Tips for Effectively Participating in a Twitter Chat
As marketing professionals, we know a thing or two about participating in Twitter chats. We encourage our employees to participate in Twitter chats based on their job and interests. Some of the Studio Brand team members prefer public relations chats, while others delve into design-related chats. What we all love most about Twitter chats? Learning from other industry pros and picking their brains within 140 characters.
Participating in a chat is really fun and entertaining, but there are appropriate guidelines and a specific etiquette to consider before tweeting away. To help you navigate, we’ve compiled four of our most advantageous tips for effectively participating in a Twitter Chat.
Don’t be spammy
When chatting, utilize Twitter’s different features! From tagging to retweeting to quote retweeting, there are a slew of ways to engage with your users. No matter how you choose to engage, never be spammy. Being spammy can result in a loss of followers or not being considered a credible source. The best way to avoid this is to be personable and retweet or reply, as needed. Make sure to have a creative and unique response to everyone you engage with.
Always use the designated hashtag
Every Twitter chat has its own unique hashtag. This unique hashtag allows participants to follow along by simply searching for the designated characters. If you don’t utilize the hashtag, your tweet won’t populate in the search. This means participants are less likely to see your tweet thereby resulting in less engagement and reach. Whether it’s an original tweet, retweet or reply, always include the #hashtag.
Keep your account public
Having a private account is just as troublesome as not using the designated hashtag in your tweets. Tweets by private accounts will not appear in the live feed, defeating the purpose of participating in a Twitter chat. You want other participants to see your tweets! If you want to keep your personal account private, we recommend creating a second Twitter account for professional purposes, such as industry chats.
Be personable
Last, but certainly not least, be personable! When engaging with other chatters, acknowledge them by their names and develop relationships with them. You want to be known as someone that others want to engage with. Always say hello and goodbye, reference them by name and speak to them in a conversational tone. Oftentimes, Twitter followers can lead to professional connections, so being personable is key!
Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran chatter, implementing these four tips in your next Twitter chat will improve the quality of your engagement and your experience. We want to know - what are your favorite Twitter chats to participate in? Let us know on Twitter!
