This document provides guidance on using Twitter effectively, including understanding the benefits and potential side effects before starting, and not feeling pressured to use it if it does not work for you. It discusses common myths about Twitter, such as only celebrities using it or not being able to say much in 140 characters. It also provides tips on what and who to tweet about, conference tweeting etiquette, and tools to help manage Twitter use.

1. @Andy_tattersall

2. Image used under a Creative Commons:
Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Todd Ryburn

3. Administering Twitter
• You need to understand why you are taking it
• You need to understand the benefits
• You need to understand the side-effects
• You need to understand that the benefits may
take time in coming
• You may need two courses
Do not feel pressured to use it - as it won’t work

5. Navigating Twitter

6. Twitter Myth #1
You can’t say much in 140 characters
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again
and expecting different results.”
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual
power. We have guided missiles and misguided
men.”
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change the world.”

7. The make up of a Tweet

8. Lingo
• RT – Retweet
• MT – Modified Tweet
• Reply – a conversation in Twitter
• @ A mention of someone/organisation
• # Tag – A stream of topic
• DM – Direct Message
• Block – To block a user
• Favourite – To mark for later reference
• URL Shortener - www.bit.ly
• Follow – To follow someone’s Tweets

9. Following

10. Lists

11. Twitter Myth #2
Twitter is only used by sports people and celebs

12. Netiquette
• Watch what you say (10 second rule) - What
goes on the web stays on the Web

13. What to Tweet?
• Publication (book, report, paper, proceedings)
• Presentation
• Idea
• Resource
• Conversation (ice breaker)
• Funding Bid
• Professional achievement
• Link
• Automate (Twentyfeet, Paper.li)

14. Who to follow?
• @EmergencyMedBMJ 11k followers
• @trishgreenhalgh 7k followers
• @NICEcomms 28k followers
• @EM_Journal 5k followers
• @wellcometrust 40k followers
• @LSEimpactBlog 10k followers
• @richardhorton1 (Lancet) 7k followers

15. Conference Tweeting
• Use the # tag
• Create a filter to follow the proceedings
• Advertise your presentation
• Introduce yourself to others – ‘Tweetup’
• Get involved in the conversation
• Carry the conversation on beyond the
conference

16. Twitter Myth #4
“Twitter is a time sinkhole”
Not if you want it to be

17. Tweeting Tools

21. Find something interesting? Tweet it

22. Altmetric it

24. Go Mobile

25. Go Tweet