Hints and Tips for Using Twitter

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Twitter is a popular social media platform, and is an emerging tool within the Healthcare Science community. It has many benefits, providing a platform for promotion and discussion of the profession as well as direct access to advice and support from peers. Knowing where to start, and how to use Twitter effectively and professionally may not be easy for us all, and this article attempts to provide some guidance, hints and tips for using professional Twitter use, and how to get the most out of it.

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Getting started

A new Twitter account can be set up from any internet-enabled device, e.g. a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. For a PC, laptop or tablet, go to www.twitter.com and follow the instructions for setting up a new account, using your e-mail address and/or telephone number. For smart phones, download the Twitter app from the relevant App Store, which can be found on your smartphone. It is really important to set a complex password, as it is essential to control and protect the information being sent from any Twitter account, but especially where it is being used for professional purposes.

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Tip 1: Set a password that is difficult to break,

using a combination of words, numbers and characters

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Twitter will automatically assign you a username or ‘handle’, but this often is a combination of numbers which may be mistaken for an automated account (‘bot’) and should be changed to something more appropriate and personal. Twitter handles always start with ‘@’, for example @IBMScience, which is the account of the IBMS. To change the Twitter handle, go to ‘Settings and privacy’ from your profile icon drop down menu. Under ‘Account’, click into the box beside ‘Username’ and input your new ‘handle’. If your chosen handle is already taken, choose something similar, e.g. including one or more characters or numbers. Once finished, choose ‘Save changes’ at the bottom of the screen.

 

When you first set up a Twitter account your picture will be of an egg. This can make your account look like an automated ‘bot’ and so it is essential to change it and add a picture, either of yourself or something relating to you. You should also add a banner picture which spreads across the top of your profile, but does not have to be the same as your profile picture. The banner picture is seen when others click on your Twitter page, whilst only the profile picture will appear next to your Tweets. Adding a recognisable profile picture, not only gives a personal touch, but may also help other users find you when using the search function.

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On your Twitter page there is room for a short biography, and also the option to add your geographical location. It is important to add a biography to say who you are, and this also helps other users to find you in a search and to know that you are somebody of interest to them who is worth following. Although Twitter can be used as a personal account, it is important to remember that as registered professionals, we are always expected to maintain certain standards of behaviour, whether on or off duty. It is therefore wise to add a comment at the end of the biography to make it clear that any Tweets are your own view, and not that of any organisation or professional body that you may be affiliated with.

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Here's an example Twitter bio:

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UHS Lead Healthcare Scientist; GI/HPB histopathology; Advanced Clinical Practice; IBMS Council member; Biomedical Scientist of the Year; Theatre; My views.

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Tip 2: Personalise your account by creating your own

Twitter handle and adding a picture and short biography

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Starting to use Twitter

Once you have set up your account it’s time to start following people you are interested in and time to gain some of your own followers. These days most of us will know people already using Twitter and so these are the first people you should follow. Using the ‘search’ function you can enter either the Twitter handle or the name of the person or organisation, choosing ‘Follow’ once you have clicked onto their individual page. From any individual profile you can view their followers, and then look at additional profiles which you may then wish to also follow. People will soon follow you back, but to increase the chances it is a good idea to put out your first tweet saying hello – perhaps something as simple as “HI! My name is Jo and I’m a Consultant Healthcare Scientist in Histopathology at Southampton General Hospital, and I’m interested in GI histopathology and advanced practice for Healthcare Scientists. I’m new to Twitter and looking forward to lots of great conversation!”

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Some Twitter definitions

Tweet: a single post of up to 280 characters

Retweet: reposting somebody else’s tweet, either as it is or with your own comment

Reply: responding directly to somebody’s tweet

Handle: the username starting with the @ symbol

Hashtag: tagging or grouping a tweet via a theme or subject, starting with the # symbol

Follower: people that follow your account and your tweets

Following: people whose accounts and tweets you follow

Timeline: a list of the most recent tweets from the people you follow

DM: a ‘direct message’ which is a private message between just you and the recipient(s)

Verified: a well-known Twitter user whose account has been validated by Twitter with a ‘tick’

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Communicating with other Twitter users

To directly communicate with another Twitter user, write your tweet and include their Twitter handle at the start, middle or end of the tweet. You can include one or multiple Twitter handles in any one tweet. If you want the tweet to appear in all of your follower’s timelines, put a full stop before the @. An example of where you might wish to do this is when you are replying to a tweet from an organisation, and you would like peers to also see your reply as this may stimulate further discussion.

 

Using hashtags

One of the most powerful things about Twitter is its ability to build personal and professional networks. To make this work, you need to get yourself noticed - that is, other Twitter users need to see your tweets and have the opportunity to engage with them. To achieve this and to widen your reach, it is a good idea to use hashtags at the end of your tweets, as otherwise there will be less impact and the tweet may simply be lost amongst millions of others. A hashtag is a way of adding a theme to your words, and it enables others to search for tweets relating to the theme, e.g. #HealthcareScience or #Pathology. When using hashtags with multiple words, it is good practice to start each new word with a capital letter, as it makes it easier to read and distinguish words. A really good example of an effective hashtag use is the monthly #IBMSChat, where those working or interested in Biomedical Science come together on the first Wednesday evening of every month for one hour to discuss a particular theme relating to the profession. Not only does this enable those involved in the live chat to see all of the tweets relating to it, but it facilitates retrospective searching, days, months or years after the event. It works exactly the same way for live TV events, where programmes often now advertise a hashtag with the programme, to enable interested people to discuss the show as it happens.

 

Tip 3: Use one or more hashtags to add a theme to your tweets, to

widen your reach amongst Twitter users interested in your subject

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Other people’s tweets At the bottom of other people’s tweets there are a number of options – reply, retweet and like You can retweet somebody else’s tweet easily by clicking on the retweet icon. You can simply retweet, but to make it more personal to you it is a good idea to add your own comment. Consider why you are retweeting. Is it an important statement to get out to your peers? Do you agree with it (or not)? If so, say why, and don’t be afraid to add a hashtag to ensure it gets seen by as many people as possible. Of course, you can simply like another person’s tweet, and this is a simple way to start interacting with others, especially if they are somebody with perceived high status. Although it can be daunting, don’t be afraid to approach anybody on Twitter, regardless of their perceived status – just remember, to always be polite and courteous, as you would be if you spoke to somebody face to face. If you want to share somebody’s tweet as part of a direct or private conversation you can click on the ‘send tweet in a direct message’ icon and it will appear embedded within a private message.

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Tip 4: Always be polite and courteous, as you

would be when speaking to somebody face to face

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Tip 5: Add a comment when retweeting to make your message more personal

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Adding personality Another good way to add personality to your tweets is to include emojis or an attachment. Example attachments might be a picture uploaded from your computer or smartphone, or it could be a GIF, which is a picture or short video clip from the internet, based around a searchable theme. You can add both of these using the icons at the bottom of the ‘What’s happening’ box for writing tweets. It is worth noting that you can add JPEG and TIF files, but not PDF files or word documents. One way to get around this is to send a PDF attachment or word document to your smartphone, open it, take a screenshot, crop and save it on your smartphone. You will then be able to attach this image to your tweet.

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Tip 6: Include emojis, pictures or GIFs to add personality to your tweets

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Academic Twitter

Twitter is a good resource for discovering links to articles and publications. When you come across these tweets you can bookmark them using the ‘bookmark’ icon, found via the share icon beneath each tweet. Once bookmarked, you can return to read them at your leisure. Increasingly, speakers at meetings and conferences include their Twitter handle within their presentation or poster. A good way of increasing your professional and academic network is to follow people whose work interests you, and to engage with those who follow you after you have presented your own work at a meeting or a conference. Often people don’t have the time, or feel able to talk to you at a conference, so adding your Twitter handle creates an easy way to get in touch afterwards, and is often a great way to make new connections with people outside of your direct peer network! It’s also great to live tweet at conferences, using the provided conference hashtag – it is a really good way to promote live discussion and for people to follow the conference when not there in person. However, it is worth noting that listening and tweeting is a skill and it’s important not to miss key points because you are busy tweeting – you can always note down what you want to say and compose the tweet later.

 

Things to beware

Like all social media platforms, Twitter can have a negative side and it is important to be aware of the pitfalls and how to avoid them. Firstly, it is wise to avoid any kind of politics, either professional or personal. Avoid getting into arguments with other Twitter users, regardless of how strongly you might feel about an issue. Always be polite even if you don’t agree with the other person’s view. Remember that you are a professional, and you should always adhere to professional standards whether on or off duty, even if tweets are ‘your view’. It is good practice to stop and think before pressing the ‘tweet’ button. Is what you are tweeting appropriate? Is the language acceptable? Could it be misinterpreted and potentially offend somebody? Would you be happy for a patient to read it? Instead of ‘think before you speak’, it is good advice to always ‘think before you tweet’. Sometimes we all have bad days, and it can be really tempting to vent our frustrations publicly – Twitter really is not the best place to do it. By its very nature Twitter is 24/7, constantly refreshing with updated information. Don’t try to read everything and reply to everything – the notifications can be overwhelming at times. It’s OK to take a break, or perhaps provide limits on how long you want to spend on it each day – perhaps a few minutes during your lunch break or commute home in the evening. Increasingly, people like to post interesting cases on Twitter for followers to guess the diagnosis, or discuss as a case study. It is paramount that no patient identifiable information is included, and it is also good practice to not post live cases.

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Tip 7: healthy use of Twitter: Avoid any kind of politics

Don’t be drawn into arguments

Think before you tweet

Don't be afraid to mute/block accounts

Create boundaries and take a break if you need to

 

Summary

Twitter is an increasingly popular and effective platform for the Healthcare Science community, providing opportunities for communicating, informing, building networks and supporting each other. Although many of us use our accounts professionally, it doesn’t mean it has to be impersonal. It is good to show your human side, so long as it is information you are happy to share, and which enables you to retain your professionalism. There is now an established community, not just within the UK, but also internationally, who are happy to support and encourage new users. Hopefully this simple guidance will encourage more of you to join us. #HealthcareScience #JoinIn

 

Thank you to everybody who contributed hints and tips via a Twitter chat, but especially to @StaffsBMS, @TheNwafor, @sarcybint, @FlanneryJf, @RobMedPhysics and @physiologic_al.

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