This document lists 15 things users should do on Twitter to get more value from the platform, but may not be doing. It recommends using lists to organize followers, embedding tweets on websites, using the @ symbol for private conversations, joining Twitter chats to connect with others, and using all four tabs (Connect, Discover, Moments, Explore) to find more relevant content and connections. It also suggests checking analytics to view metrics about followers, downloading tweets, using keyboard shortcuts, and enabling notifications.

1. 15 things you
should do onTwitter
(but probably don’t)
Chris Snider | Drake University | @chrissnider

2. Use lists
•Create lists to organize people you follow
•Add people to lists without following
•View/subscribe to others’ lists
•See where people are listed to find similar
people

3. On anyone’sTwitter profile page, you can see what lists they have
created and subscribed to - as well as lists they area a member of.

4. There’s no need to create your own list when you can
subscribe to someone else’s list.

5. Then bring those lists right into Hootsuite orTweetdeck.

6. Use EmbeddedTweets
•Easily add any publicTweets to a website.
Click “More,” then “EmbedTweet” and then copy the code.
In Wordpress, just click the timestamp and copy/paste the URL into your post.

7. Use .@ at the start of aTweet
•When you start a
Tweet with @,
Twitter thinks
that’s a
(somewhat)
private
conversation and
doesn’t show that
Tweet to all of
your followers.
More info: http://momthisishowtwitterworks.com/
See by all of
Oliver’s followers
See only by
people who
follow both Chris
and Oliver
See by all of
Oliver’s followers

8. JoinTwitter chats
• Twitter chats are a great way to connect with people who
have similar interests/jobs and to share your expertise.
• Or just sit back and learn.

9. Big list ofTwitter chats: http://tweetreports.com/twitter-chat-schedule/

10. Use all four tabs
•The Connect and Discover tabs will help you
get more value out ofTwitter.

11. Connect tab
• Connect is the place to
see who has followed
or mentioned you,
retweeted or favorited
one of yourTweets.
• It helps you keep the
conversation going.

12. Discover tab
• Under Discover, you’ll
see results reflecting
your interests—based
on your current
location, what you
follow and what’s
happening in the world.
• As you useTwitter
more, Discover gets
even better at serving
up more content just
for you.

13. Check your analytics
•Go to ads.twitter.com and click on
“analytics” to see:
•Mentions, follows and unfollows broken
down into 6-hour increments
•RecentTweets including number of clicks,
favorites, retweets and replies

15. Analytics (cont’d)
•Info about
your
followers,
including
growth over
time,
locations,
interests and
gender.

16. Analytics (cont’d)
•Info about other people linking to your
website viaTwitter.

17. Download yourTweets
•Go to Settings > Account to download your
entireTwitter archive, organized by month.

18. Use Keyboard shortcuts
•Use these shortcuts to do everything faster
atTwitter.com.

19. Get E-mail notifications
•Go to Settings > Email notifications to
decide whenTwitter can email you info,
including:
•Tweets you favorite
•Tweets that mention you
•Retweets of yourTweets
•Replies to yourTweets
•New followers, direct messages and more

20. Create Widgets
•Go to Settings > Widgets to create custom
widgets for your website.
•Widgets can pull from your timeline, favorite
tweets, a list ora search.

21. Create Buttons
•Go to http://twitter.com/about to create
buttons for your website.
•Buttons help people share a specific link, follow
an account or mention a hashtag or user.

22. Use a capital “T”
•It’sTwitter andTweet.
•With a capitalT.
•Find out more branding requirements for
Twitter at http://twitter.com/logo.

23. UseTwitter apps
•Twitter is built on open source software, and
many people build third-party apps for
Twitter (including Hootsuite, BufferApp, etc.)
•Search for and use apps to get more use out
ofTwitter.
•Learn more at http://dev.twitter.com.

24. But check your apps
•Go to Settings > Apps to see which apps
you’ve let access yourTwitter account.
•Revoke access to anything suspicious.

25. Protect your account
•Ever gotten a spammy direct message on
Twitter? Of course you have.
•Twitter offers two way to protect your account
under Settings > Security and privacy...

26. Follow the money
•Know howTwitter makes money.
•PromotedTweets
•Promoted Accounts
•PromotedTrends
More on this:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/09/12/twitter_ipo_social_network_files_for_initial_public_offering_of_stock.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-twitter-makes-money-2013-9
http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/23/twitter-amplify-partnership-cbs/

27. Follow Chris Snider
http://twitter.com/chrissnider