Tech chat - Twitter parts 1-4: Demystifying the social media platform

This four-part series by Elizabeth Grim is a good introduction for those new to Twitter.

Its audience is evaluation professionals, and focuses largely on connecting with the evaluation community on Twitter. It's a useful starting point for evaluators feeling uneasy about diving into the social media waters.

This resource and the following information was contributed by Alice Macfarlan.

Authors and their affiliation

Elizabeth Grim

Key features

This guide is written by Elizabeth Grim with the aim of educating evaluation professionals about how, and why, they can use Twitter as a platform. 

The four parts of the blog series cover:

• Tech Chat – Twitter Part 1: Demystifying the social media platform
• Tech Chat – Twitter Part 2: Creating a strong profile
• Tech Chat – Twitter Part 3: Advanced tips and tricks
• Tech Chat – Twitter Part 4: Networking like a boss

The benefits of using Twitter professionally that are highlighted in the blog include using the platform to:

• Network with other professionals
• Raise awareness of an issue
• Showcase your skills
• Reach new audiences outside of evaluation
• Disseminate evaluation findings
• Crowdsource ideas with other professionals outside your immediate network
• Keep up with the latest trends in the field
• Find new collaborators and clients
• Follow the work of your favorite companies and colleagues
• Learn about training opportunities and conferences

How have you used or intend on using this resource?

I was actually looking for a guide on using Twitter for evaluation dissemination when David Keys recommended I look at this series (he did this via Twitter, which does rather reinforce some of the benefits Elizabeth writes about). I use Twitter quite regularly (hello friends of the @BetterEval account!) but I still found some of the tips and the lists of Twitter handles and hashtags useful.

Why would you recommend it to other people?

Social media can be quite terrifying for people who haven't used it much. What I like about this piece is that it really breaks it down to the essentials - both in terms of giving very basic (but important) guidance around how to use it, as well as explaining how to join in and feel part of the community of evaluators using Twitter - which is full of supportive, interesting and funny individuals. (Speaking of the evaluation Twitter community, see(/hear) also this Eval Cafe podcast: #Eval - The Twittering featuring some notable #eval names)