twitter chats - Express Writers

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Secrets of Running a Great Twitter Chat (Celebrating One Year at #ContentWritingChat)

December 31, 2020January 6, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

Did you catch #ContentWritingChat this week? In honor of our Twitter chat’s birthday, we celebrated in the only way we know how. With a party, of course! #ContentWritingChat Recap: The Secrets of Running a Great Twitter Chat (Celebrating One Year at #ContentWritingChat) Join us on Tuesday, January 3rd at 10 AM CST to celebrate #ContentWritingChat‘s 1st birthday! We’re sharing all the secrets behind the chat! pic.twitter.com/vQVhlMBGWX — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 28, 2016 We figured there was no better way to celebrate #ContentWritingChat’s first birthday than by talking all about how the chat came to be and how we’ve grown it to where it is today. I guest hosted this week’s chat alongside our CEO, Julia, and it was a blast! The questions were slightly different this week as well. There were questions geared specifically toward Julia and I and questions that everyone could answer. This allowed us to answer questions about the chat, while still giving our participants something to answer. Ready to dive into the recap? Let’s get started! Q1: For Julia: Discuss the backstory of why you created #ContentWritingChat. / For everyone: What do you look for in a great Twitter chat (and one that you add to your weekly schedule)? How did this chat get started and what makes a great one? We’re spilling all the details! A1 I created #ContentWritingChat as a grassroots educational community around content, & an extension to my book and podcast launch in 2016. — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) January 3, 2017 Julia created #ContentWritingChat as an educational community around content. She certainly made that happen! She also wanted the chat to be an extension of her book and her podcast, which also launched in 2016. A1: A great Twitter chat is one that teaches you something. Learning new things is key, as is an engaged community. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) January 3, 2017 What makes a great Twitter chat, in my opinion? I like chats that teach you something new and that have an engaged community. It’s always great when you can leave a chat having learned new tips you can implement for yourself. A1: I look for innovative, actionable tips & tactics I can implement into my strategy immediately #contentwritingchat — Georgina (@BostonGeorgina) January 3, 2017 Georgina feels the same way. She likes chats that provide her with actionable tips she can use. A1: I look for great topics, thoughtful questions, engaging hosts/guests, great insights from participants, and PUNS. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/ca302GyeJZ — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) January 3, 2017 For Sarah, she likes chats that have great topics, thoughtful questions, hosts and guests that are engaged, and great insights from participants. She’s also a big fan of puns! A1: Interaction is paramount IMO. What’s the point if I’m just answer questions to myself? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/wNZzeQaEDh — Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) January 3, 2017 As Jenn said, a great chat need to have interaction. If the host of the chat, the guests, and the participants aren’t engaging with one another, what’s the point? After all, a chat is meant to be social! A1 I like a Twitter chat that has a great topic, well-respected guest, and deeper conversations beyond the Q&A #contentwritingchat — Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) January 3, 2017 Bill enjoys chats that have a great topic, a well-respected guest, and deeper conversations that go beyond the Q&A. You don’t have to just stick with the questions asked in the chat. You can feel free to get deeper into the conversation with other participants. That’s what makes chats so great. A1 Engaging community, fun chat with great ppl and serious exchange of knowledge. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/LJaGv9iNM9 — Varun Kumar? (@varunkr842) January 3, 2017 Varun looks for an engaged community and the exchange of knowledge. Learning something from chats makes them even more valuable. A1: one that helps me brainstorm and learn. I’m a 1-person team, so this is my creative outlet! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/Wc4qHI53gQ — Kristi Kenyon (@kkenyon86) January 3, 2017 As a one-person team, Kristi uses Twitter chats as a creative outlet. The best ones allow her to brainstorm and learn new things. Plus, it’s great having that social aspect built into a day where you’re otherwise by yourself. It’s a virtual Twitter date every single week! Q2: For Rachel: Tell us what inspired you to get involved in helping manage #ContentWritingChat. For everyone: What are your favorite Twitter chats to join? I’m sharing how I got involved in the Twitter chat and we have plenty of new chats for you to join with these suggestions: A2: I had been participating in + hosting Twitter chats for a long time, so stepping in to manage the chat was fun! #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) January 3, 2017 Prior to joining the Express Writers team and taking over the behind-the-scenes tasks of the chat, I had already been joining Twitter chats regularly. I had even hosted some in the past. Starting to work on this chat was a great fit and it has been something I’ve truly enjoyed. A2: I love #contentwritingchat, #semrushchat, #bufferchat, and I read #brandchat even though I can’t usually make it. — Tara M. Clapper (@irishtara) January 3, 2017 It should come as no surprise that our own team member, Tara, is a fan of #ContentWritingChat! She also enjoys #semrushchat, #bufferchat, and #brandchat. @ExpWriters A2: Love me some #bufferchat by @buffer at noon on Wednesdays. I don’t have too much time to join very many #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/LPdBYnLbeY — Jacob Rouser (@J_Rouser) January 3, 2017 Just like Jacob, we are huge fans of Buffer’s #bufferchat. We’re there every week! A2: #SEMrushchat is always awesome, highly recommend! 11AM EST on Wednesdays I believe… #contentwritingchat — Andrew Dennis (@AndrewDennis33) January 3, 2017 #semrushchat is another weekly stop for us here at Express Writers! A2: #ContentWritingChat and @MadalynSklar‘s #TwitterSmarter (Thursdays 1pm ET) are two of my favorite chats. — Zachary Fenell (@zacharyfenell) January 3, 2017 #TwitterSmarter is definitely a chat you need to join! A2 this is one my favorites but there’s also #bufferchat #sproutchat … Read more

A Guide to Twitter Chats: Why They’re a Huge Opportunity, How to Join, & 5 of Our Favorites

June 23, 2021September 27, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

A Guide to Twitter Chats: Why They're a Huge Opportunity, How to Join, & 8 of Our Favorites

Have you joined any Twitter chats before? If not, it’s safe to say you’re missing out on an incredible opportunity. And I’m not saying that just because Express Writers has our own monthly chat, #ContentWritingChat. Twitter chats bring likeminded people together from all over the world. They provide a place for everyone to share their thoughts, offer advice, and ask questions. Not only that, but the right chats could lead to new friendships and even potential clients for your brand. That’s why it’s time you take advantage of them. To help you see the true value in Twitter chats, this guide shares their benefits, tips for joining in on the fun, and five chats to add to your calendar ASAP. Why Twitter Chats Are a Huge Opportunity for Your Brand Twitter chats are a live conversation in which a host asks questions and encourages participants to share their thoughts and opinions. These chats are an hour long and typically happen on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. And there’s usually a specific topic for each new chat. It’s essentially one big hangout where people with similar interests can come together and talk. It sounds great, right? But why do these chats present such a huge opportunity for those who are using Twitter to build their online presence? Here are three reasons participating in Twitter chats is great for your brand: They Help You Make Connections: With so many likeminded people together for a lively hour of Twitter chatting, it’s a great way to make friends or discover potential customers who may be interested in purchasing your brand’s offerings. You Get to Share Your Expertise: Positioning yourself as an authority in your field is essential to establishing your brand and also building trust with your target audience. Through Twitter chats, you can share your knowledge, showing people that you really know your stuff. They’re a Great Place to Learn: Not only do you get to share what you know, but you’ll be able to learn from others who are participating in these chats. You never know when someone might share a game-changing tip or trick that will help you take your online presence to the next level. How to Join a Twitter Chat: 4 Tips for Being a Great Participant To get started, you’ll want to identify different Twitter chats in your niche that you may be interested in. If you’re using chats as a way to grow your brand, you’ll want to be strategic about the ones you join. Meaning, it’ll be smart to participate in chats where you can showcase your expertise and connect with your target audience. Once you’ve selected a few, you just need to schedule time to join them. Once that time comes, there are a few rules you’ll want to keep in mind. 1. Label your answers with A1, A2, etc. This is a pretty standard rule for all Twitter chats. The reason you want to do this is because it helps other participants match your answers with the correct question. If someone wanted to read all the responses to the first question, yours will be easy to identify. 2. Engage with others. Once you’re in the chat, don’t just share your answers to the questions and ignore the others who are also responding. Make an effort to interact with those who are joining in by replying to their answers and adding your own thoughts. You can even ask questions to further the conversation. 3. No self-promotion. Sharing a link to a blog post you know would be helpful is one thing, but you definitely don’t want to spend the hour promoting your content and offerings. Doing so may come off a little sleazy and kind of intrudes on the host of the chat. 4. Follow any other rules the chat may have. Some hosts make it a point to share set “house rules” for their chat. If you find yourself in a chat with rules like this, please be respectful of them. For example, our chat has a few simple rules that you can see in the graphic above. 5 Twitter Chats to Add to Your Calendar Now that you’re prepared to be an amazing participant in Twitter chats, you’ll need to find a few to join. Luckily, I’ve rounded up a list of some great options for content creators and marketers. 1. #CMWorld, Hosted by @CMIContent If you’re a content marketing expert or wanting to learn more about being a content creation pro, mark your calendars for every Tuesday at 12 PM Eastern. That’s when #CMWorld from Content Marketing Institute takes place. This chat always features knowledgeable guests and educational topics, so you’re sure to learn something that you can implement for your brand. 2. #semrushchat, Hosted by @Semrush If you love SEO, digital marketing, and everything in between, #semrushchat is the place to be. Hosted by our friends at Semrush, you’ll learn all sorts of amazing tips that will help you get your content ranking on the first page of those Google search results. If you want to join, this chat happens every Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern Time. 3. #TwitterSmarter, Hosted by @MadalynSklar Don’t let the name fool you! While Madalyn Sklar’s #TwitterSmarter chat is often focused on Twitter-related conversations, she still covers general social media topics that appeal to all marketers. It’s a must for anyone wanting to stand out on social media. This chat is held every Thursday at 1 PM Eastern Time. 4. #ContentChat, Hosted by @SFErika Here at Express Writers, we love Twitter chats that teach the value of creating great content. That’s exactly what Erika Heald does every Monday at 3 PM Eastern during #ContentChat. This chat covers topics like content marketing, social media, email marketing, and more. 5. #Digital360Chat, Hosted by @B2the7 Bernie Fussenegger leads the #Digital360Chat every Friday at 12 PM Eastern. The way he’s set up this chat is rather unique. One chat per month is dedicated to sharing tips focused on … Read more

10 Rules to Be A Successful Participant In Your Twitter Chats

December 31, 2020September 8, 2015 by Adam Oakley

Starting around June of this year, I stopped impersonating an ostrich and got my head out of the sand. I finally realized what a Twitter Chat was, how successful they truly are, and how to join one. I was amazed how long these had been going on (we’re talking years for some). Now, in August, Express Writers and my social team (including myself) are active in #bufferchat, #semrushchat, #CMWorld, #LinkedInChat, and just starting to poke our heads into more. We’re also on the brink of creating our own (stay subscribed to our newsletter and we’ll let you know when we do!). Today, I am going to give you a tour into Twitter Chats and help you learn more about these awesome tools, and how you can successfully participate in one. How Do Twitter Chats Work? Twitter Chats have been around for quite some time and have provided awesome connections for businesses and clients. But, before I get into some excellent rules to help you be a successful participant, you probably want a brief rundown of just what a Twitter Chat is. Nicole Miller from Buffer lays out what this is perfectly in her article about Twitter Chats. Basically, a Twitter Chat is a group of Twitter users who get together and chat about a certain topic. One or two people host it and a hashtag is given out for people to use throughout the chat. Sometimes a chat involves the hosts asking questions and receiving answers from participants. Alternatively, a Twitter Chat can involve participants asking questions with the hosts providing answers. Now that you have a brief rundown let’s look at how you can participate and do so successfully. 10 Great Rules to Help You Have an Awesome Twitter Chat Do you want to engage in an awesome Twitter Chat? Well, I’ve compiled some great rules that can help you have an awesome experience. 1. Have Great Twitter Chat Etiquette. Etiquette is a vital part of participating in a Twitter Chat. A lot of basic, in real life etiquette can work well for these. Things such as not talking over the host, letting others get a chance to participate, and respecting the rules will go a long way to making your experience grand. Be sure you know the rules beforehand and always make sure you follow them closely. If you need, have the rules pulled up on your computer for quick access during these chats. 2. Know How to Answer the Questions. When you get the rules for a Twitter Chat, make sure that you know the format for answering or asking questions. Do you use Q1 (Question 1)/A1 (Answer 1) or something else? Whatever is listed, be sure to use it. For example, if I were to ask something like this for a #fantasylitchat: “Q1: Who is the best fantasy author? #fantasylitchat” you could write your answer as such: “A1: JRR Tolkien! #fantasylitchat” 3. Figure Out and Use the Correct Hashtag. As I showed above, my make believe chat has a certain hashtag. All Twitter Chats will have a specific hashtag and you need to use it. This means that you will need to keep your questions or answers short so that you can include it at the end or beginning. This helps to keep track of all the comments people are making and makes it easier for people to connect with each other. It also makes it easier for the host to find your responses and respond themselves. So before you start joining in on a Twitter Chat learn what the hashtag will be. Hashtags are great for so many things, helping to put everything under an easy-to-locate tag. Even when you aren’t doing a Twitter Chat, you should still be using hashtags in your other social postings. 4. Make Sure Your Followers Know You Will be Tweeting More. Along with basic etiquette when participating, you also need to show respect to your followers. Make sure you alert them to your increased tweets an hour or so before you start. And always make sure you inform them just before the chat begins. This gives them the option to mute you during the chat or to follow along. 5. Don’t Overly Promote Yourself in the Chat. Twitter Chats can be used for connecting and networking, but their primary goal is to provide information and knowledge to people. What this means is that you shouldn’t overly promote yourself in the chat. If your business already does something mentioned in the chat, you can say so but don’t “advertise” it. In a way, simply by participating, you’re already promoting yourself. Just engage with people as a regular person, have fun, and take this time to learn awesome new things. You’ll be surprised by how much networking you can get done just by answering or asking questions and not promoting yourself. 6. Proofread Your Answers Well Before Tweeting. Yes, you want to get your tweet out there ASAP so that the hosts can see your answers or questions. However, you don’t want to have a lot of typos. When you engage in a Twitter Chat, make sure that you are proofreading each and every tweet that goes out. This can help boost the likelihood of getting re-tweeted and/or getting responses. Plus, if you make sure there aren’t typos, you’ll look professional and knowledgeable. You might be incredibly smart and know your grammar and spelling, but just a few typos can really damage the way others perceive your business. 7. If You’re Asking a Question, Have What You Want to Ask Ready. Engaging in a chat where you ask the questions is a great chance to have an outline ready. You already know what you want to ask, so why not write it down beforehand? This gives you the ability to know all that you want to ask and to evaluate which questions are the most important to you. This will also ensure you remember what to ask and get the answers you’re … Read more