The document discusses how chambers of commerce can use Twitter to promote their organizations and connect with members. It provides an overview of Twitter basics like hashtags and retweets. It then gives tips for chambers on setting up a Twitter profile, starting to listen on Twitter, and types of content to post. Examples are given of how chambers can use Twitter for legislative advocacy, event promotion, promoting members, and media relations. Tools for organizing tweets are also mentioned. The overall message is that Twitter is a way for chambers to spread messages, encourage interaction, and deliver timely information to members.
UiPath Platform: The Backend Engine Powering Your Automation - Session 1
Using Twitter to Promote and Connect With Members
1. Using Twitter to Promote and
Connect With Members
Weblink Summit
September 23, 2009
Will Burns, Communications Director
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
4. Agenda
• The Basics
• Tips for Getting Started
• How Chambers Can Use Twitter
• Best Practices & Chamber Examples
• Questions & Discussion
5. Twitter
• Growing Fast
• 140 Character Limit
• Opt-In
• Replies | Mentions
• Direct Messages
6. Twitter Basics
• Short Bursts of Info: You read and write
messages of up to 140 characters
• Opt-In: Messages are public and you
decide what users you want to receive
messages from.
• Easy to use on a computer or a cell phone
• Interact with other users: @ | DM | RT
7. Twitter Lingo
• Tweet: An individual message or post
• Follow: Subscribe to someone’s tweets
• Mentions: @username public message to or about a
Twitter user
• DM or Direct message: A private message to a
Twitter user
• RT or Retweet: Repost a valuable message from
someone else, giving them credit
• Hashtag: Use the # symbol followed by a term. Take
advantage of Twitter search to categorize tweets.
8. Getting Started
• Sign up is easy
• Complete your profile
• Start by listening
• Post something
9. Setting Up Your Profile
• Choose your username
wisely
• Include a photo
• Write a descriptive bio
• Include a link to your
website
• Include the name of the
staffer updating Twitter
10. Setting Up Your Profile
• Choose your username
wisely
• Include a photo
• Write a descriptive bio
• Include a link to your
website
• Include the name of the
staffer updating Twitter
11. Setting Up Your Profile
• Choose your username
wisely
• Include a photo
• Write a descriptive bio
• Include a link to your
website
• Include the name of the
staffer updating Twitter
12. Setting Up Your Profile
• Choose your username
wisely
• Include a photo
• Write a descriptive bio
• Include a link to your
website
• Include the name of the
staffer updating Twitter
13. Setting Up Your Profile
• Choose your username
wisely
• Include a photo
• Write a descriptive bio
• Include a link to your
website
• Include the name of the
staffer updating Twitter
14. Setting Up Your Profile
• Choose your username
wisely
• Include a photo
• Write a descriptive bio
• Include a link to your
website
• Include the name of the
staffer updating Twitter
15. Start By Listening
• Find some local people to follow
• Local newspapers, businesses, professionals, etc.
• Who are people you trust following
• Search for important keywords
• City names, neighborhoods, business names, issues, etc.
• Follow other chambers
17. Post Something
• Looking for interesting Maryland business
people to follow
• The Maryland Chamber is new to Twitter.
What kind of tweets do you want to hear
from us?
18. Twitter Best Practices
• Post tips and links to interesting
information
• Be genuine. People appreciate authenticity.
• Use a casual tone
• Develop a chamber persona
• Interact - Ask & Answer questions
19. Case Study - Colonel Tribune
“The Colonel acts as a touch point for the Tribune
and serves as our voice on the web. Thus we
needed a front man, which turned into Colonel
Tribune, who is kind of a goofy man about town.”
--Daniel Honigman
Social Media Strategist
Tribune Interactive
20. Chamber - Information Filter
“It’s Not Information Overload.
It’s Filter Failure”
--Clay Shirky
www.shirky.com
Author of:
Here Comes Everybody
The Power of Organizing Without Organizations
21. Social Technologies
A social trend in which people
use technologies to get the things
they need from each other,
rather than from traditional
institutions like corporations
--Forrester Research’s definition of the Groundswell
22. Social Technologies
• Objectives
• Listen - Better understand our members and
prospective members.
• Talk - Spread messages about the Chamber
• Energize - Put our most energetic supporters to
work
• Support - Give our members the tools to interact
with and support one another
• Embrace - Harness member ideas to improve our
services and programs
23. Chamber Goals
• Promote a Positive Pro-Business
Legislative Agenda
• Generate Membership Sales & Leads
• Deliver Timely, Useful Information
• Establish a Position of Thought Leadership
• Bring Personality to the Chamber Brand
• Encourage Interaction
24. Chamber Twitter Ideas
• Promote Programs, Services, Events, Etc.
• Advocacy
• Promote Members
• Share News & Ideas
• Ask & Answer Questions
• Bring Personality to Your Chamber
• Engage & Interact with Your Community
49. Twitter Tools
• Create Your Twitter Dashboard
• Organize Tweets
• Local Businesses
• Journalists
• Elected Officials
• Chamber Tweeps
• Create a Focus or Always Follow Group
• Key Search Terms