Using Twitter as your PLN

Part 2: Building online Relationships

by Julia Ault

Using Twitter as your PLN

What is a PLN? A PLN is a Personal Learning Network.

Twitter makes an excellent online PLN for Librarians, Teachers and Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Professionals.

A PLN can be local, national or global!

One Educator wrote recently that: “I have found more resources and got more useful advice

for professional development in 3 months on Twitter than in the previous 5 years without it.”

.

Using Twitter as your PLN

In Part 1 we learned how to build the toolbox.

In Part 2 we shall look at how to use the tools effectively to

develop your Personal Learning Network (which can also be

thought of as a Community of Practice within your chosen field)

and to build meaningful online relationships with your PLN

Using Twitter as your PLN

In this presentation I am demonstrating the

standard web version of HootSuite because this is

accessible to anyone with a computer and a web

browser.

There are also excellent HootSuite mobile apps for:

•iPhone

•BlackBerry

•Android

•iPad

..which will keep you connected on the move.

Using Twitter as your PLN

So how do I build relationships using Twitter ?

Follow this 6 step program (detailed in Part 1)

Create a Twitter accountCreate and/or Follow Twitter ListsCreate a HootSuite accountImport your social networks into

HootSuiteCreate tabs and streams of contentJoin in – Start Tweeting!

Using Twitter as your PLN

Why use a Twitter/social media client?

It is much easier to manage lists - especially if you have a variety of different interests that you want to keep up with using the same Twitter account - using either a web, mobile or desktop client, instead of just going to your Twitter page on the web.

Your own tweets will still be seen by all your followers though, so if you want to keep your sporting, hobby, or political tweets separate from your work-based library or learning/teaching tweets, you will need to create more than one Twitter account.

You can add multiple accounts to one client, so you are still able to manage everything on one screen.

Using Twitter as your PLN

Why use HootSuite?

HootSuite is just one of many applications that do

much the same thing – TweetDeck and Seesmic are

other very popular clients, but I am using HootSuite

as an example - simply because it is a web-based

client - which means you can access it anywhere

through a web browser or mobile device with no need

to install anything on your computer.

Using Twitter as your PLN

• If you created a HootSuite account in Part 1 go to http://hootsuite.com in any web

browser and login with your email address and

password.

• If not, you can sign up now - the process has been simplified since I wrote Part 1 - which is always helpful!

• If you have not yet begun creating or following lists, just follow some of mine to get you started.

Lists by @juliadesigns

Using Twitter as your PLN Lists by @juliadesigns

Using Twitter as your PLN

Lists by @juliadesigns

Using Twitter as your PLN

Lists by @juliadesigns

Using Twitter as your PLN Create some tabs in HootSuite and add streams

from lists you are following and # searches you have saved.

Using Twitter as your PLN

The next few screens show you how you can

send a tweet and what you can add to it.

1.Choose the account(s) that you wish to

post from:

Using Twitter as your PLN

2. This is the basic compose window:

There are many options to choose from

and we will go through a few of them

now:

Using Twitter as your PLN

3. Schedule your tweets for posting later

Using Twitter as your PLN

4. Add a location to your tweets

Using Twitter as your PLN

5. Attach an image or file to your tweets

Using Twitter as your PLN

6. Add links and shrink them

Using Twitter as your PLN

7. Save messages as drafts to view and send

later

Using Twitter as your PLN

8. Choose which social networks to post to

Using Twitter as your PLN

How do I send a tweet?

9. Retweet (RT) good tweets by others –

these could contain interesting information

or links

Using Twitter as your PLN

Your Twitter stream is refreshed regularly and

shows you how many unread messages

there are

Using Twitter as your PLN

Click on any user’s name to find out more about them and add them to your lists or follow them.

Using Twitter as your PLN

Choose which list to add them to:

Using Twitter as your PLN

So why Retweet (RT) ?

It has been suggested that people who regularly retweet quality content from others are more likely to be followed by both the person retweeted and some or all of the retweeted persons own followers. This is useful if you are new to Twitter and trying to build your PLN.

If you are particularly taken by the content posted by some folk on the lists you follow, take a moment to retweet specific tweets that captured your attention.

This not only alerts others to a good link/article or comment but is generally welcomed by the original poster as a sign that their content is liked and or useful and they may repay the compliment by following or retweeting you.

Using Twitter as your PLN

Summary:•Create a Twitter Account •Create a HootSuite account•Follow some relevant lists and add them as streams to your HootSuite client.•Follow individuals from the lists if the content they are posting interests you.•Interact with the people on your lists.•Introduce yourself with a tweet•Post any links you think others may find helpful or interesting.•Retweet (RT) good tweets that you see

Using Twitter as your PLN

Do It Yourself (DIY)Helpful Links:

Educator’s PLN: http://edupln.ning.comTwitter: http://twitter.comTwitter Resources: HootSuite: http://hootsuite.comFfynnonweb Tutorials and Resources WikiListorious: http://listorious.comSlideShare: My PresentationsYouTube: My videosFfynnonweb Blog

End of Part 2:

Building online Relationships

by

Julia Ault

Jan 2012

Go to Part 1