Essential Guide | Twitter Chats (List of Chats Included)

Essential Guide | Twitter Chats

So, you’ve heard the term Twitter Chat thrown around and want to know what it is, how to join, or what to do? This post will be your guide to Twitter Chats and how to not only survive but thrive in your first one!

A Twitter Chat is a live Twitter event, usually moderated and focused around a general topic. In order to filter the topic into a conversation, a specific hashtag is used. Also, a particular time and day are established so the moderator can invite attendees.

Reasons for Engaging in Twitter Chats

Joining a Twitter Chat can be hugely beneficial in a couple of different ways. The first is gaining knowledge from other business owners and bloggers. During a Twitter Chat people are providing their insight and are more than willing to give their best tips and tricks. Secondly, creating friendships and getting connected to others in your line of work. If you attend Twitter Chats often enough, you’ll start to see some of the same faces over and over, which is perfect for cultivating relationships. I’ve gotten a few opportunities from getting to know others on Twitter Chats.

[Tweet “Your guide to Twitter Chats and how to thrive in your first one!”]

Now that you know why Twitter Chats are so important here are some tips to rock your first Twitter Chat:

Remember to use the hashtag

This tip is really simple as to why it’s important – if you don’t use the hashtag it doesn’t show up in the Twitter Chat conversation feed.

Do not self-promote

If someone asks a specific question and let’s say you have a bomb post on that particular issue then sure drop your link to that post but don’t spam and make every comment about you. You’re here to make friends and build relationships, not post about your blog and business numerous times. Some moderators will ban you from their Twitter Chats.

Add valuable comments and advice

This tip goes hand-in-hand with the one about self-promoting. Part of participating in Twitter Chats is giving your knowledge in exchange for others knowledge. Providing insightful feedback is actually more useful than self-promotion because it establishes you as an expert on that topic.

Don’t carry on long, off topic conversations with an individual using the hashtag (if you do, do so in a private conversation)

This tip is just plain manners. Not everyone is interested in your cat onesie Instagram post you and Mary want to talk about on Twitter, so please don’t continue to use the Twitter Chat hashtag and spam everyone else’s feed who are trying to learn about better lighting for your photography.

Ask questions

I mentioned this earlier in the post, but I’ll reiterate – others love to share their knowledge and resources so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Number your answers

Moderators generally use A1, A2, A3, etc., when hosting the Twitter Chat, so to keep the feed cleaner and easier to follow use Q1, Q2, etc., when answering the questions. Personally I ‘Quote Tweet’ the question and answer. This method is helpful to your other followers who aren’t taking part in the Twitter Chat know what the heck you’re talking about, but it’s also useful to the moderator as well. I’ve seen fellow people I’m following taking part in a Chat and then I’ll join after seeing it in my feed.

Use TweetDeck

If you haven’t heard of TweetDeck, you’ve been missing out. This will make keeping up with your Twitter followers and notifications so. Much. Easier. You can add columns and track pretty much any category you could possibly think of. Here is my what my TweetDeck display looks like.

[Tweet “If you haven’t heard of TweetDeck, you’ve been missing out.”]

I can easily track accounts that mention my Twitter handle, notifications, my news feed, and even particular accounts. Now, in order for this to be super helpful during a Twitter Chat, you have to go and add a column for the specific hashtag being used. If you’re being a real go-getter and are participating in multiple Twitter Chats at one time, you can follow along with the hashtag newsfeed side-by-side. Here’s how to add a hashtag column:

Perfect! Now you are fully ready to rock your first Twitter Chat!

I’ve attached a Twitter Chat Weekly Calendar for you to download and post so you’ll never miss a Twitter Chat again. If you already host a Twitter Chat and don’t see it on the list contact me and I’ll update it.

What Twitter Chat knowledge do you have to share?