Communicating in open source is about sharing information, engaging, and building community. How to reach our audience is something we all think about! In this presentation, I will focus on techniques and best practices for Twitter - whether you are just starting or have been playing around with Twitter and need some new ideas.

1. Kim McMahon
Twitter: @kamcmahon
Promoting Your Open Source
Project and Building Online
Communities using Social Media

3. Starting with a Goal
Goals help you stay focused, doing the most
impactful things, and actually work less.
Good Tenants of Open Source:
• Open source efforts are developed in the best
interests of the community
• Projects are executed with complete
transparency and openness
• Open source technologies are made to be
consumable by the widest range of users and
organizations
Together we are better
Openness makes us all better

4. Twitter
Primary form of communication
Target % of original, community posts, and
engagement tweets

5. Number of Tweets a Day
So many opinions!
• Up to 15 times a day
• Minimum of 5
• Maximum of 5
• 5-20x a day
• 3-5 Tweets a day
• More than 3 and Engagement
drops off
• Engagement does change whether
you do 4-5 a day or 11-15 a day
The Magic Number!
{code}: 5-8 times a day
Kim: 3-5 times a day
Both original and
engagement

6. Twitter Best Practices
Best Practices:
• Consistency!
• Lead with the community!
• Give credit to the source whenever possible by using their
Twitter handle
• Use # as it makes sense to help the community find content
• All tweets have an image
• Tweet like a community member, not a business, and in your
voice
• Put interesting part of the content at the beginning of Tweet
• Monitor Twitter for engagement opportunities

7. Social Media Engagement
• Check Notifications Tab in
Twitter – DAILY!
• Like and set up appropriate RTs /
QRTs
• Review Lists for
Engagement opportunities
• Check #

8. Tips, Tricks, and Being Effective
Set goals
Know your resources
Share community content
Twitter: Easy to get started.
Spend time setting up with a good profile and
with #.
Engage!
Metrics: May not have day 1, but need to do
sometime.

9. Kim McMahon
Twitter: @kamcmahon