Twitter A Guide to the Social Media Cocktail Party, by Erica Ehm aka @YummyMummyClub

I’m not an expert. Just an addict.

Getting Hooked• I joined Twitter almost 3 years ago on January 19, 2009. • Twitter helped me grow my business on many different levels,

and improved my social life enormously.• Naturally, it was recommended to me by someone I had never

met IRL. His name is Anthony Kalamut @SouthsideAdguy. • That's the beauty of social media - you connect with perfect

strangers and actually start relationships with them.• I remember feeling very nervous when I first started on Twitter.

Because I'm not good at parties. That's my social anxiety.

This was my first tweet.

Twitter Therapy

• Twitter has cured me of some of my social anxiety. • It's made me learn how to engage in a different way. • My mom @journeywoman and I were at a big PR event

last year. 20 people at the large table, and I'm chatting. My mom whispers to me, “You’re not shy anymore.”

Welcome to the

Twitter Cocktail PartyWe’re going to navigate together so you can…• Connect with many interesting and twitterific people• Give out your virtual business cards in a meaningful way• Go beyond ‘followers’ to create relationships • Get lucky

Party Twitter-quette Rule 1:

Know Thyself

• Before you go to any party, you have an agenda. • Are you going to get clients?• What are you going to wear?• How will you behave?• How much are you going to drink?• What info are you going to divulge?• It’s the same at the Twitter Cocktail Party

•One word?•Who are you?•What are your personal core values?•What is your brand?•What are your brand’s core values?•What are your main interests?•What do you know a lot about?•What kind of image are you trying to project? •Why do you want to go to the party?

Rule 1: Know Thyself

The Checklist

The Brand is You.You are a Brand.

Party Twitter-quette Rule 2:

• The way you communicate has to be true to who you are in your life.

• Period.

• If someone meets you in real life, are they meeting the same person they're tweeting with? This goes for both tone and avatar.

• Be yourself. Be proud. Be consistent.

Rule 2: You are a Brand

Take the Test

@Unmarketing - renegade marketer, still a teen, individual

@MomMagRocks - loud, in your face, antiestablishment, mom power

@CarlaYoung - practical resource for working moms

• Don’t be the drunk guy at the party who meets you once and acts like he’s known you forever.

• Tweet responsibly. • Take. It. Slow.

Party Twitter-quette Rule 3:

First Impressions Count

• Take the time to give context about who you are.• Be proactive• You’ve got to give a little to get a little. • Don’t come on too strong. I’m not that kind of girl.• It’s not enough to follow. • Interact. • Engage. • Take genuine interest.• Facebook and Linked In too!

Rule 3: First Impressions Count

Introduction Guidelines

• Social media is the big equalizer.• Anyone can talk to anyone …if you

take the time to engage with them.

Party Twitter-quette Rule 4:

Make the First Move

• If you don’t try, you won’t know.• Don’t assume.• Don’t play the social media victim (“..nobody talks

to meeeeeee..”).• Be yourself and engage (see a theme here?)

Rule 4: Make the First Move

How to Get Out There

• Shhhhhhhhhhh…

Party Twitter-quette Rule 5:

Listen

Rule 5: Listen

Words of Wisdom

• Social Media is like any conversation – it’s all about listening and responding.

• Create conversation, don’t just push content.• Nurture connections, don’t get ‘follower hungry’• Think quality - don’t add to the white noise and clutter.• Give people a positive reason to read your tweets.• When in doubt, wait to respond.

Party Twitter-quette Rule 6:

Reciprocate• Recognize when someone does you a good turn,

and return the favour. • If someone retweets something you post, be

nice, and at least thank them.• Jump into conversations when someone asks a

question and be the life of the party. • Connect people. • Do Random Acts of Kindness.

Rule 6: Reciprocate

Eg. Westjet

• Whether you want to bring cheese fondue or SEO expertise, don’t show up empty handed to the party.

Party Twitter-quette Rule 7:

Have Something Worth Sharing

• Everyone has a thing. What’s yours?• @Those2girls - their brand is spreading goodness, bringing people

together, smiles, helping people to feel better about themselves. • @YMCBookalicious - Wanda is all about books. She reads books, she

tweets books, she runs online twitter book clubs. She also very proactively (but nicely) stalks interesting people in her field and starts up conversations.

• @CocktailDeeva is about drinks and doing good.

Rule 7: Something Worth Sharing

Mirror Your Passion

Your Timeline will tell a STORY

• What kind of story are you telling?• Is it one-sided?• Is it inclusive• Does it really reflect who YOU ARE?

Party Twitter-quette Rule 8:

Build Business Relationships

• Newsflash: Business success is not measured by the number of followers you have.

• Bring more than your business card to the party, but leave your pitch and your script at the door.

If you want to • Have deep business relationships• Have people listen to you• Have people respond to you• Have people click on your links • Have people engage you

Rule 8: Business Relationships

Do Unto Others

You should be• Listening to them• Responding to them• Clicking on THEIR links • Engaging with them

• If you plan on being part of the social media game you need to commit.

• Be there to respond.• Be a part of the conversation, especially if you start it.

Party Twitter-quette Rule 9:

Be There

• Integrate your social media experiences.• Twitter is awesome - but it’s really important to meet people

face to face.• Solidify relationships by bringing them into your real life. • Go to real cocktail parties, dinners, conferences, meetings.• Don’t hide behind Twitter – it’s just one way to interact.

Party Twitterquette Rule 10:

Take it Full Circle

• The most important thing is to be yourself.• Twitter is about you making personal connections with other

like-minded individuals. • So for better or for worse, get comfortable in your own twitter

skin, because it's all about how you choose to interact.

Final words from an addict.

Comments? @yummymummyclub