Tag Archives | tweetchat

What is a Twitterchat?

By on November 30, 2009 in How to Start, Mompreneurs, Pink Slip Entrepreneurs, SmallBizChat, Social Media, Solopreneurs, Your Small Business

chatbubble_ss_11-21-09What is a Twitterchat?  Anyone can use Twitter, but you really are not part of the online community until you have spent some time on a Twitterchat.  This post will explain the fundamentals of a Twitterchat.

A Twitterchat is simply an organized group chat that takes place using the Twitter platform.  Twitterchats are organized events that occur at a set time.  Example: #smallbizchat occurs on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 9 PM Eastern.  To participate, you just need to be using Twitter at the assigned time.

What is a Hashtag?  A hashtag “#” also known as the “pound sign” always starts with the symbol and then your special word or topic. Mine is # smallbizchat. Hashtags allow you to isolate a conversations using Twitter.  The use of a hashtag is how other participants follow the discussion.  Participants use an assigned hashtag (say, #smallbizchat) at the end their tweets during the discussion.  

People typically use TweetChat.com and Tweegrid.com to participate in #smallbizchat. 

You can use regular Twitter to participate in a chat.  All you need to do is answer the questions and be sure to use the #hashtag at the end of each answer.  I would not advise doing it this way however, the point of participating in a Twitterchat is to interact with the other participants.

What is the format of a Twitterchat?  Here are some common formats for chats that I’ve seen:

  • freeform discussion- there’s a general topic and everyonejumps in and starts chatting
  • structuredagenda- the host asks questionsand gives participantsa set period oftime to answer
  • featured guest - guestoffers advice oranswers questionsposed bythe host and the audience can chime in too. (#smallbizchat uses this format)

How do Twitterchats operate?  Often the chat organizer or host will set ground rules at the beginning.  Typical ground rules might include:

  • The first 10 minutes are for introductions and announcements
  • No pitching your business until the last 5 minutes
  • Never hijack the chat– take irrelevant discussionsoffline

How do I find out what Twitterchats are taking place? There are more than 60 Twitterchats on twitter each week.  There are also some that meet less frequently.  Some of the most popular chats include #journchat (for journalists and PR folks on Monday nights) #gno (girls night out on Tuesday nights) #brandchat (for branding tips on Wed mornings) #smallbizchat (for small business info on Wednesday nights) #blogchat (all about blogging on Sunday nights).

There are two major calendars that track twitterchats:

How to participate in a Twitterchat?  You must have a twitter account.  Use the calendars to select a chat you want to participate in.

Each week I release a custom tweetgrid link through my @smallbizlady account on Twitter with the topic to make it easy for my followers to join #smallbizchat. 

If someone goes on Tweetgrid.com directly they need to select party mode and manually put in the hashtag for the twitterchat they wish to follow.  The great thing about tweetgrid is that it has three columns which allow you to see everything going on real-time.

Tweetchat.com is much simpler to use.  You login with your Twitter information and just put in the #hashtag and you will immediately start to see the conversation in that #hashtag.

Check out this link for more information on: How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

Tell me about your favorite Twitterchat or if you have ever participated in #smallbizchat tell me what you like about my weekly Twitterchat.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #SmallBizChat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in Feb 2010.

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How to Participate in #Smallbizchat

By on July 21, 2009 in SmallBizChat, Social Media

What is #SmallBizChat? It is a weekly interactive talk show on Twitter for small business owners. It takes place every Wednesday from 8-9 pm eastern time. Participants and guests type answers to questions from the host, using the social media site Twitter. The focus of #SmallBizChat is to help business owners succeed as their own boss as they start and grow their small businesses.

For info on the upcoming Week’s chat and a link to the current Tweetgrid (see below for explanation), follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter.

Getting Started on Twitter

First, you need a Twitter account.  For details on Getting started on Twitter click this link http://succeedasyourownboss.com/06/2009/getting-started-on-twitter/

It’s a good idea to follow our Twitter account @SmallBizChat. Each week, we post a series of tweets about our guest and the topic for the week.

Terms you need know before we get started

  • Hashtag- The # symbol in front of any word creates a hashtag.   #SmallBizChat is a hashtag. Hashtags are used on Twitter to track information on a specific topic. Click it, and it will take you to the most recent conversation on that topic. In Twitter, you can put a #hashtag in the search box, and see what folks are saying about that tag at that moment too.
  • Tweetchat- is a Twitter talk show, using text messages on Twitter to interact with a weekly guest on a specific topic – using a #hashtag to help my people follow the same conversation.
  • Tweetgrid.com -a third party website tweetgrid.com which allows you to participate in a live tweetchat using three columns
  • Tweetchat.com- a third party website tweetchat.com which allows you to participate in a live tweetchat using one column

There are many options to participate in our live chat:

Using Tweetgrid for our Chat:

On Wednesdays, we put out a custom link to Tweetgrid.com making the chat easier to follow. Consider following our Twitter account @SmallBizChat for details on upcoming chats and links to each week’s TweetGrid.

By using the link, This mode automatically puts the #SmallBizChat hashtag on each tweet sent out in the chat. It allows other participants in the chat to see your comment as well.

Click this link for example of tweetgrid http://is.gd/1yu6j the far right column is where you can see anyone’s comments in the chat.  The center column shows this week’s guest and the host comments. You can use the far column for you own twitter account just put @ your twitter name and hit search.

You’ll notice above you username is a #hashtag box, which should say #SmallBizChat – if it doesn’t, please add it there, so that it adds that tag to each tweet you send.

In the center at the top of the page, you will see a box labeled Tweet, and below it one that says user:    and pass:      Fill out the lower two boxes with your username (without the @ symbol) and password. Putting your password into any program can be a risk, but this program has a good reputation.

To reply to a tweet, hover over it, and hit the left-facing blue arrow, type your information and then hit reply. To RT or retweet something, also hover over the tweet and click the right-facing blue arrow. Tweetgrid will RT something even if it is too long, but if you want to add anything to the comment, you may need to edit the tweet for space.

Things may move pretty fast, so to control the flow of tweets, hit the stop so that you can scroll down, just remember to hit the search to rejoin the active chat.  If you forget you’ll wonder why you are not seeing any new tweets.

Near the end of the chat: In the last five minutes of the chat, the host sends out a tweet allowing people to introduce them selves, or to give a 140 character commercial, so be ready to plug your business.

The host also tweets out info on next week’s guest and topic.

After the chat: Follow the people who you found interesting, continue the conversation if warranted.

Follow @SmallBizChat. Our Virtual Assistant @YourJobMyOffice creates a transcript each week, which is usually sent out via @SmallBizChat later that evening, and the next day.

Just a Note about Chats and Twitter Troubles: Sometime Twitter’s search function is running slow, either due to the volume of people using the service, or maintenance issues. Sometimes it can take a full minute or two for a tweet you sent to show, if this is the case, we persevere. If the slowdown is long, we may try switching to a different service, such as savorchat.com or we may cancel or postpone the chat. If this is the case, be sure to watch the tweets of our host @SmallBizLady, co-host @CathyWebSavvyPR, @SmallBizChat and our virtual assistant @YourJobMyOffice for tips on what we are doing.

For more information about various chats on twitter, and how people use them, check out these links:

http://www.twitip.com/tweeting-with-your-twitter-community-how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat/

http://www.meryl.net/2009/05/06/list-of-twitter-chats/

http://www.meryl.net/2009/05/05/how-to-join-twitter-chats/

Info on hashtags and how they work: hashtag info/explanation" href="http://twitter.pbworks.com/Hashtags" target="_blank">http://twitter.pbworks.com/Hashtags

Look up a #hastag to find info on “what the hashtag:” hashtag " href="http://wthashtag.com/Main_Page" target="_blank">http://wthashtag.com/Main_Page

We hope this explainer page will help you join #smallbizchat each Wednesday on Twitter.  Our goal is to help you succeed as your own boss as you start and grow your small business.

Good Luck!

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How to Be a Guest on #SmallBizChat

By on July 13, 2009 in SmallBizChat

smallbizchat_logo_webThank you for your interest in being a guest on #SmallBizChat! In preparation for the TwitterChat, here is what you should know in order to ensure a great chat experience.

#SmallBizChat is a weekly interactive talk show on Twitter for small business owners. It takes place every Wednesday from 8-9 pm eastern time.  Participants and guests type answers to questions from the host, using the social media site Twitter.

The focus of #SmallBizChat is to help small business owners succeed as their own boss by reducing the learning curve as their small businesses start and grow.

The target market for #SmallBizChat is emerging entrepreneurs 25-54, who have been in business less than five years.  We try to balance topics on the chat between challenges for start-ups and issues faced by a business with 20 or fewer employees.

To be considered as a guest on #SmallBizChat we require that you submt:

  • a specific topic (The more specific the topic the better)
  • a link to a blog post, article or book about the topic
  • a one page bio  
  • an electronic media kit (if you have one or are an author)
  •  your twitter name
  •  your complete contact information  

Please send all information to smallbizlady at gmail dot com  Once the above info has been reviewed, a phone interview will be scheduled.

If you are confirmed as a guest, we need a twitter bio and 10-12 questions and answers that you can answer during the live TweetChat.  They must be emailed to smallbizlady at gmail dot com at least 5 days before your appearance date.  

The host, Melinda Emerson may use your Q&A as a blog post at www.succeedasyourownboss.com so be sure to answer in complete sentences.

If you have a free giveaway, resource guide or blog post about the topic, feel free to use it as a link in your answers. Or we can always give it away at the end of the chat. It’s not required, but it’s good to have to grow your followers.

#SmallBizChat is hosted by @smallbizlady Melinda Emerson, a veteran enterpreneur and smallbiz coach based in Philadelphia and is co-hosted by @cathywebsavvypr, a public relations and social media strategist.  For more information, log on to 800080;">www.melindaemerson.com, www.succeedasyourownboss.com or www.websavvypr.com

Thank you again for your interest in #SmallBizChat!  We look forward to tweeting with you. 

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