10 things for an easy start on Twitter

1. Dawn Gartin
Social Mediaologist twitter.com/DawnGartin
404.409.1944 facebook.com/DawnGartin
photo@dawngartin.com linkedin.com/in/dawngartin
www.dawngartin.com
Get started with Twitter
Powerful Username Username: Also known as a Twitter handle. Must be unique and contain
fewer than 15 characters. Use your name, such as @dawngartin, or a
combination keyword with your name like @IntuitiveDeb. Keep it social and
name, .
tied to your brand. Make your username memorable: people see it on your
tweets and when others mention or retweet (RT) you.
RT (retweet) A retweet is when you see something that you feel benefits for your followers
tweet
to also read. You can use the re
retweet button or start the tweet with
RT and the person twitter handle. Think of it like quoting someone – you
person’s .
want to give credit to them.
Conversation Find a Tweet Chat – a pre-arranged chat that includes a predefined
hashtag(#) to link those tweets together in a virtual conversation – and follow
along. This is a simple way to find people to follow (you have something in
common), acquire real time info and ideas, catch new resources as people
share ideas, websites, blogs. Look at www.tweetchat.com for an
uncomplicated way to participate.
Headline Write tweets as headlines: grab attention with what you have to say.
Value Tweet with a hyperlink to take people, who want more info, to a website,
article, video, etc. Use a URL shortener service like http://bit.ly. You can run
http://bit.ly
metrics on the click
click-thrus.
140? No, try 110 Keep tweets to 110 characters: makes it easier for someone to retweet you.
@mentions rock Do shout outs (mention fellow tweeters – have their Twitter username in
your tweet) and retweet (repost what someone has said): this shows you are
) retweets
human (not a bot) and that you share and care. People will return the favor.
DMs are “private” Use Direct Message (DM) to give info you don’t want public (such as phone
number, email address). Don’t use auto DM – most consider it spam.
Public recognition Instead of thanking people (for following, etc.) through a DM, go to their page
and RT something they have posted OR mention them in a tweet. Public
recognition goes along way.
Tweet on the road Install a Twitter app on your smart phone. Observe and tweet in the nooks
bserve
and crannies of your day (waiting in line waiting at the doctor’s office.)
line, office
Manage Find a dashboard like www.hootsuite.com, that has separate columns to see
dashboard, rate
your tweets, mentions, and keywords, etc. Most dashboards have scheduling
tools that make tweeting in the “future” easy.