Tweetorial: Twitter 101

August 29, 2012

AgendaWhat is TwitterTwitter for Journalism

Twitter Vocabulary

What is Twitter?Show of hands:Who’s heard of Twitter?Who is using Twitter?

What are you using it for?

What is Twitter?a real-time information network

users share Tweets, each140 characters

What is Twitter? share links to

interesting content on the web

conversations around hot topics

real-time accounts from people who are in the midst of a newsworthy event, crisis, or natural disaster

How It’s AccessedTwitter.comTwitter via SMSTwitter AppsBlackberryiPhoneAndroid

African Countries on Twitter1. South Africa2. Kenya3. Nigeria4. Egypt5. Morocco6. Algeria7. Rwanda8. Tunisia9. Mali10. Cameroon11. Sudan

12. Angola13. Namibia14. Niger15. Burkina Faso16. Ethiopia17. Libya18. Democratic Republic

of the Congo19. Gabon20. Ghana

Source: Portland

How do Africans use Twitter?68% use Twitter to monitor news“I rely on Twitter as a primary source for information on…”

Health

Employment opportunities

Sports

Politics

National News

Entertainment/gossip

International news

21

22

43

55

68

69

76

Africans on Twitter

Africans on Twitter

#ReportTwitter searchQuick and easy way to surface lots of information in real time

#EngageUse Twitter to connect with your audienceShare what you’re working onShare what you find interesting

Build trust with your community

Vocabulary: TweetS

s

Vocabulary: TimelineS

Vocabulary: VerifiedS

s

Vocabulary: @S

s

Vocabulary: DMs

Vocabulary: Trending

Vocabulary: URL Shortener

Vocabulary: Hashtag

Vocabulary: RT

Tips: TweetsPictures and video are popular

Strive for a behind the scenes, casual relationshipDon’t sound too formal, but stay professional.

Tips: Twitter CultureAttribute info, quotes and tweets.

Say thank you, and praise users for their contributions.

Don’t delete tweets – if you make a mistake, admit to it, apologize and make the correction.