Twitter 101 for the Construction Industry

Presenters: Patty Swisher, Director of Marketing & PRIKM Incorporated Architects@pmswish @ikminc

Ron Kubitz, Recruiting ManagerBrayman Construction@ronbray @braymanjobs

Special Thanks to Karlye Rowles,

Marketing Manager of Schneider Downs@Karlye Rowles @Schneider_Downs

@MBAofWPA

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Agenda

1. What is Twitter

2. How to use Twitter

3. Resources

What is Twitter?

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What is Twitter?Twitter is a social networking and

microblogging service that enables users to broadcast and read short (140 character), text-based messages called tweets.

These updates can be submitted by a variety of means including text messages, instant messaging or a third-party application.

http://infographiclabs.com/news/twitter-2012/

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Twitter is EverywhereTwitter has more than 465 million

accounts generating more than 175 million tweets/day.

Widely adopted by celebrities and companies.◦ Ashton Kutcher was first Twitter user to

have 1 million followers (2009)◦ Examples:

http://socialfresh.com/top-10-twitter-brands-2011-winners-announced/

B2B marketers can use Twitter effectively in 3 key ways:

By listening to what is being said about the company

By engaging with clients and the public

By contributing and sharing their expertise and thought leadership.

Read more at: http://www.optify.net/guides/twitter-for-business-the-ultimate-b2b-guide?_opt_r=TWITTER&_opt_rdid=6058

Twitter for Business Goals Metrics

Increase Brand Awareness

• Reach (followers + RT * RT’s followers)• Followers• Branded

Drive Traffic • Visits

Generate Leads • Leads

Nurture Leads • Visits and returning leads

Improve customer service

• Twitter conversations• Positive mentions• Changes in customer satisfaction polls

Use as help channel

• Number of Twitter conversations• Number of DM• Number of mentions of your help #• Change in visits to help section on your website

Read more at: http://www.optify.net/guides/twitter-for-business-the-ultimate-b2b-guide?_opt_r=TWITTER&_opt_rdid=6058

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Twitter is a Communication Tool

Your personal brandProjects, products and updatesAsk questions, seek adviceProvide resources to your

followersBreaking newsTrends

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Should You Be on Twitter?Opportunity to share insightful

ideas with like-minded professionals

Creating a “space” for your knowledge

Ability to research ideas and topics that are relevant to you

Breaking newsRelationship management

How to Use Twitter?

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Setting up Twitter Account

Go to www.twitter.com.

Select a username.

• Upload a photo of yourself.

• Add location

• Include a short profile – 160 characters.

Setting up Twitter Account

Start TweetingFrom twitter.com

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Get Started

Find people to follow.◦ Who to follow – Twitter suggestions

◦ Search Twitter for people you know

◦ Search Twitter to find people with similar

interests

◦ Tool: http://wefollow.com/

Listen to conversations

We Follow

1,170 followers

http://wefollow.com/twitter/

What should I tweet? RTs things you find of interestArticles from Trade JournalsAsk questionsCurrent events/news itemsLinks to blog postsPhotos

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Tweets and Messages◦@Replies and Mentions

◦RT (retweet) Reposting of someone else’s Tweets Without comment

With comment Copy the content of the tweet you’d like to share. Add RT to show it’s

a retweet and the Tweet’s original author’s name. Add your comments.

Tweets and Messages

Send a private message to a follower◦ DM (Direct Message)

◦ Limited to 140 characters

◦ Something you don’t want to share or spread.

◦ Send to followers.

◦ Can’t send to people who do not follow you.

Interactions Tab◦ See what’s happening on Twitter in relation to you.

Favorited tweets Latest retweets @replies and mentions

Activity Tab◦Discover Page◦Stats on the people you follow

Favorites, retweets and follows

Hashtag The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark

keywords or topics in a Tweet.

It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages.

Create a hashtag by prefixing a word with the hash symbol: #mbaofwpa or #AIA or #SMPS

Click on a hash-tagged word in any message show you all other tweets in that category

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Search

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Advanced Searchhttps://twitter.com/#!/search-advanced

Article:Mashable Social Media: HOW TO: Use Twitters Advanced Search Features

URL Shortener Minimizes URL so you have more characters to

express yourself. ◦ Twitter will shorten for you

T.co naming convention

◦ External Service Bit.ly http://tinyurl.com/

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Twitter Rules of Thumb1. Don’t spam.

2. Update consistently.

3. Find the latest buzz and contribute or create the latest buzz.

4. Set up searches.◦ Search for yourself so you can reply to people who @ you.

◦ Search for your interests – Surfing, Pittsburgh, Sports

5. Take it slow. ◦ Don’t worry if you have 2 followers and follow 100 people.

◦ You will gain followers as you get involved in the conversation and post interesting content.

6. You cannot edit a tweet after you post it. You can only delete it.

7. Some things are better left unsaid.◦ Use discretion.

◦ Tweets are archived digitally by the Library of Congress

Twitter EtiquetteBe AuthenticFollowers

◦Don’t be obliged to follow everyoneShare

◦RT with comments or without Reciprocate

◦Say Thank You for RTs and mentionsTake it Offline

Twitter Resources

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Twitter Resources10 Easy Steps for Twitter

Beginners◦ http://www.twitip.com/10-easy-steps-for-twitter-beginners

/

Twitter Help Center◦ https://support.twitter.com/

Use 3rd Party App to Manage

http://hootsuite.com/dashboard#/tabs?id=1136831

Buffer App

Buffer App

TweetChat

http://www.mbawpa.org/socialmediaresources.asp @MBAofWPA

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Fail Whale

Thank You!

@MBAofWPA