Using Twitter as a PLN Part 2

Using Twitter as your PLN

Part 2:
Building online Relationships

by
Julia Ault


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.”

.


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

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.


So how do I build relationships
using Twitter ?
Follow this 6 step program (detailed in Part 1)

Create a Twitter account
Create and/or Follow Twitter Lists
Create a HootSuite account
Import your social networks into HootSuite
Create tabs and streams of content
Join in – Start Tweeting!

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.


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.


• 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

Create some tabs in HootSuite and add streams from
lists you are following and # searches you have saved.

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:

2. This is the basic compose window:

There are many options to choose from and
we will go through a few of them now:

3. Schedule your tweets for posting later

4. Add a location to your tweets

5. Attach an image or file to your tweets

6. Add links and shrink them

7. Save messages as drafts to view and send
later

8. Choose which social networks to post to

How do I send a tweet?

9. Retweet (RT) good tweets by others – these
could contain interesting information or links


Your Twitter stream is refreshed regularly and
shows you how many unread messages there
are

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

Choose which list to add them to:

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. 

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

Do It Yourself (DIY)
Helpful Links:

Educator’s PLN: http://edupln.ning.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com
Twitter Resources:
HootSuite: http://hootsuite.com
Ffynnonweb Tutorials and Resources Wiki
Listorious: http://listorious.com
SlideShare: My Presentations
YouTube: My videos
Ffynnonweb Blog

End of Part 2:

Building online Relationships

by

Julia Ault

Jan 2012

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Using Twitter as a PLN Part 2

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