KEY TWITTER FEATURES THAT MARKETERS CAN USE IN STANDING OUT

Twitter is a social network that enables its users to send and read short posts called “Tweets” on a public platform. Part of what differentiates Twitter from the other social platforms is that it is very conversational in nature due to the fast-paced, real-time dimension of users’ Timelines. In this post, we will highlight key features of Twitter that you can utilise if you want to stand out better.

Standout with the following Features

TweetDeck: A very useful scheduling tool and interface to view multiple timelines/hashtag searches in one place. Check it out at tweetdeck.com

Geo-tagging: The act of stamping the location details of where a Tweet was created which enables users to search for Tweets within a given area. This can be enabled or disabled.

Moments: These are curated stories showcasing the very best of what’s happening on Twitter, customized and editable to show the current topics that are popular or relevant to the user.

How to create a Twitter Moment

1. Head to the Moments tab on your Twitter profile. To create your own Moment, you’ll have to click on the new “Moments” tab on your profile. …
2. Click ‘Create new Moment’ …
3. Add your title, description, and cover. …
4. Pull in your content and publish.

Mute Words: A feature that allows users to stop receiving notifications for mentions based on specific words, phrases, usernames, emojis or hashtags. You can also mute accounts. To do this, go to settings on your twitter account.

Twitter Poll: Measure sentiments around hot topics and creatively work the angle into your story. See the opinions of your audience in real time and use that to create a reader-centred researched piece.

How to Create a Poll

1. Click into the Tweet compose box at the top of your Home timeline, or click the Tweet button in the top navigation bar. Click the Add poll icon.
2. Type your poll question into the main compose box. You can use up to the max character count in your poll question.
3. Insert your first poll option into the Choice 1 box, and your second poll option into the Choice 2 box. You can use up to 25 characters for each option.
4. Click + Add a choice to add additional options to your poll. Your poll can have up to four options. Your poll’s duration defaults to 1 day. You can change the duration of your poll by clicking 1 day and adjusting the days, hours, and minutes. The minimum amount of time for a poll is 5 minutes, and the maximum is 7 days.
5. Click Tweet to post the poll.

Twitter Trend: A trend on Twitter refers to a hashtag-driven topic that is immediately popular at a particular time. Promptly see what is trending in your chosen area of interest, provide answers to questions.

Twitter Lists: A list is a curated group of Twitter accounts. You can create your own lists or subscribe to lists created by others. Viewing a list timeline will show you a stream of Tweets from only the accounts on that list.

How to Create a Twitter List

1. Visit your Lists page via the gear icon drop-down menu or by clicking Lists on your profile page.
2. Click Create List.
3. Name the List & provide a description.
4. Designate the List as Public or Private.
5. Save the List.

Twitter Card: An enhanced version of a Tweet that enables the attachment of media to Tweets for the purpose of driving traffic to your website. There are 4 types of cards: the Summary Card, the Summary Card with Large Image, the App Card, and the Player Card.

Periscope: A live-streaming social app acquired by Twitter which lets users broadcast and explore the world through live video and social interactions. To do this, go to https://www.pscp.tv/

Best Practises for Optimized Tweets

1. An optimized Tweet first and foremost should be very concise and especially for brands, it should be topical, relevant and have an explicit call-to-action.
3. When using hashtags, aim to have no more than three– the more hashtags used, the less space you have for other commentary and the more spammy your Tweet looks. Add images, gifs and videos to make your tweets more engaging.
5. Take care and pay attention when you’re posting as Tweets are un-editable
7. Tweet in response to existing conversations using hashtags to increase discoverability and visibility.
9. Leverage the Tweet Activity dashboard to track engagement in real-time. You can compare your Tweet activity and followers, and see how they trend over time. Click on any Tweet to get a detailed view of the number of Retweets, replies, likes, follows or clicks it receives, get detailed insights into who your audience and engagers are and even export your metrics.
11. Utilize link shorteners to maximize Tweet space.