Webinar taught by Jennifer Wakefield of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission on the use of Twitter for economic development.

1. Understanding Social Media:
Introduction To Twitter

2. Your Host
Jennifer Wakefield, APR
Director, Public Relations
Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC)
@jenwakefield
@MetroOrlandoEDC
@FilmOrlando
@bioOrlando
@OrlandoWorks

3. Poll
• What is your level of experience with Twitter?
A. Just starting…
B. I’m twxperienced! #FTW
C. Thinking about Tweeting…
D. What is Twitter?

4. Poll
• Do you have an active Twitter account for your
organization?
A. Yes
B. No

5. Poll
• What did you have for lunch?
A. Did she seriously just ask that? I knew Twitter
was stupid!
B. Lunch…what’s that?
C. I’m totally kidding. Nobody cares what you had
for lunch.

6. Basics

7. Twitter
“Twitter is a real-time information network powered by
people all around the world that lets you share and
discover what’s happening now.
Twitter asks “what’s happening” and makes the answer
spread across the globe to millions, immediately.”
– Twitter.com
• 140 characters
• All Tweets from 2006 are archived in the U.S. Library of
Congress – announced in April 2010

8. Stats
• Twitter – April 2010 at Chirp Conference
– Over 105 million users; 300,000 new/day
– 75% traffic comes from outside twitter.com
– 180 million unique visitors/month
• Edison Research – April 2010
– Awareness exploded from 09 to 10; 87% aware
– 7% of Americans use Twitter
• Well educated; high growth age 50 - 64

9. How to Tweet
Bad use: Eating a ham sandwich.
Better use: Eating a great ham sandwich from Publix.
Best use: Eating the best ham sandwich I’ve ever
had from the Publix Deli. <3 Publix! #FTW
…If you are Publix…
You could Tweet the person that you are glad they are
enjoying their sandwich and maybe offer a suggestion
for another kind of sandwich they’d like…or mention gift
cards…

10. Why would anyone care?
• Nobody cares about your ham sandwich…unless it’s
tied to them.
• Tweets should be interesting or relevant to someone
who is listening.
• You should LISTEN more than TALK…just like in real
life…there are too many people that Tweet too
much.
• Twitter, like all social media, is just that…SOCIAL. You
should interact with others, not just spew out
information.

11. Getting Started

12. Profile

13. Create your profile
• Select a photo, preferably close up
– If using logo for business, needs to be square
• Enter your Bio information and Name
• Add a link to your Web site!
• Customize your background
– Keep your company branding in mind
• Add your location – Orlando, FL
– Turn on location based Tweets?
• Up to you…

14. Twerms
• Fail Whale
• ReTweet (RT)
• Mention/Reply (@)
• Direct Message (DM)
• Tweetup
• Tweeple/Tweeps
• Twitterspeak

15. Twitiquette
• Twips
– Create a Good Bio, Picture/Logo, Customize the
Background
• Lists
– pros and cons
• Be a good Twitizen
• FollowFriday (FF)
• Respond

16. Who do I follow?
• Search for people you know!
– Try #econdev list for economic developers
• Look at who they are following!
– Look for E.D. trade publications
• Area Development
• Site Selection
– Look for business publications and journalists
• Wall Street Journal
• Bloomberg/BusinessWeek
– Arik Hesseldahl
– Look for site selectors
– Look for executive decision makers

17. But what does this have to do
with economic development?
Everything!

18. Twitter = Tool
• Another marketing tool for your region
– Keep branding and “voice” consistent with your
company
• Conversational in nature
– Maintain brand consistency but realize Twitter is a
way to directly communicate with your audience
• A way to share information quickly
– Esp. at events, tradeshows
• EXAMPLE:
– Suzy @SxSW in 2008

19. Advanced

20. Searches

21. Lists
• Private vs. Public
• Twitter.com or 3rd party app?
• Economic Developers
• Film Offices

22. #Hashtags
• #IEDCTwitter – Hashtag for today’s event
• #econdev
• Commonly used at events, tradeshows, major
news, TV shows…
• CASE STUDY:
– #Orlando #Magic #NBA #Finals
• Orlando Works

23. Trending Topics
• Popular topics people are Tweeting about
• Breaking news on Twitter
– EX: Michael Jackson
• Sometimes include a hashtag but not always

24. • Tweetchats
• URL Shorteners and statistics
– Bit.ly, ow.ly, etc.
• 3rd party apps
– HootSuite, TweetDeck, etc.

25. New Twitter

26. #NewTwitter

27. TweetDeck = listen/monitor

28. HootSuite = send/track

29. What do I Tweet?
• Tips
• Share news articles of interest
• Interact with followers
• Share your news/links to your Website
• Re-Tweet interesting Tweets
• Survey people

30. ED Peeps on Twitter
And what they are doing

37. Twecap

38. Why?
• Create awareness
• Engage brand ambassadors
• Gather competitive intelligence

39. Results
• Information gathering
• Information sharing
• Projects!!

40. To Do
• Research, Research, Research!
• Create a Twitter strategy
• Jump in and start following people and lists
• Add Twitter account(s) in e-mail signature
• Include Twitter account(s) on Website
• Write a social media policy for employees

41. Resources
• Twitter Business Guide
• Mashable
• Social Media Examiner
• Sysomos
• Google Analytics
• Google Alerts

42. Questions?
#IEDCTwitter
http://www.slideshare.net/jenwakefield
Jennifer Wakefield, APR
@jenwakefield
407.422.7159 x232 (desk)
Jennifer.Wakefield@OrlandoEDC.com