The Twittering Genealogist

Mark Tucker

Introductions

• Tweeps (using Twitter)• Personal Family Historians• Professional Genealogists• Genealogy Societies• Companies• Organizations

You:Me:

How many of you use?

• E-mail• Forums• Mailing/Discussion lists (ex: RootsWeb)• Wikis• Instant Messaging• Blogs• Facebook

vs.

Growth (12/08 – 12/09)

4.4M

22.8M

418%

Growth (4/08 – 4/09)

17M

Twitter Early Adopters

~50% of Twitter Users are 35+ years old

U.S. Unique Visitor (000) Trend (Source: comScore Media Metrix)

Sign up

It only takes 140 seconds

Recommendations

• Use your real name• Link to your website• Include a descriptive bio• Choose public over protected• Include a photo

Sign up

Demo

Who has never seen a Tweet before?

What is a Tweet?

• 140 characters or less• “What’s happening?”• Statement, Announcement, News, Knowledge• Question or Answer• Hash tag (#genealogy)• Link– Web page– Video– Picture

Sample Tweet

1

23 4

5 6

If I tweet and nobody is following me, can it still be seen?

Timelines

Public Timeline http://twitter.com/public_timeline

Your Profile http://twitter.com/marktucker

Followers Home Page http://twitter.com/home

Lists Following You http://twitter.com/FHExpos/fhexpo

Links & Shortening URLs

Before (84):http://www.thinkgenealogy.com/2010/01/09/

video-the-twittering-genealogist-following/

After (26):http://tinyurl.com/yzt9gvu

More on URL Shorteners

• Will the shortened links run out?– bit.ly allows for 57 billion links

• Concerns– Linkrot (broken links)– Obscures target

Mention & Reply

Mention by: Photoloom

Reply by: footnoteMaven

• @<username>• Public conversations• Q&A

Retweet

Tweet Retweet

•A retweet is like a quote•Can reach a larger audience

Old-Style RetweetTweet by: genlighten (72 followers)

Retweet by: hikari17 (289 followers)

Dean Richardson

Tweet by: marktucker (1357 followers)

Retweet by: rootsmagic (250 followers)

New-Style RetweetTweet by: TomKemp

Retweet by: megansmolenyak

Direct Message

• Like e-mail• Doesn’t appear on timelines• Private conversations• D <username>

Find then Follow

• Look in e-mails & on web sites• Directories & Groups– http://wefollow.com/twitter/genealogy– http://twittgroups.com/group/genealogy– http://twittgroups.com/group/surnames

• Twitter Search• Spelunking • Recommendations

Search http://search.twitter.com/

genealogy OR #genealogy OR "family history" -MLM

http://search.twitter.com/advancedhttp://search.twitter.com/operators

Example:

Genealogy Follow SuggestionsCompanies/Organizations Individuals1. Ancestrydotcom2. familylink3. familypursuit4. FamilyTreeMag5. FHExpos6. footnote7. geneabloggers8. geni9. genseek10. legacyfamily11. rootsmagic12. rootstelevision

1. AncestryInsider2. danlynch3. DearMYRTLE4. dickeastman 5. footnoteMaven6. LisaCooke7. Lmeitzler 8. lovegenealogy9. megansmolenyak10. rjseaver11. TamuraJones12. TheGenealogue

Don’t Take Shortcuts

We get followers the old fashioned way, we EARN them.

Lists

• Follow lists without following tweeps• Group by relationship, organization, topics• Create your own or use others’ lists• 20 lists per account (private & public)• @<username>/<listname>– @TamuraJones/genealogists

• http://twitter.com/<username>/<listname>– http://twitter.com/TamuraJones/genealogists

Following People & Lists

Demo

TweetDeck

Personal Family Historians

• Surname – tweet & search• Connect – family historians, relatives, …• Share – links, knowledge, success, frustration• Conference/Reunion – live tweet, follow policy• Feedback – products, software, services• Promote – web site, blog, DNA study• Questions – ask & answer• Learn – news, links, blog & retweet

Professional Genealogists

• Promote – marketing plan, background• Expert – technology, specialty in bio & tweets• Share – projects, challenges, solutions, success• Conferences – attendance, speaking, booth• Speaking – announce 1m-1w-1d, policy• Books – pre-release buzz, pre-order, signings• Articles – title, magazine or site, published,

promotions• Interviews – when & where to find them

Genealogy Societies

• Conference/Workshops – when, early bird, lodging deadline, #hashtag, policy, twitter café, virtual door prizes

• Promote – meeting date, time, & topic; announce blog posts on twitter

• List - officers

Companies/Organizations• Buzz – new book, product, or service• Conference – attendance, location/booth, specials,

hosting your own (see above)• Cruise – promote, early bird discount, reminders• Customer Service – search, reach out, listen• Feedback – ask, surveys, respond• Sales – sales, discounts, twitter exclusive (Dell)• Auction – announce, countdown to final bid• Software – releases, betas, bundles, promotions,

training

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

Personalize Your Background

QuestionsTwitter:

http://twitter.com/marktuckerMail:

mail@ThinkGenealogy.comBlog:

www.ThinkGenealogy.com/twitterFacebook:

http://www.facebook.com/marktucker1Genealogy Wise:

http://www.genealogywise.com/profile/MarkTucker