Twitter and Daycare Works Integration

Daycare Works

2/10/2012

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a social information network that allows users the ability to post messages or photos and follow specific accounts for news and information. Twitter

is similar to having a blog, or online journal, but limited to 140 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Twitter users can post twitter messages from their account as well as view their twitter account through a computer, smart phone or tablet.

Key Twitter Terms:

Tweet: A tweet is a message posted by a twitter user for other twitter users to view.

Follower: A follower is an individual who has signed up to follow the messages posted by an account. If a user is following a twitter account, they will

automatically view the tweets posted by that account. Retweet: A retweet is someone who is reposting your tweet to their twitter

followers. It is similar to forwarding an email or repeating a message that you have heard.

@: The @ symbol allows a twitter user to create a tweet, mentioning a specific

individual that is also using twitter. Users can use the @ symbol to alert or direct the conversation at a twitter user.

#: The # (hashtag) symbol allows a twitter user to reference or relate a tweet to a topic. The # symbol is used as a search term in twitter and is also used to determine trending topics. A hashtag for Daycare Works would be entered as

#DaycareWorks. Trending Topics: Trending topics are the most popular # (hashtag) topics on

twitter currently. Direct Message: Direct messages are private messages sent through twitter to

another twitter user. Direct messages can only be sent to twitter users that are

following you.

How can Twitter help me and my business in Daycare Works?

Twitter integration in Daycare Works streamlines the process of posting tweets,

allowing direct communication between the business and families for sharing information, advertising and promotions. Posting these tweets can help inform

parents and families of upcoming registration deadlines, emergency close dates, or important upcoming events and holidays. Administrators can also use the direct message function to communicate with parents. Because Twitter is offered on

multiple platforms, administrators and businesses can connect to families using a variety of devices, from cell phones to computers and tablets. Tweets can also

contain offer codes for early registration or discounts off registration for a limited number of families.

How can Twitter help my families?

Using Twitter in Daycare Works helps families keep up to date with the events within the school. Families can view upcoming events and registration dates, as well as use the links from Twitter to register for new classrooms and events. Twitter can

also be used as a replacement or a supplement to a weekly or monthly newsletter.

How do I setup a Twitter account?

To setup a Twitter account, click on the following link: https://twitter.com/signup

You will need to enter a user name, password, and email address.

How to I setup Twitter in Daycare Works?

Step One

First, click on the

Setup tab on the main toolbar.

Step Two

Second, click on the

Config tab.

Step Three

Third, click on the Social Networking link.

Step Four

Fourth, enter a test

twitter messages (tweet), in the text box. Please note that

this message will be posted on the twitter

account after registering the twitter account in Daycare

Works.

Step Five

Fifth, click on the Tweet button.

Step Six

After clicking on the Tweet button, the

screen will load into the twitter sign in

screen. Next, enter the user name and password for the

twitter account. Please note that this

will authorize administrators the

ability to post to the twitter account through Daycare

Works.

Step Seven

After entering the user name and

password for the twitter account, click on the Sign In

button.

Step Eight

After clicking on the Sign In button, the

screen will refresh back into Daycare

Works. The account is now registered in Daycare Works. To

verify, log into Twitter and view the message

was posted from Daycare Works.

How do I use Twitter in Daycare Works?

Step One

First, click on the Portal tab on the

main toolbar.

Step Two

Second, click on the

Social tab.

Step Three

Next, enter the name of the user if the

tweet will be a direct message in the Send Direct Message

User Search text box. Please note that

this search box only displays the user names of twitter

accounts setup in the Parent section.

Then, enter the tweet in the text box.

Step Four

After entering the

message, click on the Tweet button. The tweet will now be

posted to the twitter account.

How to Use Setup and Use a Scholarship with Twitter

Step One

First, click on the Setup tab on the

main toolbar.

Step Two

Second, click on the

Setup Scholarships link.

Step Three

Third, enter the name of the scholarship or

discount in the Scholarship Code text box. This will be

the code parents will enter online to

receive the scholarship code.

Then, enter the number of times this

scholarship can be used in the school in the Number of

Scholarships text box.

Step Four

Fourth, enter the amount of the

discount in the Discount Amount text box. Then select

if the discount is a dollar amount or a

percentage off in the Discount Type drop down list.

Step Five

When finished, click on the Save button.

Step Six

After clicking on the Save button, the screen will refresh,

indicating a successful save. Next, click on

the Portal tab on the main toolbar.

Step Seven

Then, click on the Social tab.

Step Eight

Next, enter the tweet message in the text box. Be sure to

include the Scholarship Code, a

brief message about the offer, the number

of Scholarships allowed and a link to your online registration.

Step Nine When finished, click

on the Tweet button.

How to Add a Parent to Twitter

Step One

First, locate the family

in Daycare Works using

any of the search

methods.

Step Two

Second, click on the

child’s name in the

Family List section.

Step Three

Third, click on the

Parents tab.

Step Four

Fourth, enter the

Twitter user name in

the Twitter Username

text box. When

finished, click on the

Save button at the

bottom of the screen.

How can I use Twitter outside Daycare Works?

There are a variety of ways to use Twitter outside of Daycare Works.

www.Twitter.com – The official website of Twitter allows users the ability to post tweets, direct message users and view tweets posted by accounts that you follow.

http://www.techhit.com/TwInbox/twitter_plugin_outlook.html - TwInBox allows Twitter to be setup through Microsoft Outlook. Through Microsoft Outlook, you can

view tweets posted, post new tweets and respond to direct messages. These messages are structured in Outlook similar to how emails are structured in Outlook.

https://twitter.com/#!/download - The Official Twitter app allows users the ability to use an iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 or iPad to communicate

through Twitter. Installing this application on a Smartphone or tablet also allows you the ability to receive notifications of new direct messages or @ messages to your account. These applications can also provide the ability for users to tweet

websites from the web-browser on each of the devices.

https://seesmic.com/ - Seesmic is another application that offers Twitter

integration through smart phones but also provides a few additional features that aren’t available in the official twitter application. Installing this application on a

Smartphone or tablet also allows you the ability to receive notifications of new direct messages or @ messages to your account. Users can also post messages Facebook accounts, Facebook Groups and LinkedIn as well as schedule tweets and

messages to be posted at a future date.