1. How To
Participate in a
Chat

2. If you are new to Twitter, go to:
http://www.twitter.com
Sign up to create a new account

3. How to Find Your Twitter Chat
The host promoting the chat will Tweet or otherwise communicate the
hashtag where the chat will take place. Hashtags are preceded by a “#”
and are used to group messages containing that term. Here’s an example:
“Join our #ourchat tonight at 8:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!”

4. How to Find Your Twitter Chat
(continued)
In addition, there are various places where you can access lists of chat.
Converoo is a good place to start. Point your browser to
http://www.converoo.com to enter a search by topic and get rated
chat lists.

5. How to Find Your Twitter Chat
(continued)
Another way to find a chat is to search your topic on the search engine of
your choice – or you can try accessing this list on Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aprv5ylG3L56dGs1Z1NTX
zNNUnZZZ3JMQ2Vyc0xoN3c#gid=0

6. How to Find Your Twitter Chat
(continued)
Here’s a secondary Google Docs resource to try:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhqFy8Dmji4NdGVmRFR
ma3phUjFQTzFRZ2JHeTVrNlE#gid=0

7. Twitter Chat Platforms
● After you have chosen the chat(s) in which you want to participate, you
will need to choose a platform to access the chat.
● It is difficult to chat directly from Twitter; we suggest you choose from
one of these (free) platforms:
̶ TweetChat http://tweetchat.com/
̶ TweetDeck http://tweetdeck.com/
̶ hootsuite http://hootsuite.com/
̶ TweetGrid http://tweetgrid.com/

8. Twitter Chat Platforms
(continued)
● Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses and everyone has
their own favorites. So choose the one that is the best fit for you. Also,
if you are already using hootsuite or TweetDeck, you may want to start
there.

9. Our Favorite is TweetChat

10. We also like to use hootsuite
to monitor mentions.

11. TweetDeck is another option

12. TweetGrid! is yet
another option

13. Chat Guidelines/Etiquette
● Allow the moderator/leader to begin the chat, if it hasn’t started
already.
● Introduce yourself – don’t be a lurker!
● For the first few times you take part in a chat, take extra care to
listen for the conversational tone
● Sometimes the moderator or guest will ask participants questions.
Questions will be preceded by Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. When you respond
by Tweeting answers, preface each response with A1, A2, etc.
● In every chat, listen to what is being said so that you can ask
appropriate questions that are on topic

14. Chat Guidelines/Etiquette
(continued)
● When taking part in a chat, remember to use professional manners
● Do not let a discussion get heated and uncivil in tone even if you
disagree. Remember, the comments that you make on Twitter will
live on.

15. Interacting and Responding
Notice in the
TweetDeck
dashboard, the
conversation
continues. You
want to be sure
that you are
engaging with the
people who are
talking to you and
thanking you. So
monitor carefully
for your @
mentions

16. Using the Hashtag (#) to
Continue the Conversation
● When you regularly participate in a chat, you can continue the
conversation during the week using the same hashtag from the chat
● If you see an article that relates to something that was said during
the previous chat, reference the point, share the article link, and
add the hashtag for visibility and to reach the chat participants

17. A list of Twitter Chat resources
may be found on Listly
http://list.ly/list/102-all-about-twitter-chat-sessions?feature=myfollow
Courtesy of Steve Cassady