1. Getting Started with Twitter
Mike Carvalho
Digital Strategy Coordinator
@mikecarvalho · fb.com/mikec

2. Why Twitter? Follow and participate in conversations
Share important news and information
Build relationships with reporters
Stay up to date on current news
Collaborate with partner organizations

3. Join Twitter
Easy to sign up – go to twitter.com and create a username (handle).
Twitter is a communications tool using 140-character messages, but many use it just to push out information or follow breaking news.
Follow AFSCME by visiting twitter.com/afscme and clicking “Follow”

4. Some important Twitter terms to know

5. Hashtags Are Powerful
The hashtag is a favorite tool of conferences and event organizers – and it’s also a way for Twitter users to organize among themselves Use them to track conversations and see what people are saying
Because of the character limit, hashtags became very important as shorthand to share information on the same topic

6. Anatomy of a Tweet
A tweet can look like it’s written in a foreign language, but if you break it down it all starts to make sense.

8. AFSCME’s Twitter page, and a sample tweet using hashtags and a shortened link. AFSCME uses a custom domain name for bit.ly links (afsc.me) but that’s not necessary.

9. Most Twitter Followers
Pop culture icons have a lot of followers on Twitter, but politicians and advocacy organizations make a dent as well.
@HillaryClinton has 7.15M has has 9.37M.

10. Ellen’s selfie from the Oscars in 2014 is the top retweeted post.
Obama’s photo is #6 and holding.

11. When you only have 140 characters, a picture is worth more than 1000 words.

12. Twitter Tips Retweeting is an integral part of the Twitter experience
your council and/or other local progressive organizations on Twitter
Follow local news outlets and blogs to get breaking news
Use state-specific hashtags
#WIunion, #OHunion, #SaveMI, etc.
Help us out: retweet to help get the word out about important issues, actions and news about our union
Read up: