
Twitter Presented by Michelle Bourgeois
Reasons people use Twitter • RSS Feeds • News Feeds • Sports Updates • Recipes • Keeping up with friends • Keeping up with the Kardashians (or bands, businesses, actors, etc.) • Finding answers to questions • Networking • Finding Jobs • Build business
RSS and Twitter Lists • If you follow a lot of people/organizations, Twitter Lists can come in handy. • Organize groups by topic, and you can look at just the tweets for that group • These can be public or private • This format can allow you to use Twitter like an RSS Feed
Finding a job through Twitter • INALJ - @needalibraryjob • ALA Joblist - @ALA_JobList • LibGig - @libgig_jobs • Get Library Jobs - @getlibraryjobs • this one shows all library jobs • Follow libraries and companies of interest to you to hear about positions and the latest news • Have an interview? Library twitter accounts can be a great source of information
Using Twitter in a Library Context • Branding • Social Networking • link into other social networks • Keep people up-to-date on library events • Give tips on library tools and resources • Market the library's resources • Customer Service
Public vs. Private Accounts Pros of Private Cons of Private
Professional Accounts • Use in business • Use for personal branding • Show employers your knowledge, skills, etc. • Link to other accounts • Network
Twitter and Privacy • The Weiner example • Images are shared with everyone! • The "Terrorist" example • "destroy America" • Homeland Security *might* be looking at your tweets • The stalker example
The Mechanics of Twitter • hashtags • RTs • MTs • DMs • Quoting Tweets • Replies • Mentions • Trending Topics • and more
What's a hashtag and why do I care about them? • Twitter Trends • SOTU • Great for use at conferences or events • Make Twitter more searchable • Easy way to clarify tweets (or add sarcasm)
More on Trending Topics • #followfriday • finding old trending topics • topsy.com
RTs, MTs, DMs, quoting tweets, replies, mentions • RT stands for "retweet" • MT means "modified tweet" • DM is a "direct message" • @ for replies
Twittiquette • Have an avatar and a bio • Try not to abbreviate too much • Use proper grammar/spelling when possible • Stagger your tweets • Tweet enough, don't repeat, don't tell everyone what you're having for breakfast every day • Have longer conversations through DM • Be considerate - everyone can see your posts • Give credit (RTs)
Twitter Apps • TweetDeck • HootSuite • Tweetbot (for iPhone, iPad or iPod) • Ubersocial (for most smartphones and tablets) • There are a lot out there: http://goo.gl/p1MmU
Sign up! • If you can, use your name. It might not be available for much longer • Other options: • name+librarian • name_initials • name+thesupercool • name+14159 • It's up to you! and you can always change it later