Archive for the ‘how to’ tag
Tracking Instagram, Vine and more with TweetReach
TweetReach Quick Tip: Did you know you can track anything on Twitter? Even though Instagram has revoked its display cards (effectively removing in-Twitter viewing only), the hashtags and other keywords still show up, so you can effectively track an Instagram campaign that’s cross-posted to Twitter. Same goes for Vine posts, and anything else. You just need a hashtag, URL or keyword to find those posts on Twitter. Simply enter the hashtag or keyword into our search box, and you can find any tweets that include it, even if they originated on Instagram or Vine– or anywhere else.
Want more on using hashtags? Twitter has a best practices post on their Development Blog.
A SXSW 2013 shot from our Union Metrics Instagram account
Miss a conference? 5 tips for getting the most out of the hashtag on Twitter
We’ve covered how to get the most out of a conference using hashtags as both an attendee and as the host before, but what if you planned to go to a conference and missed it, or can’t afford the trip?
- Go to the conference website and check someone’s feed that you know attended to see what hashtags were used; this will cover all the bases if either source missed one
- Search those hashtags to see what the main conference chatter was about:
- Making connections: maybe someone you have a good relationship with connected with someone else you’d like an intro to
- Notes from presentations/keynotes: find links to SlideShares and recordings
- Photos: get a feel for what events were like
- Observations about the location: if you’re planning to attend in the future, you can remember the restaurants, bars and other sites attendees recommended
- If you’re familiar with the area and you know in advance you’re going to miss the conference, consider tweeting out some suggestions for places to go eat and socialize on the hashtag(s)
- See if someone made a Storify of the conference, or consider making one yourself and tweet out the link with the conference hashtag(s)
- Run a free TweetReach snapshot report for the main hashtag to see top contributors (you might want to follow them) and what the most retweeted tweets were. Be sure to do this as soon as the conference ends so you can get the best information. (And if you want more, you can buy a full report for $20, no account necessary.)
- Ask if anyone has a link to a blog post about the conference from past years; that way you can really get a complete picture of how it changes year over year
Did we miss any good tips? Leave ‘em in the comments.
Using Twitter as a nonprofit
We talked to Beverly Robertson of the March of Dimes about using social media as a nonprofit in one of our TakeFives earlier this year, and here’s what she had to say:
“TweetReach: Do you feel the approach or reliance on social platforms is different for a nonprofit organization? What would you recommend to one that is just starting on their social strategy, or is uncertain of how to even begin?
Beverly Robertson: Social Media is critical not only for delivering mission messaging, but in introducing the organization to a new audience, as well as keeping track of what people are saying about you and your mission. It also is critical to take the opportunity to thank your donors and volunteers publicly for all of their hard work and support. I cannot tell you what a tremendous response we get for doing that. My recommendation is jump in, but listen before you speak.”
If you’re a nonprofit who would like to get more out of social media, here are some tips to get started on Twitter:
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Listen before you speak: see what other non-profits have to say in their Twitter profiles and down their timelines before you jump into tweeting.
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Listening to other accounts can give you a good idea of etiquette and basic interactions, but be sure to use your organization’s voice and be human
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Find supporters and follow them. Interact where it’s appropriate: proactively answer questions and provide links to more information
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If someone is spreading misinformation about your organization on Twitter, you have options:
a. Address them and gently correct the information, sharing a link for them/those following the conversation to read more
b. Send out a tweet from your own account that does not directly address the account spreading the misinformation, but corrects it Either way, try to avoid getting into a verbal battle with someone on Twitter. Neither party ever looks good.
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Take major issues offline: if someone comes to you on Twitter with a big problem, make sure you’re mutually following one another and then DM an email address where a deeper discussion can take place
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Check for hashtags related to your cause and monitor them; this is one way to track what’s being said about your organization
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If there aren’t any obvious ones, create a hashtag and start using it. Encourage your supporters to pick it up as well.
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Regularly monitor search results for the name of your organization, both the version you have for Twitter (such as @marchofdimes) and any iterations of the name without the handle: March of Dimes, MoD, etc. (Use Twitter’s search, create columns in TweetDeck and even run a free snapshot report with us.)
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Consider hosting a tweet chat. Those interested in supporting your cause could find you through another’s timeline or the chat hashtag, and will have a chance to interact with and follow you, as well as ask questions.
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Finally, be sure you have easy-to-find, working social buttons on your website! Supporters won’t know where to find you if you don’t tell them.
Want more information on how nonprofits used social media in 2012? Check out the infographic below featured on Mashable (and if you have any tips for us, leave them in the comments!):
9 tips for watching TV on Twitter
Live-blogging has spawned a new generation of itself, and the cool kids these days are live-Tweeting and Tumbling while they watch their favorite shows. Sound like something you’d like to get in on? We’ve got some suggestions to help get you started using Twitter while you watch TV.
After all, 4 in 5 Americans multitask while they’re watching TV now, did you know?
From Marketing Charts
If you want to be one of them, here are some tips for getting social while watching your favorite shows:
- Check for an official show or episode hashtag. Using this, you can join in the voices of the multitude – or minority – watching. It’s easy to connect with like-minded people this way. You can find these hashtags by searching for an official show handle by typing the show name into Twitter search, and then go to that account to see what hashtag(s) they use. If there’s no official account, or they’re not using hashtags, click through other search results to see what other people are using.
- If a hashtag doesn’t already exist, make up your own. People who follow you who watch the show might join in, and it can spread from there. Or someone who follows you who doesn’t even watch the show might start, because they know someone else who watches it.
- You might want to announce ahead of time if you’re going to be live-tweeting a show, and that you’ll be using a hashtag, just in case anyone wants to mute it if they’re not interested.
- Do not tweet spoilers. Ever. Remember that not everyone is watching live, and you don’t want to be the one who ruins the ending for everyone else.
- Interact with other people talking about the show, replying to and retweeting them when appropriate.
- Mention official accounts for the show, the actors or the characters. You never know when you might get a retweet, and those accounts often have a large following. You can find them by searching Twitter for the show name and choosing the official account that pops up with a verified checkmark, or by going to the show’s website – they all have their social profiles prominently displayed.
- Follow people you have an interesting interaction with – that’s what being social is all about, after all. You may find some new friends.
- For big events where you might have people over to be social IRL too – like a Super Bowl party or Oscar party – post pictures of your setup, and include guest’s handles in your tweets.
- Share your content from other networks like Tumblr and Instagram. But be careful of auto-sharing everything you post elsewhere; those who follow you in multiple places might get bothered by the redundancy and decide to unfollow you. It’s great to cross-post some, but be selective.
Do you tweet while you watch TV? Got any tips we missed? Tell us how you do it in the comments below.
TweetReach Tip: Find & engage influencers on Twitter with TweetReach Trackers
We’ve already covered how to find influencers when you run a TweetReach snapshot report, but how about on a Tracker? They are set up a little differently. On a Tracker, you’ll want to check out the Top Contributors section, obviously:
In this case, we’re looking at a Tracker for Canadian astronaut and current Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) Chris Hadfield, tracking his Twitter handle @Cmdr_Hadfield. In this case, the contributors will be people who are retweeting, mentioning and talking to Commander Hadfield on Twitter. This shows you in a glance who is doing that and generating the most impressions from it.
Looking more closely at contributors is also a great way to connect with those who are influential in your industry, or about the topic (or account) you’re tracking. This shows you who to follow and talk to in a specific industry or around a certain topic. You can do this by clicking on any username anywhere in your Tracker, which will take you to our contributor detail page, which includes more information about the account and how much that person has contributed to the topic you’re tracking. It looks like this:
You can see that this account is engaged with Commander Hadfield’s – they’re the top contributor behind Hadfield himself – and generated a respectable amount of retweets for a tweet they sent out showcasing the recent turnover in ISS command. You can also see more detailed information about the account, such as how many tweets and impressions they’ve contributed mentioning or retweeting Commander Hadfield, as well as their average retweet rate, amplification, and more.
Aside from Top Contributors, you will also want to look at the Highest Exposure and Most Retweeted tweet listing sections:
Pictured: Tweet with the highest exposure
Pictured: most retweeted tweets for this Tracker
Watch to see which users show up in your Tracker’s most popular tweet with any regularity; these are definitely people to connect with – if you aren’t already connected – because they’re interested in your content and they get a lot of attention from whatever they’re putting out into their own stream. These accounts are great to engage with by following back, having conversations with, and retweeting interesting content, if that’s appropriate for your brand or approach. You can also engage by seeing if they take part in Twitter chats, and if they’re about a relevant topic or industry, join in. This will lead you to more likeminded people to connect with.
How do you use your Trackers and reports to find influencers? Tell us your story in the comments below!
Twitter Tips: Keyboard shortcuts for navigating on the site
We’re all busy, and some of us are too busy to bother with our computer’s mouse or trackpad. If that sounds like you, check out this handy list of Twitter keyboard shortcuts (we posted something similar over on Tumblr, if you’re into keyboard navigation on all of your social sites):
B → block user
U → unblock user
F → favorite
J → next tweet
K → previous tweet
L → close open tweets
M → new direct message
N → new tweet
R → reply
T → retweet
G + A → activity page
G + C → connect page
G + D → discover page
G + F → favorites
G + H → home
G + L → lists
G + M → messages
G + P → profile
G + R → mentions
G + S → settings
G + U → go to a profile
Space → page down
/ → search
. → load new tweets
? → load shortcut menu
Got any we missed? Leave them in the comments. Happy shortcut tweeting!
Learn more about TweetReach Pro in a webinar on March 20
Did you know you can do more with TweetReach Pro? Learn about the ongoing, full-fidelity and comprehensive metrics available through a Pro account in this short demo webinar we’re hosting Wednesday, March 20 at 11:00 a.m. PDT.
Register here.
We’ll show you how TweetReach Pro works, what’s included and answer any questions you have. And? Attendees will be eligible for a special discount coupon. See you Wednesday!
Measure more with TweetReach Pro
(Photo courtesy SMU Central University Libraries)
7 tips to maximize your conference attendance using Twitter
We’ve covered how you can maximize using Twitter during your conference as a host– now what about as an attendee? Here are some quick tips to maximize your conference experience via Twitter:
The basics:
- Learn the official event hashtag & double-check that you’re typing it correctly: seems simple enough, but you’ll miss out on a lot of connection and engagement with a typo
- Make sure you’re following the host’s official account (or accounts): check periodically to see if there have been any changes in the scheduling, location of panels or smaller events, or any other breaking conference news
- Advanced move? Research food places (and coffeeshops; even bars with good happy hour!) near the conference location, and follow some of them on Twitter. You might score a discount with a Twitter coupon, or at least have a place to invite follow attendees around sessions!
What you’re saying:
- Quoting someone? Cite it as the speaker or an audience member, and tag it with their Twitter handle, if you have the information handy
- Keep it short and sweet: you’ll be more likely to be retweeted if you keep your character count low, and other conference goers don’t have to trim your tweet down to add their own thoughts before retweeting
- Share, follow back, add your thoughts– don’t just lurk in the conference hashtag streams! This is how you strike up conversations and form relationships with fellow attendees
- Turn online interactions into offline: notice you keep tweeting with the same people? Meet up for lunch, coffee or happy hour to take your conference networking offline
Got something we missed? Share it in the comments. And we’ll see you at #SXSWi 2013!
Photo credit: Scott Beale/Laughing Squid at laughingsquid.com