1. Activity 2
1) If you aren’t already signed up to Twitter, use the step-by-step guide overleaf
to create a Twitter account and start Tweeting!
Don’t worry about picking the perfect ‘twitter username’ or writing the perfect
‘short bio’ today… you can always amend these in the future!
2) Make your first Tweet… and include the hashtag #DUOct2012
Don’t worry about it being profound! You can just say hello!
3) Start following people…
- Click on the hashtag#DUOct2012 in your first tweet to see who else has
tweeted using that #DUOct2012 and start following other people in this
session.
- Try searching for tweets using some keywords using the search bar at the
top of the screen (eg, type in … … )
- Try following some of the Tweeters listed under the Twitter list we’ve
created.

2. Creating your Twitter Account
1. Go to http://twitter.com and find the
sign up box.
2. In the ‘New to Twitter?Sign
up’box, enter your full name,
email address, and a password.
3. Click Sign up for Twitter.
4. On the next page, you can select a
username (usernames are unique
identifiers on Twitter) — type your
own and Twitter will check to see if
that username is available.
Picking your Twitter username
Your username is the name is the
identifier other Twitter users will see
you as, and to whom your followers
can address messages and tweets. 5. Double-check your name, email
address, password, and username.
Usernames must be fewer than 15
characters in length and cannot 6. Click Create my account.
contain "admin" or "Twitter", in order
7. Twitter will send a confirmation
to avoid brand confusion.
email to the address you entered
You can change your username at a on sign up, click the link in that
email to confirm your email address
later date.
and account.
8. You have now created your Twitter account! Return
to http://twitter.com and logion if prompted.
9. From the drop down menu in the top right of the
screen, click on settings.
10. From the options on the left of the screen, click on
Profile. You will now be presented with a screen
where you can include a short 160 character bio
(think about using keywords, rather than full
sciences). Remember to Save your changes.
11. You can use the Design link on the left of the screen
to change the background or look/feel of your profile
page.

3. Making the most of Twitter
Making your tweet’s effective is not about spelling and grammar… it is about
audience, signposting and visibility.
# #hashtags identify the subject/context of your tweet. They allow you to join in
particular conversations – you can easily click on a #hashtag to see
everyone else currently using the same #hashtag.
Very useful for: specific topics, scheduled discussions, conferences
Eg#OAWeek, #phdchat, #vitae12
url If you are talking about something you wish people to see, something you
have found or something you want opinions on… include a link to where they
can find it!!!
Twitter will automatically shorten most urls, although can still be tricky. Use
something like http://tinyurl.com/ or https://bitly.com/ if you are having
problems shortening a url down enough
@ Use @ and their username to mention someone in your tweet. You can use
this to flag something for their attention, reply to something they have said or
to promote them to others. Important to engage with other twitter users – not
just post information.