HOW TO BE A

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Tweetdeck was created as a way to filter the slew of information by an unemployed developer. Twitter bought it for 25m New Twitter employees get Tweetdeck training You can run it on desktop or via an app from your Chrome browser You can join or sign in through your Twitter account, or set up your own Tweetdeck account - it will still work with your Twitter setup

Pros
Allows multi-account use - tweet as you, or as your brand (make sure you check which avatar is ticked!) Integrate your lists so you can keep track of them Create hashtag seaches and add them as columns Make a customised timeline - just drag tweets into the column to save and/or share them Schedule your tweets for different days/times (a pro and a con) Simple to use. Once youve got the basics, the skys the limit

Cons
No integration with other platforms any more You can learn Klingon in less time than it takes to master the advanced shortcuts Mobile app no longer exists - and Tweedeck and Twitter mobile app sometimes dont liaise too well, meaning missed notifications

Ninja pre-school
Go to https://tweetdeck.twitter.com/ and sign up/in or https://chrome.google.com/webstore/ - type Tweetdeck into the search box, then add the app to your Chrome browser

Got it? Great. Next steps

This is the Tweetdeck toolbar.The sign allows you to add columns, users, trends, lists, searches etc. Select, and a menu opens automatically. Simply choose what you want.

Hashtag colums and searches

#journalism = hashtag search I created in Tweetdeck using the + option Journalism = journalism list imported using the + option
Lists can be time-consuming to make, but are worth the effort

Lists and custom timelines

Click on a persons Twitter name to open this box - from here you can follow, DM, add to lists etc

Custom timelines
Create a custom timeline using the + icon. Drag tweets into it You can share your timeline with others
Click this for a host of options such as moving your column leftright or filtering users in or out

Shortcuts
Find these in the cog icon at the bottom of your Tweetdeck toolbar

Final thoughts: A Twitter listicle

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Tweets with photos get x4 more engagement. Include links to online stories if tweeting pages X-posting job ads on Twitter and LinkedIn sees reach quadrupled Use .@username for all followers to see your tweet When you tweet about your work, invite feedback Dont stay silent in the face of criticism* If youre going to x-post, consider Twitter-LinkedIn rather than Twitter-Facebook Set and save searches and lists; display them in Tweetdeck columns Repeat yourself; youll hit a different audience with your tweet eg Reposting for the morning crowd This # is a hashtag - a clickable link to other themed content. Eg. #journorequest #donthashtageverythingitdrivespeoplenuts If you have a Twitter newspaper (eg paper.li) that links to Twitter, KILL IT WITH FIRE Your bio: Name, job title, some interests. Views Own disclaimers are a waste of space o_O = surprise, 1/2 = tweet to continue in another message, *around words* = emphasis or stage directions, ST = subtweet YOLO = irony (at best). Avoid at all costs Subt-tweeting is (usually) criticising someone without using their Twitter handle. Often considered bad form * Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference Mark Twain