Using Twitter as a Powerful Social Medium for Libraries
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This document provides an overview of how to effectively use Twitter as a social media tool for libraries. It defines Twitter and reviews key Twitter terminology like hashtags and mentions. Statistics on Twitter's popularity and brief history are presented. Guidelines are given for setting up a library Twitter account, including tips for engaging followers through casual tone, avoiding jargon, responding quickly, and linking to library news/events. Suggested content includes author birthdays, quotes, programs, collections with the goal of connecting patrons and building social capital. Tracking and analytics tools are also reviewed.
Using Twitter as a Powerful Social Medium for Libraries
- 1. Using Twitter as a Powerful Social Medium Judy Pinger Coordinator of Business and Technology Milwaukee Public Library WLA LaCrosse – October 26th, 2012
- 2. What is Twitter? Definition: A microblogging system that lets a person send brief text messages up to 140 characters in length to a list of followers. Source : Twitter.com
- 3. Limited to 140 character updates Twitter is a scrolling series of headlines.
- 4. Twitter Statistics There are 500 million users in 2012. There are 340 million tweets sent daily. Source : Wikipedia
- 5. Brief History of Twitter Launched in July 2006 by Jack Dorsey, an employee of then podcasting company Odeo.
- 6. Dorsey’s Original Sketch for Twitter
- 7. A Quick Review of Twitter Vocabulary
- 8. What is a Hashtag? A hashtag is a search meant to label a topic or filter a conversation. #WLA, #MilwaukeePubLib, #ALA
- 9. Hashtag How To’s • If you Tweet with a hashtag on a public account, anyone who does a search for that hashtag may find your Tweet. • Don't over-tag a single Tweet. (Best Practices recommend using no more than 2 hashtags per Tweet.) • Use hashtags only on Tweets relevant to the topic. From Twitter.com
- 10. #WLA12
- 11. The @ sign in Twitter Used to assign attribution to another Tweeter:
- 12. Why Use Twitter at your Library? - Connect with patrons who don’t visit the library. - Broadcast real time library updates. - Succinct communication. - Network with other community tweeters.
- 13. Using Twitter Builds Social Capital
- 14. Tweet and be Retweeted!
- 15. Excellent for Time Sensitive Posts
- 16. Encourages Transparency and Trust Keeps the library relevent in the digisphere and on people’s minds.
- 17. Encourage Real Time Conversation
- 18. Tweet about special collections
- 20. Spotlight Important Library Weeks Examples: Teen Tech Week – in March National Library Week – in April Banned Books Week – in October
- 21. Tips for Effective Tweeting • Time your tweets for maximum effectiveness. • Hootsuite or Tweetdeck useful for setting up timed Tweets. • Do not bombard your followers with Tweets.
- 22. Humanize Your Library’s Voice Followers need to have the sense that a person is conversing with them.
- 23. Leave Formality at the door, be casual in tone. Do : “Hey, it’s so hot outside – that we’re staying open so you can avoid melting into the sidewalk.” Don’t: “The library is open for extended hours due to the heat advisory.”
- 24. The best person to tweet for your library may not be a librarian - -Assign staff who already enjoy social media. -Are conversational and convey warmth. -Has a sense of humor and will interact well with a wide variety of followers.
- 25. Eschew Library Jargon. Bad example : “Use the RFID machines to check out current periodicals.” Good example : “Hey! Current mags now available for check out with a swipe of your library card!”
- 26. Encourage the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Do not be afraid of negative comments. It’s all part of the conversation! The good news: most followers are very enthusiastic and supportive.
- 27. Quickly respond to any interaction. Even 24 hours is a lifetime in the social media realm!
- 28. Link to, Retweet, Share whenever your library is in the news- MKE_CC Oct 11, 2:47pm via Web MKE residents may register to vote at City Hall or any @MilwaukeePubLib until Wednesday, October 17 - call 286-3491 for add'l voter info
- 29. More ways to engage followers: Author Birthdays- Favorite library quotes – “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx US comedian with Marx Brothers (1890 - 1977)”
- 30. Tweet about Standard Library FAQ’S How to apply for a library card. How to reserve a meeting room. How to download ebook/audiobook content.
- 31. Ideas for Twitter Posts Share reminders about civic services: -Where to vote. -Property tax bill schedule. -Municipal Trick or Treat schedule.
- 32. Tweet about… -Library Programs -Digital Collections -Super Readers! -Databases -Old Library Photos -Exhibits
- 33. Contests and Giveaways Ex: The first five correct responses will win a set of tickets to the Milwaukee Film Festival!
- 34. Behind the Scenes “Nuts and Bolts”
- 35. Twitter Clients • Hootsuite • Tweetdeck • Twitpic
- 36. Hootsuite Most popular of the Twitter dashboard clients. - Updates content from blogs and Facebook. - Assign work teams to Twitter account. - Schedule Tweets ahead of time. - Automatically converts content into Twitter format using owl.ly extension. - Tracks statistics. - Fee based but basic account free.
- 37. Tracking your Twitter Activity Tweets stay on Twitter an average of 4 days. Twitter soon to make archiving available. Twitter Client such as HootSuite keeps Tweets longer.
- 38. Measuring Usage
- 39. Thank you for attending this session.
- 40. Questions, Comments,Thoughts? e-mail : Judy Pinger jeping@milwaukee.gov
Editor's Notes
- #2: Good Morning!I’m Judy Pinger from Milwaukee Public Library.I’ve been a librarian for over 20 years.Became extremely interested in social media about five years ago.I’ve seen firsthand the many benefits that Twitter has brought to our library.A quick show of hands…how m any of you have a Twitter account at your library?
- #4: The objective is to get as many followers as possible to click on your headline and read the content.
- #5: There is a lot of chirping going on!
- #6: Twitter originally called Twittr as it was inspired by the spelling of Flickr.Developed to be used as an in-house communication tool but quickly mushroomed.
- #12: Using the @ sign also ensures that the same tweet will appear in the targeted tweeter’s feed.
- #13: People have been participating in forms of social media for centuries. Abbreviated text is nothing new.Back in the 19th century, telegraph operators used GM, SFD, and GA meant good morning, stop for dinner, and go ahead.
- #14: Keynote address : Lewis Feldstein and social capital