the 140
characters – allow
space so that others
can retweet your
full post (which
will include your
username) and add a
comment
@suebecks

9. Consider the content
 Share tweets and
information that show
your expertise in your
chosen field and of
value to your
followers
 Engage in a dialogue:
ask questions, share
associated resources
@suebecks

10. Consider the tone
 Be professional
 Don't use Twitter as
a forum to vent and
resist negative or
sarcastic remarks
 Have empathy and
sensitivity
@suebecks

11. Keep personal, personal
 Use a DM (direct
message) for
personal messages
meant for just one
person or a selected
group
@suebecks

12. Getting organised
 Utilise the favourites
feature
 Download a Twitter app
to your smart phone
 Create lists
 View your Twitter
lists using a
dashboard e.g.
Hootsuite or Tweetdeck
@suebecks

13. Analyse link click-
throughs
 Maximise free
analytics using URL
shorteners
e.g. bit.ly, goo.gl,
and ow.ly
@suebecks

14. Sue Beckingham
Sheffield Hallam University
@suebecks
@suebecks
http://socialmediaforlearning.com/