Getting Started With Twitter

What is Twitter?

Combination of various forms of communication like e-mail, instant messenger, blogs, and RSS feeds. Difference is that posts, or tweets, are restricted to 140 characters or less.

What Is Twitter? Evolved from simply answering the

question, “What are you doing?” into Shared links to interesting content on the web Conversations around hot topics Shared photos, videos, music Most importantly real time accounts from people

who are in midst of a newsworthy event (like a convention or conference), crisis or natural disaster (such as back in June during the elections in Tehran)

Twitter Statistics

Twitter has 1.5 million active users with a median age of 31.

In October 2009, users sent 26 million tweets per day, up from 2.4 million tweets in January 2009.

Tuesday is the most active day for tweeting, followed by Wednesday and then Friday

Getting Started Claim your Twitter handle (i.e. twitter.com/aflcio) Completely fill out your user profile Create your customized background

Twitter has a few templates you can choose from Several applications you can use to create your

background: http://mashable.com/2009/05/23/twitter-backgrounds/

Know some HTML? Design your own. Promote your new social media presence (e-mail

signature, website, blog entries, cross promotion)

Start tweeting! Jump in and get started to give your

account some authenticity Remember that you only have 140

characters so make them count! To share blog entries

Twitterfeed (www.twitterfeed.com) To share links

Set up an account with Bitly (www.bitly.com) which allows you to shorten your URLs and track how many clicks your link received

Retweeting or “RT”

Twitter users share the best links, tweets, and gems they find from others they are following

Important to do in order to build community and not just appear to be putting out your own content,

Connect with people and let them know you’re there (gain followers!)

How do I build community? Start by following everyone in this group

and look at who they are following and retweeting

Twitter lists Directory of progressives

Tweet Progress (www.tweetprogress.org) Can also sign up for a Twitter mentor here

Union Twibe (www.twibes.com/group/union) People who use #p2 or #topprog hashtags in

their tweets

What is a hashtag? A community driven naming convention on

Twitter to help spread information while also helping to organize it.

Favorite tool of conferences and event organizers

If everyone agrees to add a certain hashtag after their tweet, it becomes easier to find that topic in search (search.twitter.com) #hcr – health care #p2 and #topprog (progressives) #aflcio09 (convention) #aflciojobs (jobs initiative)

If you do nothing else after this meeting:

Please claim your Twitter ID!