Read on Twitter
I'm often asked by academics how to use Twitter. Rather than repeat the same stuff on different occasions, I decided to create a thread.
This is just my own personal experience so PLEASE join in, add your own thoughts/suggestions & ask questions!
This is just my own personal experience so PLEASE join in, add your own thoughts/suggestions & ask questions!
1. Decide your purpose
Why are you using Twitter? What do you want out of it? If it's purely to read up on other people's work, find new research & catch the latest news, that's totally fine.
A good way to curate your feed is to create Twitter Lists https://www.stephnissen.com/what-twitter-list/
Why are you using Twitter? What do you want out of it? If it's purely to read up on other people's work, find new research & catch the latest news, that's totally fine.
A good way to curate your feed is to create Twitter Lists https://www.stephnissen.com/what-twitter-list/
2. Audience
If you want to go beyond reading to post your own content, decide on who you want to target. Who is interested in reading your tweets? Who do you want to get the attention of and why?
If you want to go beyond reading to post your own content, decide on who you want to target. Who is interested in reading your tweets? Who do you want to get the attention of and why?
3. Content
The hardest part. Most people don't read Twitter to hear about your greatest achievements. Twitter shouldn't be a place to only boast about your work (though do celebrate success). We want to gain something from your tweets, be that facts, entertainment or inspiration
The hardest part. Most people don't read Twitter to hear about your greatest achievements. Twitter shouldn't be a place to only boast about your work (though do celebrate success). We want to gain something from your tweets, be that facts, entertainment or inspiration
4. Network
Possibly one of the best uses of Twitter is finding likeminded researchers to collaborate with. Follow people whose research you like, comment on their posts, message them. Don't be shy! If you can't attend conferences in person, follow the conference hashtags
Possibly one of the best uses of Twitter is finding likeminded researchers to collaborate with. Follow people whose research you like, comment on their posts, message them. Don't be shy! If you can't attend conferences in person, follow the conference hashtags
5. Reach
Building a following means knowing your audience. Post at popular times of the day e.g. commuting time. Use trending hashtags if they're relevant. Join in with popular threads if they're of interest. Give a reason for people to keep coming back to your profile & engaging
Building a following means knowing your audience. Post at popular times of the day e.g. commuting time. Use trending hashtags if they're relevant. Join in with popular threads if they're of interest. Give a reason for people to keep coming back to your profile & engaging
6. Profile
Add a photo of yourself & a banner of something that's relevant to your work.
Refine your bio to include a short description of who you are, what you study & where you work. Your bio is VERY IMPORTANT!
Add your institutional/project webpage or your own if you have one
Add a photo of yourself & a banner of something that's relevant to your work.
Refine your bio to include a short description of who you are, what you study & where you work. Your bio is VERY IMPORTANT!
Add your institutional/project webpage or your own if you have one
7. Tweets
Twitter is less formal than LinkedIn so tweets should reflect this. Studies show people engage more in tweets that have images/video and emojis though
don't 
overdo it. Use #hashtags sparingly & #CapitaliseEachWord to improve readability
Twitter is less formal than LinkedIn so tweets should reflect this. Studies show people engage more in tweets that have images/video and emojis though
don't overdo it. Use #hashtags sparingly & #CapitaliseEachWord to improve readability
8. TwitterPro
Some academics have developed big followings by creating recurrent ways to interact e.g. weekly games #CougarOrNot, questions answered #WildID or weekly facts #WildDogFact
Apologies these are all wildlife based - shows my interests! Any others examples?
Some academics have developed big followings by creating recurrent ways to interact e.g. weekly games #CougarOrNot, questions answered #WildID or weekly facts #WildDogFact
Apologies these are all wildlife based - shows my interests! Any others examples?
9. Have fun!
Using Twitter shouldn't be a bore. If you're not enjoying it, that's fine but maybe the platform isn't for you.
A great way to connect with people is to think of fun ways to engage. We're all drawn to fun people.
Remember: be respectful & kind to each other
Using Twitter shouldn't be a bore. If you're not enjoying it, that's fine but maybe the platform isn't for you.
A great way to connect with people is to think of fun ways to engage. We're all drawn to fun people.
Remember: be respectful & kind to each other
Btw my social media game has recently been upped by the introduction of @canva http://www.canva.com which I used to create all the above images. It's free, super easy and, in my view, pretty game-changing! I'd recommend to anyone who uses social media regularly
Here's a great article by @CMRLee, a PR/Digital Director, on how to grow a social media community. Whilst written for brands, there's lots of overlapping advice for individual accounts too https://eightmoon.co.uk/how-to-grow-a-social-media-community/
I am self-taught and have learnt most of the above tips from seeing what the "Twitter pros" do.
I'd love to hear from you all about what you think is the number 1 tip for academics to use Twitter? #SciTwitter #AcademicTwitter
I'd love to hear from you all about what you think is the number 1 tip for academics to use Twitter? #SciTwitter #AcademicTwitter
Here's another great resource on how to use social media for public engagement by @NCCPE https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publication/what_works_engaging_the_public_through_social_media_november_2018.pdf
Given how well this how-to guide did, what other tips would you folk like on #SciComm & policy engagement? How about how to write an article for @ConversationUK? Or how to write a press release for your forthcoming journal article? How to contact the media for press coverage?
