An introduction to Twitter
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The document outlines how to effectively use Twitter, covering topics such as account setup, profile optimization, messaging strategies, and the importance of hashtags for engagement. It provides practical advice on maximizing your Twitter presence for personal branding, marketing, and student recruitment, utilizing metrics from campaigns run by the University of Salford. Additionally, it includes examples of successful user stories to illustrate the impact of Twitter on professional development.
An introduction to Twitter
- 1. Twitter Ross Ironfield Digital Communications Officer University of Salford @rossironfield Getting started with
- 2. Twitter Agenda •What is Twitter •Setting up a new account •Optimising your account and best practice •The Art of Tweeting •GROUP ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION: Tweeting •Twitter for Marketing & Student Recruitment •GROUP DISCUSSION: Teaching & Learning •Using Twitter for Teaching and Learning •QUESTIONS Getting started with
- 3. Social media explained, with donuts (stolen from geek.com)
- 4. Most popular social media networks
- 5. Twitter is an information network made up of 140-character messages called Tweets. It's an easy way to discover the latest news related to subjects you care about. What is Twitter?
- 6. Twitter contains information you will find valuable. Messages from users you choose to follow will show up on your home page for you to read. It’s like being delivered a newspaper whose headlines you’ll always find interesting – you can discover news as it’s happening, learn more about topics that are important to you, and get the inside scoop in real time. How is it useful?
- 7. Create a new account. Consider what email address to use. Click Sign up for Twitter Getting started with Twitter
- 8. Consider what your @username will be. This is your ‘Twitter Handle’. Click Create my account Basic settings
- 9. Follow the steps to complete set up of your new account Getting started – step 1 of 5
- 10. Tick some options and click Continue Getting started – step 2 of 5
- 11. Select some accounts to Follow, or choose Follow XX & continue Getting started – step 3 of 5
- 12. Search your contacts. Recommend Skipping this step until after you’ve finished setting up your account, as users tend to only Follow if you have some interesting stuff to share. Getting started – step 4 of 5
- 13. You should receive a confirmation email to the address you selected during sign up. Confirming your account will give you full access to Twitter and all future notifications will be sent to this email address. Verify your account by clicking on the link in the confirmation email Getting started – step 5 of 5
- 14. Here you will see a Timeline of the latest Tweets (centre column) sent from the accounts you follow. It will update in real time, highlighting new Tweets at the top. Twitter – The Home Screen
- 15. Notifications – here you will see updates, such as who has followed you. Mentions (tab on left) – this displays Tweets from other users (regardless as to whether they follow you or not) that mention you. i.e. they have included your @username (Twitter Handle) in a Tweet. Trends – displays most popular subject matters being discussed on Twitter eg #Scotland #RoyalBaby #RIPJoanRivers Who to follow – Twitter will recommend accounts you might want to follow, based on your current connections Notifications
- 16. Twitter tailors the Tweets you see here, based on what it knows about you, and displays what it thinks will be of interest to you. The other tabs on the left column help you discover Tweets and accounts that you might want to follow. #Discover
- 17. Setting up your Twitter account Getting started with Twitter
- 18. Setting up your Twitter account – optimise your avatar. Consider the image you use… is it a work account? If so, is a logo more appropriate? If you are tweeting in a professional capacity, think about what image you use to promote yourself – do you want you in a suit, or you posing with the cat? Use the slider to adjust the size, and drag the image around to the correct position, and click Apply to set your profile image. Setting up your profile – Profile Photo (Avatar)
- 19. Like Facebook, you can now add a header image. This should be something meaningful, relevant to what you Tweet about, and will help grab attention of potential followers. Alternatively, if you are feeling more creative, you could include text with your imagery or an illustration. The @SalfordUni account during Clearing, for example, included the ‘Get in’ branding and important info about Clearing. Setting up your profile – Profile Header
- 20. • You have 160 characters to sum up who you are and what you do. Make every character count! • Consider the audience – who are you Tweeting to, and why? • Include keywords – words that tie into your business or area of expertise. Think about what words and phrases people would search for. • If relevant, use #Hashtags. These will link to other tweets on Twitter about this subject matter. • Include other Twitter Handles (@usernames) where relevant (eg @SalfordUni or @CreateatSalford) • Include your location eg Salford, UK • Include a relevant web link – maybe your own personal website, blog or work related website • Theme colour – your own personal brand. Adjusting this colour customises the text colour and text boxes on your profile. If you use for work, why not use the Salford Red as your Theme Colour? #C60C30 Setting up your profile – bio, location, website and theme colour
- 21. Access your account settings by clicking on the cog, at the top left of the screen. Here you can adjust your location, time zone, language, username and associated email address. Account Settings
- 22. Advisable to follow Twitter’s additional security settings, to avoid getting hacked. Privacy settings allow you to ‘Protect my Tweets’ which stops your Tweets from being made public. Only users you approve can Follow you, and only these Followers can view your Tweets. Deactivate Tweet Location settings, to prevent your location being revealled when you Tweet – location can be determined either by your wi-fi settings or if using your smartphone. Security and Privacy Settings
- 23. Linking with your mobile phone enhances security on your account. If there is an unauthorised attempt by someone to access your account, you can be alerted on your mobile via SMS. Password Settings
- 24. Here you can add payment options, if you intend to use paid features on Twitter, such as Adverts, Promoted Posts and Tweets. Payments and Order History
- 25. The Twitter app is available on Android, iOS (iPhone and iPad) and most other smart phones and tablets. Download from the app store on your device, and input your usual username and password to access your Twitter account on the go. Mobile App
- 26. Here you can specify when you receive notifications via email. For example, you may want to receive an alert when someone mentions you in a Tweet, or Retweets you. Email notifications
- 27. Some browsers allow you to setup notifications and alerts for Twitter. Similarly, Apple Mac’s allow you to integrate your Twitter account with your computer. Notifications
- 28. As you Follow more and more users, your Timeline can quickly become overwhelming with hundreds of Tweets. Here, you can mute specific users, without unfollowing them. This stops their Tweets from appearing in your Timeline. Muting Accounts
- 29. Here is another menu for editing your Profile Settings. There is also an option to Connect to Facebook – if Tweeting professionally, I would not recommend activating this setting. Profile Settings
- 30. Here you can adjust the Background design, upload your own design, or adjust the colour. Again, you may want to use the Salford Red as your background colour #C60C30 Design Settings
- 31. Here you can see what other Apps / Applications are associated with your Twitter account. Eg if you use services like ‘Who Unfollowed Me’ it will show up here. Apps
- 32. Create your own Twitter Widget here by following the step-by-step instructions. This allows you to embed your Twitter feed onto your own website or blog. You can customise the settings, to match your brand or the colour scheme used on your website. Widgets – 1 of 3
- 33. Widget Configuration. Chose which Timeline you wish to use for your Widget – eg your ‘Favourite’ Tweets, or a List. Widgets – 2 of 3
- 34. Once you have finished configuring your Widget, copy the HTML code on to your website or blog. This will embed the Widget onto a page. Widgets – 3 of 3
- 36. • Tweets are restricted to 140 characters (less than an SMS message) so you need to carefully consider how to get your message across using only a few words. • Mention other Twitter users by using their Twitter Handle in your Tweet. In this example, I’ve mentioned my own Handle, @ross_training • Include #Hashtags if you are Tweeting about a specific subject. This allows users to click on the #hashtag and view all other Tweets relating to that subject from across Twitter • Examples #BedpansAndBandages • #GetInSalford • #Salfies • The number indicator next to the Tweet button tells you how many characters you have left • When you are ready to post your Tweet, press the Tweet button Compose new Tweet
- 37. This is how your Tweet will appear on your Timeline. It will also appear immediately in the main Timeline for all other users who follow you on Twitter. Compose new Tweet
- 38. • Tweets that contain images stand out a lot on when scrolling through your Timeline. • Recommend using wide images (eg 16x9 ratio) as Twitter crops images in the Timeline, and only expands when the image is clicked on. • Make sure you have permission to use the image before posting • NOTE Twitter uploads to pic.twitter.com and generates its own short URL. Unfortunately, these URL’s use up your allowance of characters • Similarly, if you copy web links and include the in your Tweet, Twitter will shorten the URL, but this still uses your character allowance. Tweeting – Add Photo
- 39. This is how the Tweet will appear in the Timeline. Tweets with images
- 40. This is how the same Tweet will appear on mobiles and tablets Twitter App on the iPhone (left) and on the iPad (right) Apps
- 41. This is how @replies appear in Twitter. •If another Twitter user replies to your Tweet, it will appear under the ‘Notifications’ tab •To reply to a Tweet, click on the ‘Reply’ button beneath the Tweet. The new Tweet will begin with the users @username (Twitter Handle) •Click on the ‘View Conversation’ to reveal all the Tweets that have been replied to @Replies
- 42. Clicking on ‘View Conversation’ will display all the Tweets and @Replies View Conversation
- 43. @Replies begin with the Twitter Handle of the user you are replying to Sending an @Reply
- 44. Conversations
- 45. Note that @Replies don’t appear in your main Timeline view Tweets Timeline
- 46. Selecting Tweets & Replies reveals ALL the Tweets you have sent Tweets and Replies
- 47. • Click on a #Hashtag that appears in a Tweet will open a new Timeline containing all Tweets that use the same hashtag, eg #SalfordOpenDay • When using #Hashtags, research ones being used currently if you are Tweeting about that subject. Eg #Scotland. • Sometimes hashtags are promoted, such as ITV’s #BedpansAndBandages • If composing your own hashtag, think about how others may use it – using #OpenDay will link to all Tweets about any Open Days, but #SalfordOpenDay will more likely deliver results to an Open Day at Salford • Don’t use them just for the sake of it. Working with #Hashtags
- 48. • You can filter through #hashtags, by viewing Top (most popular Tweets) or All (every Tweet) using the link at the top • Use the Search box (top right) to search for Tweets by hashtag • The Save option allows you to save searches for future reference • The column on the left allows you to filter by People, Media, Timelines etc. #Hashtags
- 49. • Be careful when composing a new hashtag – EG #nowthatchersdead could be read as • Now Thatcher’s Dead • Now That Cher’s Dead • Now T Hatcher’s Dead • Don’t believe everything you read on Twitter! • Robin Williams / Robbie Williams • Nelson Mandella / Morgan Freeman • Joan Rivers / Joan Collins • #RIPFergie – Fergie leaves Manchester United, or Black Eyed Peas star dead? #Hashtags
- 50. Direct Messages are also limited to 140 characters, but are Private. You can only send DMs to mutual Followers i.e. you have to Follow each other. DMs are useful if exchanging Tweets publically, but want to share some private information, such as a telephone number. Direct Messages
- 51. Favourite Tweets work in the same way as the Like button on Facebook. Use it as a way to acknowledge content you like, and as a reference to refer back to later – it may contain an interesting link, for example. Favourite Tweets
- 52. Verified accounts are those that Twitter has confirmed as being authentic. Generally used by celebrities and large organisations. (I made this mock up in Photoshop to show how I would look with a blue tick!) Verified Accounts
- 53. Lists are a great way of finding out information on Twitter, by following specific groups or subscribing to existing lists. •Create Lists to group users together • Eg A list of Twitter accounts run by the University of Salford (Schools, services, departments etc) • Twitter accounts run by Salford academic staff • Twitter accounts of Student Societies or Sports Clubs •Tweets view will show a Timeline that just contains Tweets sent by users within that list •List subscribers allows other users to access the list (or you can keep these private) Using Lists
- 54. Discussion In groups, read the Salford Story on your table Summarise content into a Tweet (max 140 characters) Consider what image you would include Would you use a #Hashtag Write on paper, and present back
- 59. Marketing and Student Recruitment Using Twitter for
- 62. Go to analytics.twitter.com to get an overview of how your Tweets have performed. They are measured based on the following:- •Impressions • ie number of people who saw your Tweet •Engagement • ie number of people who interacted with your Tweet, either by:- • Clicking/tapping on a Tweet • Clicking/tapping on a #hashtag • Clicking/tapping on a link • Clicking/tapping on your Avatar • Clicking/tapping on your @username • Expanded the Tweet to see more (eg the image or video) • Favourited your Tweet • Replied to your Tweet • Retweeted your Tweet to their Followers • New Followers acquirred •Engagement Rate • Ratio of the Engagement actions (as listed above) and the Impressions generated over at Tweet Throughout August, @SalfordUni received 1.9M impressions across all Tweets sent (over 3k) Specifically for Clearing, we received •761,000 impressions •24,800 engagements •4.07% engagement rate Measuring Success
- 63. 12 retweets, 3 Favourites Retweeted by SalfordCityFC to 22.3k followers, 1,230 views on YouTube (on Quays News) Tweet with highest number of Impressions
- 64. sent at 8.31pm immediately after the broadcast on ITV. Tweet with highest number of @Replies
- 65. Generated the highest number of impressions; 8888 And highest number of engagements, 898 Largest number of retweets, 47 retweets 24 Favourites Tweet with highest level of Engagements
- 66. Discussion In groups, discuss how you could potentially use Twitter for Teaching and Learning. Write on paper, and present back.
- 68. • Use Widgets to embed your Twitter onto Blackboard – important to have all sources of learning accessible from Blackboard • Sync with your Blog or website – each time you post something new, a Tweet is automatically sent • Tweet dates/times and any changes for upcoming lectures, seminars, trips. • Tweet reminders about deadlines for submissions • Summarise content of your lecture at the end, include relevant links to additional info Twitter for Teaching and Learning
- 69. • Use for research – Follow other academics and public figures in your field, see what they’re talking about • Engage in discussion with them, by replying to their Tweets • Share / Retweet relevant and useful information to your Followers, either from other Twitter users, or sharing links from the web • Create Lists • EG List of students on your course, to Follow each other • List of other academics, sources of news and info to Follow Twitter for Teaching and Learning
- 70. • Host a Twitter Q & A, organised with a unique, relevant #hashtag • EG during Clearing or Applications, Q & A about your course • Run a Twitter Poll • EG use #SalfordYES for YES vote or #SalfordNO for NO vote • Ask a question • EG Should the @BBC be publically funded? Discuss #hashtag • Facilitate discussion • EG arrange Guest Speaker to engage with you and students on Twitter, to discuss a topic • Encourage students to submit questions beforehand, using your #hashtag Twitter for Teaching and Learning
- 71. General style advice when Tweeting The University of Salford is proud and bold, friendly and welcoming, down-to-earth and straight-talking, credible and inspirational… your tweets should be in your own personal style, but in the context of the University you represent. And finally…
- 72. Questions