Creating Social Media Buttons: Twitter

 

If you have a website, Twitter account, Facebook page, YouTube channel, or Pinterest account for your chapter or state organization, you are always looking for ways to extend your connection with your members or potential members.

At first glance, this topic seems to be short and sweet . . . and it can be with a little patience that will pay dividends for your chapter and/or state organization. Twitter and Facebook alone have many ways to incorporate different buttons. As a result, this topic will be broken into two articles. This posting will deal with Twitter. Next week we will cover Facebook.

Twitter Buttons

Twitter allows you to create a variety of buttons: Follow, Share, Mention, Hashtag or Message.

To create these buttons, go to https://publish.twitter.com/# . Scroll down and click “Twitter Buttons.” Select the button that is needed (see below), and you will be asked to customize the look, the text, account, etc.  Each button requires slightly different customization. Twitter will generate HTML code that will be embedded on your website. Twitter’s documentation and directions for customization are found HERE.

Twitter Follow Button allows members to follow you with one click, all without leaving your website.

Twitter Share Button enables site visitors to easily share content (e.g. your website, or specific pages)

Twitter Mention Button This button encourages website visitors to communicate with you via Twitter. This button can be added to “Contact Us” or “About Us.”

Take NOTE: Following and Sharing buttons are different.

Follow buttons promote your presence on the various social media by taking the member to your linked social media. These buttons can be placed anywhere on your website to create visibility to your presence in other social media. Placing in several places is recommended--including the Home page, About Us page, or even in a sidebar.

Share buttons share your site with members’ social media connections and networks. These buttons allow you to expand your reach to new audiences and perhaps bring visitors back to your website. These buttons can be added to your web page, blog articles, email signatures, QR codes (for business cards, etc.), or any other piece of content you create.

Additional “Buttons”

In addition to the buttons created by Twitter, one other idea cannot be omitted--creating what, technically, is not a button but rather an anchor text link. An example is below ( it is not an active button.)

You can create a free “button” at this URL:  https://clicktotweet.com. You will be asked to login to your Twitter account. You enter the text you want to populate the tweet, copy and paste the generated URL into your anchor text (e.g., “Tweet This” or “Click to Tweet”). As a best practice, include a shortened URL in the Tweet to direct members back to the original piece of content you are promoting. Also include your @name.

Are you ready to widen your chapter’s reach? If Twitter isn’t your thing, visit our blog next week when we cover “Buttons for Facebook.”

Twitter image customized by Eileen

Communicating with Email (Part 1- Direct emailing)

Email is by far the most popular way to communicate. Group emails are a wonderful way to share information. Basically, there are two methods to send group emails. An email can be sent directly from one member to a group. The second way is to use a distribution service such as MailChimp.

We will discuss the pros and cons of each method. This week we will begin with direct emails. Direct emailing is the easier of the two, but it does have shortcomings.

PROS

• Direct email  is easy to set up. You need verified email addresses that you have arranged in groups.
• It is time efficient. Choose the group, compose the message and send. Messages can be copied and pasted to send to another group.

CONS

• Internet providers differ widely on what they allow. Some allow only 50 or less email addresses on any given message. You may have to break one large group into smaller ones.
• The size and format of attachments can also be an issue with emails.  A service provider will not let you attach files when the memory requirements are too large.
• Internet providers frequently block messages sent to a group. As a sender, you would not know if your message reached everyone in your group. Ask for a reply to insure your message was received.
• Security on individual computers may see your message as spam and send it to the spam/junk folder. Members don't think to check their spam/junk folders for legitimate emails.
• Some email providers (e.g., Time Warner) will quickly look at your group emails before sending. If one is problematic, the message isn't sent to anyone in the group. You must spend time to figure out which one is not going through.

GENERAL COMMENTS

If you share information with a large group use Bcc., since people would prefer that their email address be kept private. However, if you want a discussion (as in a small committee), you should use the “To” option; this will allow committee members to respond to all participants

Even with the shortcomings noted above, direct emailing to large groups will continue to be a popular way to communicate within the Society.

Is direct emailing used in your chapter? What pros and cons have you found?

Follow Us!

Some members Tweet. Some post to Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. Some may watch videos on YouTube. When all is said and done, most members use at least one platform of social media.

Why should you use social media?

You can connect with friends across the world.
Social media is truly a speedy communication: you make a point and move on.
Social media fosters friendships.
You can find common ground on an important topic.
Important information is at your fingertips.
Social media is two-way communication.
It is a meeting point.
News is delivered.
Ideas are shared.
Keeps DKG members informed and builds pride in membership.
Encourages lifelong learning.

DKG has a presence on social media. Connect with them using your favorite social media platform.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dkgorg
Twitter: @DKG_SI
Instagram: @DKGSI
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/delta-kappa-gamma-society-international
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/DKGSI/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/DKGAustin

What is your favorite social media platform?  Why?