What is Twitter?
So I know you are probably wondering what in the heck Twitter really is? And why should you know about it? And what can Twitter do for you? Well the answer is quite simple, and you do not have to look any further.
Twitter is probably one of my favorite social sites. It allows you to follow and keep up with friends, family, and your favorite celebrities. How cool is that? It is definitely a way to get the party started and to keep the discussions rolling.
Twitter, just like Facebook is another form of social media. The major difference between the two is the character limit. On Facebook you can make a post as long as you want, whereas on Twitter, you are limited to 140 characters.
With that being said, it will be in your best interest to make sure whatever you tweet has some significant meaning. Every word must count, literally! Okay, maybe that was not funny, but you get the point. Also, you want to make sure you tweet more than once a day.
If you are still not sold on Twitter being this amazing, check out what great things YouTube is chirping about.
Twitter Basics For All The Tweeps!
When starting your Twitter account, you will want to follow these tips to ensure you are on the pathway to success.
- Think BIG and creative! It is important that just as you would set goals for any other form of social media, you do the same for Twitter. Have a plan and make sure it can be executed properly. Also, be creative. Think of Twitter as a brand new house you are moving into. The first thing you want to do is start decorating and making the place come to life through your tastes. Twitter is the same way and when you are starting your account, think of a creative name or handle that fits both you and your company, a profile picture that suits the organization, a header appropriate for your organization, and a creative background or layout if you are using a desktop.
- Let the people know your purpose. Think about all the holidays you have spent home with your family and they constantly ask you what you plan to do when you graduate and when will you bring someone home to meet the family. Pretty annoying right? Trust me it is, but for Twitter it is the best way to go. Let your audience know upfront what you are using Twitter for and how you would like to expand. This is generally the mission statement of your company and you could definitely put this in the bio section of your account.
- Get those followers up! FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW! Oh yeah, did I say follow? You might want to leave following your favorite celebrities and artists for your personal page. When it comes to healthcare, follow people who can potentially help you expand your brand and get your name out there. Twitter gives its users all kinds of updates so you will definitely be able to see which people are interested in the same things you are. Tweet right? I mean, sweet right? You bet it is!
Why should healthcare organizations use Twitter?
Well, why not use Twitter? ReferralMD states that as of today, 31% of healthcare professionals use social media for networking. That number is only going to grow since we live in a generation where social media is taking over everything. Another great reason to use Twitter is because many patients have stated that social media is their go-to when choosing a doctor or medical facility. Also, people are more likely to share their experience on social media.
Still not convinced that Twitter is the place for you? Well think of it like this, if you go to a restaurant and they provide you with excellent service, the first thing you are probably going to do is share that experience with friends. And then they will tell their friends and so on. Your organization is the same. If you extend excellent service to your patients, then people will continue to rave about it and before you know it, you will be riding the Twitter wave like a pro.
Interaction is key, and the more you engage with your audience, the more you can expand your name and get more patients.
Chirping up the alley: Who’s doing it right?
The American Cancer Society does a great job of using their page to promote awareness. They tweet daily and multiple times a day. The organization gives its followers healthy recipes for the foods their followers love, they provide tips on how to prevent skin cancer, and they use personal stories of cancer survivors to share with followers.
Another organization that effectively uses Twitter is the HIV/AIDS Organization. Just like the American Cancer Society, they tweet just about every day and they share facts, personal stories, and links to testing locations.
These two organizations make using Twitter look easy, and it really is! Just stay active with your audience and tweet things that are prevalent to them.
#Hashtag: So that’s a thing?
PharmaGeek lends great advice on how to make sure you are using Twitter effectively and getting the most out of your experience. One of the biggest things the site lends advice on is the use of hashtags. First of all, you are probably wondering what in the world is a hashtag? Well, it is simply the pound sign followed by a word or phrase to help Twitter users find a specific topic.
Make sure when you use the hashtag that you follow it with phrases that go along with your organization. You would not want to tweet something about cancer and then put #partyatmyplacethisweekend. I mean unless you are having a party celebrating someone who beat cancer, then yeah, but you get the point.
#Do #Not #Hashtag #Everything! No really, do not do it. You see how annoying that got? I know you probably read that and thought to yourself, “she has went overboard with the hashtag.” That is exactly how your audience will look at you if you hashtag too much.
Quick Tips on Tweeting
Here are some other tips PharamGeek lends to aspiring healthcare Twitter users:
- Include important content that is relevant to your audience. Do not bore them!
- Be on a two-way street. Ask questions to your audience and provide them with answers and feedback as well.
- Short tweets are the best tweets, because everyone is in a rush nowadays.
- Give shout-outs and credit to those when due. The more you do this, the more people will re-tweet you, thus getting your name out to more people.
- Provide links to whatever topic you are focused on.
- DO NOT use the latest slang and abbreviations. I know the cool kids on the block are doing it, but for your organization, it is not professional and not everyone knows them.
But first, let’s post a tweet.
Twitter’s latest feature is Periscope. It is amazing, yes I said amazing! Here is why. You can view and share live broadcasts from your cellphone. That is great for you especially if you are hosting an event. You can share it on your Twitter account. Allowing your followers to be a part of that real time action, makes them feel a part of what is going on and it is more engaging for them. Real time + real events = real connections and there is nothing better than that.
You are now ready to start your Twitter journey and I have faith that you will expand your organization. Now go, spread your wings and fly. If you follow these tips, your organization will be the chirp of the town!
Taishia 
Quataishia,
I liked how you explain what Twitter is for first time users and those that use it currently without knowing what it is. Using American Cancer Society as an example is helpful to other health organization on Twitter. Different organizations will know how to interact with followers and provide information that benefits individual health. The tips for health care Twitter users, was a great addition to the blog. People will know how to communicate and research information they want. Your post about Twitter was interesting to read and provided guidance on how to use Twitter effectively.
LikeLiked by 1 person