Twitter 101

How Tweet It Is: Twitter 101 September 9, 2009 For audio, turn on your speakers, or Call 1-516-453-0014; Code 224-337-096

Reminders You can hear us, but we can’t hear you Type questions in the Questions Log Webinar recording and slides will be available on www.mycharityconnects.org Turn up your volume For the best webinar experience, close all other applications. For audio, turn on your speakers, or Call 1-516-453-0014; Code 224-337-096

What is CanadaHelps? A public charitable foundation that provides accessible and affordable online technology to both donors and charities. For Charities A cost-effective means of raising funds online. For Donors A one-stop-shop for giving. CanadaHelps is a charity helping charities. For audio, turn on your speakers, or Call 1-516-453-0014; Code 224-337-096

Today’s Presenters • Amy Huynh Communications Assistant • Kirstin Beardsley Marketing and Communications Coordinator For audio, turn on your speakers, or Call 1-516-453-0014; Code 224-337-096

Webinar Agenda 1. What is Twitter? 2. Decoding Twitter Lingo 3. What Can Twitter be Used For? 4. Creating a Profile that Gets Noticed 5. Top Ten Twitter Tips 6. Q&A For audio, turn on your speakers, or Call 1-516-453-0014; Code 224-337-096

WHAT IS TWITTER?

What is Twitter? • Free micro-blogging tool that lets you share short (up to 140 characters) updates with people • Similar to instant messaging, but opens up conversations to a wider audience Twitter = Instant Messaging + Blogging Source: www.johnhaydon.com

Features of Twitter • It’s built for speed. • It’s simple to use. • It’s public. • It’s highly viral. • Messages are archived. • Messages can be searched. • It has private messaging capability.

So…what does Twitter look like? Let’s take a look!

DECODING TWITTER LINGO

Tweet An individual message on Twitter with 140 characters or less @username • This is your name on Twitter • Usernames on Twitter are displayed with an @ symbol before them, like so: @canadahelps • The @ symbol before a username on Twitter automatically makes it a link to that person’s Profile • Your Twitter profile page is: www.twitter.com/username

The original tweet: Re-Tweet (RT) To repost a valuable tweet by somebody else on Twitter and give them credit Reply (@username) A public message to or about an individual on Twitter

Follow/Following To follow somebody is to subscribe to their tweets Followers People who have chosen to follow your tweets Unfollow/Unfollowing People that you have chosen to stop following Direct Message (DM) A private message on Twitter.

Some tweets with the hashtag #ncwk from www.hashtags.org Hashtag The # symbol followed by a term and included in tweets as a way of categorizing all the posts on a topic, event, group, etc. It’s a way to categorize content on Twitter so that users with similar interests can converse about that topic.

Tweetup An offline meet up with Twitter friends Favorites Tweets that you have “starred” (bookmarked). A way to organize and save tweets. URL shorteners Used to make long links smaller (since you are limited to 140 characters in a tweet). We use http://bit.ly Trending Topics The most-discussed terms on Twitter at any given moment

WHAT CAN TWITTER BE USED FOR?

Building your brand • Raise awareness of your cause and for your organization • Drive traffic to your website • Build trust, legitimacy and authenticity

Gathering support • Gather online and offline support • Tweet opportunities to get involved • Calls to action should be simple and easy

Educating your followers • Educate followers about your cause • Tell people something surprising and interesting about yourself/charity • Provide resources and tips

Adding personality to your organization • Providing supporters with a real human connection within your organization • Don’t be afraid to show who you are as a person • Relate and connect on a personal level

Asking Questions • Get feedback, help and advice in real time • Ask for opinions about your website, latest e-newsletter, new graphics, etc. – people love to help on Twitter! • Brainstorm and share ideas with others

Answering Questions • Give feedback, help and advice in real time • “Customer service” tool • Brainstorm and share ideas with others • Have conversations and build relationships

Showing Appreciation • Thank and RT your supporters & their initiatives on your behalf • Promote others that tell your story • Support your supporters!

Promoting a Fundraising Campaign/Event • Invite your followers to your events and fundraisers • Provide campaign status reports • Tweet your fundraising and program events for those that cannot be there (play by play) • Use www.twitpic.com to tweet photos from events instantly! • Ask for donations and link to your donation page

Listening & Monitoring • Listen to what is being said about your organization, cause, event, etc. • Conversations are already taking place online about your organization • Valuable to listen to the discussions & respond accordingly

Providing updates and information • These posts are very “Web 1.0” • The majority of your posts should not be one-way • Remember: Twitter is NOT an RSS feed • Make sure your tweets have value

CREATING A PROFILE THAT GETS NOTICED

Figuring out your Twitter Personality Organization with Pure Organization Brand Personality Employee with Pure Personal Account Organization Association

Signing up is quick & easy!

Choose the right @username. • Limited to 20 characters • Options: • Your charity’s name (i.e. CharityName) • Your name + charity name (i.e. KellyAtCharityName) • Make sure it’s easily recognizable

Fill in your full name. • If your @username is simply the name of your organization, make it known there is someone behind your account (Amy @ CanadaHelps) • Remember: people want to talk to people

Fill out everything. • Completely fill out the fields under “Settings”  Account • Fill in your one-line bio (limited to 160 characters) • Fill in your More Info URL and location

Customize your page. • Customized Twitter background • Add more information about your organization • Add some visual appeal

Post your first tweet! • Post some tweets • It’s OK to take a few days to get a feel of things • First tweet suggestions: • Say hello. Tell people what made you decide to join Twitter. • First impressions of Twitter • Interesting fact about your charity • Show some of your personality!

Find followers. • Start by following people you know (friends, sponsors, community partners, supporters, volunteers, etc.) • Follow us at www.twitter.com/canadahelps • Find people with similar interests • Find local people • Use search.twitter.com and type in key words to find people • Being in the right niche will make it easy for you to build a community

TOP 10 TWITTER TIPS

Find the balance between conversation and promotion. • Don’t only tweet your own content • Twitter is not a place to simply push out your own messages and agenda • Inspire conversation, ask questions, answer questions, share resources

Don’t be afraid to follow your followers. • If you’re not following people, it’s one-sided relationship. • If you are not following someone, they cannot direct message you. • You don’t have to follow everyone that follows you – check out their profile and see if they are appropriate.

Make use of the “Favorites” feature. • Save memorable and important tweets. • People often check what types of tweets you’ve “favourited” before deciding to follow you.

Say thank you! • If you’re nice and polite on Twitter, people will notice and remember! • Kindness & appreciation will make you stand out

Save relevant search terms on your Twitter dashboard. • Set up search terms: • Org. name • Campaign • Event • Trending topic • Listen to what is being said about your organization • Respond accordingly (ties into next tip!)

Reply and Retweet. T-shirt by www.ThinkGeek.com • Take the time to chat with your followers • Check your @ replies and engage fans directly by asking/answering questions • Retweet interesting content

Provide value to your followers. • Don’t spam people! You can run the risk of losing credibility and followers. • Respect the interests of your followers: direct them to interesting and relevant resources, tools, etc. • Be social: connect with others and be helpful.

Twitter is a tool – not a strategy. • It’s a communication & engagement channel • Important to have the basics covered (website, donation processing, email marketing, etc.) • Remember to integrate Twitter with other social media networks you are a part of

Set up a schedule for yourself. • Make it part of your routine • Devote a set amount of time per day to tweet, retweet, follow, reply! • Good way to start is to incorporate it into your morning email check

You get what you give! • Not enough to just create your profile • Success requires meaningful and ongoing participation • Keep your expectations realistic

ABOUT MYCHARITYCONNECTS

www.mycharityconnects.org • Free online resource centre Next Webinar • Information about technology • Video demonstrations “Gearing up for the • More webinars Giving Season” • Past webinar recordings SEPTEMBER 23 • Learning opportunities 2PM – 3PM • Events (Eastern Time)

Question and Answer You can hear us, but we can’t hear you Ask questions here Ask away!

Thank you for attending! Webinar slides and recording will be up on: www.mycharityconnects.org/pastwebinars Check out www.mycharityconnects.org for resources! Questions, feedback, comments? Email Amy at: amyh@canadahelps.org Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/canadahelps Thanks to:

Twitter 101

by CanadaHelps / MyCharityConnects

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