a presentation by chris cullen

an information network

Twitter is considered a real time information network that connects you to the latest information that you find interesting.

People can follow you, but you do not have to follow them.

A form of micro-blogging.

tweet

A tweet is considered a ‘small burst of information’

Each tweet is a maximum of 140 characters in length.

‘@” symbol is used as a hyperlink to reference a person. For example, to reference me on twitter you would type: @thechristofer

#hashtags

The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a tweet.

These hashtags help people to find interesting tweets that are relevant to keywords they search.

The hashtag also works as a hyperlink to reveal all other tweets in that category.

Hashtags become very popular and are often trending topics

#hashtags in action

Example: In the Tweet below, @twitter added the hashtag before the phrase "thankyousteve". The word is now a link to search results for all Tweets containing "#thankyousteve" in the message.

#hashtaghorror

McDonald's twitter campaign kicked things off in January with the hashtag #MeetTheFarmers, in a campaign meant to draw attention to the brand's guarantee of fresh produce.

Later in the day, however, the burger company used a dangerously vague hashtag: "When u make something w/ pride, people can taste it," McD potato supplier #McDstories

People took this hashtag and started talking trash.

@marcjacobsintl

Hiring campaign designed to find the best ‘tweeter’ to head social media for the label

DO NOT send resume or cover letter.

ONLY candidates who tweet the company will be interviewed

In 140 characters or less you can have a ‘generous clothing allowance, benefits and relocation to NYC’

instant information

Twitter works as a real time information source from first hand sources.

Creates citizen journalists on the front lines with instant information sourcing. (Lotan, et al.)

Promotes social change, brings attention to places unable to be accessed by reporters.

Because of twitter’s instant updates, they can be unreliable or irresponsible.

twitter in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NshQFrpC2O4

A great overview of how exactly how to navigate twitter and the look of the website.

sources

Main title image: http://www.rvda.org/AM/Images/logo_twitter_withbird_1000_allblue.png

An information network: http://twitter.com/about

Tweet: http://twitter.com/about

#hashtags: http://support.twitter.com/entries/49309-what-are-hashtags-symbols

#hashtaghorror: http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-twitter-campaign-goes-horribly-wrong-mcdstories-2012-1

sources

@marcjacobsintl: http://fashionetc.com/news/fashion/617-marc-jacobs-twitter-job

Lotan, G., Graeff, E., Ananny, M., Gaffney, D., Pearce, I. and boyd, d. (2011). The revolutions were tweeted: Information flows during the 2011 Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. International Journal of Communications 5, Feature 1375–1405.