Rules to Better Twitter (plus other Social Networking)

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 Rules to Better Twitter (plus other Social Networking)

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  1. Do you tweet every blog post? (using a 2 step process aka the “double tweet”)

    You should always publish your blog posts to Twitter. It helps boost traffic and visibility for your site.

    Make it automatic. You do not need to do this manually, there are services out there that will monitor your blogs RSS or ATOM feed and publish when you do.

    The best one is:

    • TwitterFeed - This offers a dedicated established service that will publish your feed to Twitter and Facebook.

    Unfortunately this automated service does not automatically add hashtags. (Suggestion: they should take this from your "categories" or "labels" that you use to tag your posts).
    So the solution is to "double tweet" your blog post, adding useful hash tags.

    Do you know the minimum builds to create on any branch? http://bit.ly/aXeGmU    1:51 AM Mar 19th   via twitterfeed
    Bad example - Leaving only this automated one, that came from twitterfeed (missing hash tags)
    Do you know the minimum builds to create on any branch? http://bit.ly/aXeGmU    1:51 AM Mar 19th   via twitterfeed

    (Adding hashtags) Do you know the minimum builds to create on any branch? http://goo.gl/fb/Q71F  #ssw #sswrules #vsalm #vsalmbuild    1:51 AM Mar 19th   via Google
    Good example - Adding hash tags to your automated tweet  

    Read more about Do you tweet every blog post? (using a 2 step process aka the “double tweet”)

  2. Do you know that your forum activity gets a tweet?

    If you are active in a forum, like the MSDN or Stackoverflow forums, then you should set up the RSS for your activity to automatically tweet.

    Replied to the question Error when trying to 'add assembly from project output' in the package manager. in the Sha... http://bit.ly/bwREtu 6:02 PM Mar 12th via twitterfeed
    Figure: Good example, MSDN and ardvark tweets are automatic using twitterfeed.

    Just helped someone from Rexburg, US with a question about *diligence* ...on Aardvark!
    Figure: Good example, Aardvark tweets are built in.

    Maybe your followers will want to chip in with a better answer.

    This is done by finding your "activity" feed on the forum:

    Activity feed from for Microsoft
    http://services.social.microsoft.com/Feeds/Activities?user=MrHinsh&lcid=en-US&brand=Msdn&format=rss20

    Activity feed from StackOverflow
    http://stackoverflow.com/feeds/user/11799

    ​​

  3. Do you have a Facebook Like Page for each entity you have?

    Do you need one?

    If an object can gather enough of a community willing to share a common interest, then a Facebook Like Page (was a Fan Page) is suitable.

    A Like Page should be available for each popular product or entity of your company. SSW has a page for the Rules section of our company but not for each individual product; on the other hand, it would be suitable for Microsoft to have a separate page for each of their products.

    Facebook Like pages
    Figure: One of these Like Pages is probably unnecessary.

    Whether your product or entity requires a Like Page depends largely on how effectively it will reach your target audience. Such pages usually have a high upkeep as you need to spend time to maintain your public image, responding to comments and posting updates reliably. It can be a profitable maneuver, but if this style of social networking does not reach out to your audience, then maintaining it is needless.

    Read more about Do you have a Facebook Like Page for each entity you have?

  4. Do you create friendly short URL's

    When you create short URLs, it is worth considering exactly why you are shortening it.

    Is it for space or readability? If it is for readability or you expect anyone to ever type it in, then consider making a friendly short URL.

    ​​

    I want to be able to type this URL in, but it is VERY long:

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/briankel/archive/2010/06/25/now-available-visual-studio-2010-rtm-virtual-machine-with-sample-data-and-hands-on-labs.aspx
    Bad example - People can’t easily type this URL in…. it is too long
    Thanks Rob, that is great.
    Made a bit.ly at http://bit.ly/aC5Lb2
    Bad example - How will I remember that?
    http://bit.ly/VS2010VM
    Good example - Easier to remember
    ​​​
    Read more about Do you create friendly short URL's

  5. Do you know to make short URL’s readable where you can?

    Readability of URLs is important. It is not just making the length as short as possible.

    If you use a shortened link people can't see what they are clicking through to. In fact this is what most spamers rely on:

    http://twb.ly/1uJtUG
    Figure: Bad example - You don't know where this is going

    When you can, take the more readable option:

    http://twibbon.com/join/Scotland
    Figure: Better example - this link is sent in the clear as it is short enough

    So you should only 'Auto Shorten URLs' when it is too long and you need the space.

    However it is becoming more prevalent for the software to support showing the full URL on rollover.

    image
    Figure: Good example – the application does the heavy lifting for you

    Read more about Do you know to make short URL’s readable where you can?

  6. Do you use TweetDeck to read Twitter?

    If you are looking to get the most out of your Twitter experience, you will need to use a Twitter client. SSW recommends TweetDeck. 
     Recently the Twitter website has been updated to enrich the Twitter experience, but you still can’t easily be notified about topics that you are interested in.

    Bad Example : Using the Twitter webpage is not the best way to use Twitter.
    Bad Example : Using the Twitter webpage is not the best way to use Twitter

    The best way to use Twitter is to use the TweetDeck client. This allows alerts you when your are mentioned or direct messaged, and allows you to keep an eye on certain things you are interested in, like #hyperv or #ssw.


    Good Example : Using TweetDeck gives you a dashboard to follow topics you are interested in
    You can download TweetDeck here: http://www.tweetdeck.com/
    Read more about Do you use TweetDeck to read Twitter?

  7. Do you know what to tweet?

    Your tweets should be interesting to your target audience. People aren't going to follow you for long if you make off topic and low value tweets.

    Bad Example - "Having lunch" is not an interesting tweet

    Some good examples of things to tweet about:
    • 1 day before an event, tweet about the event and what you are talking about
    • On the day of the event, check-in on foursquare when you arrive (gives people a nice map)
    • When something good happens to you, eg. you beat your boss in an arm wrestle 
    • Tweet before and after installing new software or after an upgrade eg:
      • Installing #SharePoint2010 for the first time
      • #SharePoint2010 install done - found a great guide to follow here: www.example.com

    Good Example - An informative tweet with hash tags which appeals to a targeted audience of IT followers
    Read more about Do you know what to tweet?

  8. Exercise:If you use a rule, then tweet it

    1. Sign up for twitter if you don’t already have an account
    2. Install a twitter client on your PC
    3. Install a twitter client on your phone
    4. Send a tweet: “Do you know to use Hash tags? http://bit.ly/dtu8Rc#ssw #sswrules”
    You have just tweeted your first rule…
    Read more about Exercise:If you use a rule, then tweet it
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