Learn about Twitter and discover how it has become a powerful, timely, and meaningful professional development resource for product managers. We'll discuss how product managers use Twitter to share best practices within the profession. PCA12 PCATX

1. Twitter and the #prodmgmt
Community
Alicia Dixon, @specialLi1972
Matt Anderson, @MattAndersonUT
#PCATX12

2. #PCATX12

3. Twitter and the #prodmgmt
Community
• Learn about Twitter and discover how it has
become a powerful, timely, and meaningful
professional development resource for
product managers.
• We'll discuss how product managers use
Twitter to share best practices within the
profession.
• We'll be live-tweeting during the session.
#PCATX12

4. Twitter and the #prodmgmt
Community
• How to follow #PCATX12 :
– Go to Twitter
– Enter PCATX12 in the search bar
– Change from Top to All
#PCATX12

5. #PCATX12

6. Twitter and the #prodmgmt
Community
• How to follow #PCATX12 :
– Go to Twitter
– Enter PCATX12 in the search bar
– Change from Top to All
• When you tweet, enter #PCATX12.
#PCATX12

7. Twitter and the #prodmgmt
Community
• How to follow #PCATX12 :
– Go to Twitter
– Enter PCATX12 in the search bar
– Change from Top to All
• When you tweet, enter #PCATX12.
• If you’re tweeting something really
awesome, also use #prodmgmt.
#PCATX12

8. Twitter and the #prodmgmt
Community
• We’ll also be using http://twitterfall.com
#PCATX12

9. About Us
• Alicia Dixon
• @specialLi1972
• Mobile Product Mgr, INFP, HowardU Lady
Bison, BAMA Alum & Crimson Tide
fan, NBMBAA, & ProductCamp DC Planning
Team
• Maryland · just1morething.com
#PCATX12

10. About Us
• Matt Anderson
• @MattAndersonUT
• product manager and academic
librarian...interested in
libraries, #prodmgmt, #prodmktg, education,
#ux, & web design
• Draper, UT · mattanderson.org
#PCATX12

11. Twitter Personas
#PCATX12

12. Twitter Personas - Broadcaster
• Views Twitter as a publishing media
– Used to complement blogs or other media
• Curates Timeline around a few specialty topics
• Has many Followers, but follows few
– Limited (if any) dialogue with others on Twitter
– High number of total tweets
#PCATX12

13. Broadcaster Example
#PCATX12

14. Twitter Personas - Consumer
• Views Twitter as a source for updates on
current events
• Timeline varies from single topic to numerous
topics of interest
• Follows many, but has few Followers
– Limited dialogue with others on Twitter
– Heavy use of retweets
#PCATX12

15. Consumer Example
#PCATX12

16. Twitter Personas - Networker
• Views Twitter as a platform to build
relationships & share information
• Timeline includes numerous topics of
interest, current events, and personal updates
• Followers and Follows are fairly equal
– Active dialogue with anyone on Timeline
– High number of total tweets
#PCATX12

17. Networker Example
#PCATX12

18. #PCATX12 Question
• Q1 What sort of Twitter persona
(broadcaster, consumer, or networker) are
you? Why? #PCATX12
#PCATX12

19. Real Life Success Stories - Cindy
• Cindy F. Solomon, Startup Product
– See #prodmgmttalk
– Started as a weekly Twitter chat & grew into an
enterprise
#PCATX12

20. Real Life Success Stories - Katelyn
• Katelyn Friedson, Mixergy
– See katelynfriedson.com
– Tweeted her way to a job
#PCATX12

21. Twitter and #prodmgmt
• Why does Twitter work well for prodmgmt-toprodmgmt communication?
– Many tech companies tell product folks to use
Twitter for live-tweeting events
– It’s really easy to use Twitter with a mobile device
#PCATX12

22. Twitter and #prodmgmt
• Why does Twitter work well for prodmgmt-toprodmgmt communication?
– Product folks tend to have less than 1000
followers, so tweeting with prodmgmt colleagues
once in a while is not the burden that email is
– The perfect tweet takes less time to create than
the perfect email
#PCATX12

23. #PCATX12 Question
• Q2 What percentage of your routine email
communication do you think you could limit to
140 characters? #PCATX12
#PCATX12

24. Twitter Best Practices
• Reciprocate – don’t just ask for help; help
other people to provide value
• Consistent presence – interact with the
community on a regular basis (does not have
to be every day but needs to be often enough
that others get to know you)
• Ask for help – you don’t get what you don’t
ask for; the community is very willing to honor
legitimate and realistic requests
#PCATX12

25. Twitter Best Practices
• Interact – don’t just push content; dialogue
with others about what the content means to
you or explain why you disagree with a point
of view
#PCATX12

26. #PCATX12

27. Twitter Best Practices
• Hashtag – be sure to use #prodmgmt or
#prodmktg in communications
#PCATX12

28. #prodmgmtbarjoke
#PCATX12

29. Twitter Best Practices
• Supportiveness – Product is a tough career
where it can feel like it's you against everyone.
Another product manager's support is very
valuable.
• Be a hub of communication – when you come
across interesting information, share it with
others
#PCATX12

30. #PCATX12 Question
• Q3 When you have a #prodmgmt crisis, who
do you turn to? #PCATX12
#PCATX12

31. Twitter Best Practices
• Inclusiveness – Allow others to join in your
conversation. Welcome input from those at
all levels.
#PCATX12

32. #PCATX12

33. Reasons to Use Twitter
•
•
•
•
Show people your brand
Get people to read your content
Validate your ideas about #prodmgmt
Gain a support network
#PCATX12

34. Reasons to Use Twitter
• Sources
– Nobles, K. (n.d.). Network Your Way to a Career with Twitter. In UNC University
Career Services. Retrieved February 14, 2014, from
http://careers.unc.edu/blogs/career-blog/network-your-way-careertwitter.html
– Obeidallah, D. (2013, December 22). Think before you tweet. In CNN Opinion.
Retrieved February 14, 2014, from
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/05/opinion/obeidallah-tweet-pitfalls
– Silverman, R. E., & Weber, L. (2013, April 9). The New Résumé: It's 140
Characters. In The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2014, from
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142412788732382030457841274
1852687994?mg=reno64wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB1000142412788732
3820304578412741852687994.html
– Whitcomb, S. (n.d.). Twitter Job Search Guide. In Susan Whitcomb . Retrieved
February 14, 2014, from
http://www.susanwhitcomb.com/category/posts/twitter-job-search-guide
#PCATX12