A few weeks ago I finally got to sharing about some of my favorite rockin’ Twitter chats for bloggers and creatives. A ton of you expressed that you loved Twitter chats and others of you expressed that you weren’t too sure how to go about even joining a Twitter chat. Well, today I’m here to break down all about the Twitter chat for you!
Let’s start out by defining a Twitter chat, shall we? What is a Twitter chat?
A Twitter chat (or Twitter party) is a live event that is usually focused around a specific topic of interest. The chat usually has a set time, day, and hashtag to create consistency and community. The hashtag is key to the chat since it’s what establishes the chats presence on Twitter and makes it easier to filter all of the tweets into one huge conversation.
There are Twitter chats out there for basically any interest – blogging, business, motherhood, creativity, faith and more! I am certain that there is one out there for everyone who wants to join in one – you just have to look for them.
HOW TO JOIN:
1. You can easily join a Twitter chat by clicking on the hashtag, which will then bring you to where all of the tweets with that hashtag are filtered to. For smaller chats, this is a simple way to pop in and join the fun.
Unfortunately, for larger chats it can get overwhelming keeping up on the Twitter website. The larger the overall conversation is, the more you’re apt to miss out on some of it. Which brings us to option number two!
2. Use a site that syncs with your Twitter account to follow the Twitter chat more closely. Two of the most popular examples of these types of sites are: Tweetdeck.com and Tweetchat.com. Sites like these should make joining and participating in a larger Twitter chat more easily.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Introduce yourself // The host of the chat will usually open up the chat by welcoming everyone who’s there and encouraging you all to introduce who you are. This is step number one to making connections with others in the chat. Never skip over this! Get out there and make yourself known.
Answer Questions // After introductions, the host of the chat will start with the questions. Answer them as openly as you can – you never know who might be needing your answer or how helpful your answer could be in general for the chat. When responding to questions, always label your answers. For example: “A1:” or “A2:”. Labeling your answers helps with keeping the overall chat nicely organized and easily for all of the participants to follow.
Engage With Others // Being a part of a Twitter chat isn’t all about just letting your voice and opinion be heard on the subject. While yes, that’s an important part of the chat, an even more important part is engaging with others. You never know what friendships and connections you can make by reaching out by responding to their tweet in the chat or by following them. I have found so many great individuals through Twitter chats that I probably wouldn’t have elsewhere.
Be Courteous // This one should be an automatic given! From following the rules of the chat, to staying on topic, to just plain being nice and authentic – it’s important to always remember to be courteous and keep proper chat etiquette.
Share Your Ideas & Be You // Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and just be you. Most chats are about sharing common information with others, especially if it’s a chat directed towards creatives, business owners, and bloggers. Giving your best tips that prove to work for you should be shared with others. When you’re unashamedly you, you’re automatically more easy to connect with. Be bold and confident.
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For those of you who were unsure of how to jump in on a Twitter chat, I hope these tips can be helpful for you! All you have to do is jump in, really and learn as you go. Either way, these tips are sure to help you rock at your first Twitter chat! Let me know how it goes!
