We’ve set up a Twitter account, uploaded a Twitter header image and learnt how to make Twitter easier to manage. Now to actually learn the elements of Twitter and how to tweet.

Here’s a basic guide:

• Start following other tweeps. Google people you know (for example, “Kellie O’Brien Twitter”). Then start following people they’re following. Look also to blogs you follow and click through their social media icons.
• Tweavesdrop for a while, then jump in to conversations. Twitter is the one place in life where it’s OK to eavesdrop and interrupt conversations with your own comments without being labelled rude.

• Chat with others by using their @handle in your tweet – “@KellieOBrienAU I’m just loving this blog series. Thank you’’. Remember, you only have a maximum of 140 characters to work with.

• Reply to those who @ mention you. In the case above, I would tweet you back clicking “reply’’, which adds your Twitter handle to the tweet so I know you’ll get it.

• Retweet good content your followers would gain value from
• Embrace hashtags – particularly good for events (live, online, even TV). If you do a search for #blogfor30, you will see everyone who has tweeted about this blog series. There are hashtags for millions of things and many that are just people being silly – #nojoke. So the above tweet would become “@KellieOBrienAU I’m just loving the #blogfor30 series. Thank you’’. The advantage of hashtags is you’re able to find people with similar interests and help build your following.

• DM (direct message) when it’s private.

• Engage in group conversation by @ replying everyone instantly by clicking the “Reply All” icon.

Tips for Twitter

The more people you follow, the more you start to feel overwhelmed. And Twitter happens so much quicker than Facebook, so it’s likely to happen sooner into your Twitter journey. Here are some tips to make sure you benefit from your time on Twitter:

• Find good content to share with your followers. You need to give value to your audience.
• Create Twitter lists. I have a media list and a blogger list, because these are the areas I’m interested in. You could create one for anything in your area. “Mums in the know”, “great business minds” or whatever.
• Follow hashtags/keywords in your chosen field. If you’re interested in Tasmanian politics, then #politas would be a logical one to follow. If you’re seeking inspiration on portrait photography, follow #portraitphotography.
• Schedule tweets – this is possible through tools like Hootsuite and Bufferapp. Twitter moves faster than other social media platforms so it’s good to schedule that blog post onto Twitter regularly over a period of time – not all at once.
• Beware of spam. If someone you don’t know sends you a link, don’t click on it. Even if they’re your friend be wary, especially if it’s a DM. Often people click on these links and then their account automatically spams all their friends and followers.
• Don’t expect to catch every conversation and don’t sit there and try and read through the entire day’s tweets. Twitter moves fast, as I said.

Make sure you’re interacting with others. As with all social media platforms, it’s about engagement, not numbers.

If you want to move to the next level with Twitter, join the 5-Day Twitter Challenge. Click the image below.

JOIN THE 5-DAY TWITTER CHALLENGE

Do you have any other tips about using Twitter?

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