Getting Started with Twitter

Getting Started
with Twitter
School of Environmental
and Biological Sciences
September 26, 2013
Andy Campbell - @ac_andycampbell
SEBS ITS - @SEBS_ITS

Getting Started with Twitter
What Is Twitter?
• twit·ter /ˈtwitər/
– Verb - (of a bird) Give a call consisting of repeated light tremulous
sounds.
– Noun - A series of short, high-pitched calls or sounds.
– Synonyms verb: chirp - tweet - chirrup - chatter – warble
noun: chirp - tweet - chirrup - warble – chatter
• Twitter (twitter.com)
– Information network made up of 140-character posts called Tweets
– Social (friends/connections) Media (news/information)
– Personal Learning Network
– Networking, Marketing, Information Exchange

But Really, Why Twitter?

Create Your Account
• Visit twitter.com to get started
Enter
Name
Enter
email
Create a
Password
Choose your Twitter Handle on the next screen and you can change it
later

Basic, just created profile for SEBS ITS account

Build Your Profile
• Follow the welcome wizard to start your account, or go direct
to twitter.com to begin a manual setup
• Customize your account & profile:
– follow accounts, use search or visit directly & click “Follow:
– add photos – profile picture & header image
– you can change background colors & other attributes
– fill in all profile information – bio, location, website, etc.
• Public vs. Private Account – Privacy in General
To help illustrate “Getting Started” I launched the new SEBS ITS
Twitter Account while preparing the presentation. Examples &
images show web interface for Twitter.

Updated profile, pictures added, colors changed, bio completed

Terminology & Culture
• Tweet – a post of up to 140 characters
• Followers – accounts that follow you publicly
• Following – accounts that you follow publicly
• Handle – your Twitter Username (@ac_andycampbell)
• #Hashtag – an index/keyword feature using the # symbol
• Trending – the most popular topics being discussed
• RT – Retweet, like an email forward
• MT – Modified Tweet, forward with modifications
• DM – Direct Message, private message
• @Reply – to respond to a Tweet
• Favorite – to mark a Tweet as a favorite
• Mentions/Interactions – list of activity for interaction with your account
• Lists – a means to organize information & accounts
• Search – powerful tool to locate information in Twitter

Start Sharing, Engaging
• Send a tweet
• What to send, when to send is up to you
• Follow some accounts & engage in conversation
• Reply to messages, ask questions, favorite items, retweet
• Search for hashtags & keywords, add them to your tweets or
use them to discover new accounts, new conversations
• Look for scheduled, topical chats – great way to engage with
others and learn the community norms
• Department/Official accounts – send regular, consistent
content, don’t stress about followers, seek engagement
• Be yourself

Compose a Tweet
Start Here

Our first Tweets!

Engagement & Interactions

Basic Retweet
Reply Retweet using RT

Give It Time
• The SEBS ITS account doesn’t have many followers yet but
we’ve begun sharing some information and followed some
accounts that are similar to our own
• We had a few interactions, retweets and replies as the last
three picture slides illustrate
• We plan to share important & emergency information
• Give Twitter time – it is a big network with tons of information
shared daily, don’t get discouraged
• Almost everyone has an “Aha!” moment when they “Get it”
• Use lists to organize information as your network grows –
more about this in the Intermediate Twitter Class

Next Steps
• Watch, read, observe to take in Twitter culture if you are
nervous at first
• Share some information – be yourself
• Add your handle to email signatures & profiles
• Try different Twitter software & clients – mobile, web, etc. –
some are better than others, find the one you like best
• Ask questions both on Twitter or to friends/colleagues –
search for information, tons of help available
• Utilize Twitter – networking, indulge hobbies & passions,
share information, find information, creative outlet, etc.
• Join the conversation

Why the 140 Limit: http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/twitter-basics-why-140-characters-
and-how-to-write-more_b1124
Twitter Glossary: https://support.twitter.com/articles/166337-the-twitter-glossary
Twitter New User FAQ’s: https://support.twitter.com/articles/13920-new-user-faqs
25 Tips to Tweet Like a Pro: http://list25.com/25-twitter-tips-to-help-you-tweet-like-a-pro/
Twitter for Beginners: http://mashable.com/2012/06/05/twitter-for-beginners/
Visual Guide for Beginners: http://www.edudemic.com/a-visual-guide-to-twitter-for-beginners/
Top 10 Tips for Beginners: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341095,00.asp
Twitter 101: http://socialmediatoday.com/justin-wilson/1252026/twitter-101-beginners-guide
Beginners Guide: http://readwrite.com/2012/01/09/a-beginners-guide-to-twitter
Hashtags: http://www.hashtags.org/
Proper Use of Hashtags Rant: http://socialmediatoday.com/node/1613406
Hashtags Guide: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/clueless-everything-you-need-to-know-
about-twitter-hashtags/
SEBS ITS: https://twitter.com/SEBS_ITS
Andy Campbell: https://twitter.com/AC_AndyCampbell
Rutgers Guide to Social Media: http://ur.rutgers.edu/web-ecommunications/using-social-
media
Join Us for Intermediate Twitter on Tuesday, October 22, 2013:
http://uhrapps.rutgers.edu/profdev/script/allcourses.asp

Thank you!

Getting Started with Twitter

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