These ten easy steps will help you get started tweeting gluten-free. All information is based on using the
New Twitter. If you need convincing to start tweeting,
read 10 Reasons to Tweet Gluten-Free. Get ready – you are about to enter the exciting and informative universe of Twitter!
1. Go to
Twitter.com and
choose a username that is fewer than 15 characters and has gf, celiac, or gfree in it if you want to make it easier to connect with other gf people. Be creative or simply try gf and the name of the city or state you live in or gf and your first name. If you have a gluten-free blog or website, use it in your username.
2.
Follow the initial setup prompts. Don’t worry about finding people to follow. You can come back to that later.
3. Click Profile and then click edit your profile or click Settings from the homepage in the top right corner on the drop down menu under your username and then click Profile. Now
complete your profile by:
-Uploading a picture (Any picture is better than the Twitter default image of an egg.)
-Linking to your website or blog if you have one
-Adding a location
-Describing yourself in the bio using keywords such as dairy-free, allergen-free, blogger, writer, mom, celiac, and/or gluten sensitive
4. Click
Notices (in Settings) to limit the emails you receive. (I recommend not receiving emails when someone follows you, but receiving emails for direct messages.)
5. Click
Design (in Settings) to change the appearance of your page.
6. Type your
first tweet by saying something like, “I’m new to Twitter and looking to connect with #gf and #foodallergy people.” If you see negative numbers you have exceeded the 140 character limit and must remove some before tweeting. Click tweet to send your tweet.
7. Find gluten-free people to
follow by:
-Following these lists as well as the people and companies on them. On the list page, click view all following on the right and then click the box with a plus sign next to each user to follow them. A green check mark will appear when you are following someone.
http://twitter.com/#!/MarylandCeliac/gluten-free-bloggers
http://twitter.com/#!/list/gfsocialmedia/glutenfreeproducts
http://twitter.com/#!/HoldTheGluten/gluten-free-peeps
-Entering a hashtag (#gf, #gfree, #dairyfree, #celiac) in the search box at the very top to find more people to follow.
-From the homepage, clicking Settings and then Find People to search usernames or browse interests.
8.
Retweet the tweets you like from the people you are following by using RT @username or simply clicking retweet. When reading tweets, put your cursor over the username and clickable commands will appear at the bottom of the tweet - favorite, retweet, and reply.
9.
Use the Twitter glossary for help understanding Twitter lingo and for help with Twitter functions. On Friday, you will see #FF, which means Follow Friday and is helpful in finding more people to follow.
10.
Tweet daily and explore messages. Reply to tweets, ask questions,
shorten links and share them, and tweet gluten-free products you like.
If you have any questions or experience any difficulties with these steps, tweet me @MarylandCeliac or @gfsocialmedia. You will get a faster response if you use my primary account, @MarylandCeliac or leave a comment here.
