• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

The Social Media Hat

Always On Top Of Social

  • Coaching & Consulting
  • Community
  • Speaking
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
      • Influencer Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Newsletter
  • Search
  • Coaching & Consulting
  • Community
  • Speaking
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
      • Influencer Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Newsletter
  • Search

How to use HootSuite to Manage Twitter Chats

Learn how to use Hootsuite to participate in Twitter Chats, as well as how Twitter Chats work in general!

You are here: Home / Social Media Articles / How to use HootSuite to Manage Twitter Chats

August 5, 2013 //  by Mike Allton

Reading Time: 3 minutes

HootSuite is a tool for social media management that we’ve talked about and referenced many times. I am a certified HootSuite Solution Pro, which means that I have been trained on not only how to use HootSuite, but how to help business owners understand how they can use HootSuite to manage and monitor their social media accounts. We are continuing our series on How to Make the Most of Your HootSuite Account by reviewing how to use HootSuite to find, monitor and participate in Twitter Chats.

One of the more interesting aspects of Twitter usage that has evolved over time is that of Twitter Chats. Chats on Twitter are conversations, often between complete strangers, that revolve around a specific hashtag. The hashtag is a requirement, as it is the linking of tweets through the hashtag that powers the chat. Instead of using Twitter.com or one of the available Twitter Chat tools, I recommend that you take a look at using HootSuite.

RELATED: The Unofficial Book on Hootsuite – your complete manual on how to leverage every aspect of Hootsuite for social media management.

Twitter Chat Explained

A Twitter Chat or Tweet Chat is using Twitter to talk about a common interest with others during a preset time. It’s like an online chatroom where you add to the discussion by tweeting. Each time you tweet or respond to a tweet within the chat, you simply have to ensure that you include that chat’s hashtag so that it’s linked. If you’d like to find a scheduled chat on a topic you’re interested in, you can check out the Tweet Chat directory at http://twubs.com/p/hashtag-directory/twitter-chat/1064600_179

You can also start your own Twitter Chat. Simply pick a hashtag that isn’t already used (just search the hashtag to see if anyone else is using it), and then promote it to your followers. Choose a time and topic and work on making sure that it won’t be just you participating.

Why Chat?

First of all, let’s just call this out. Participating in a Twitter Chat can be fun! It’s exciting to suddenly be talking with people from all around the world on a topic, and have those tweets and comments come flying in.

But more importantly, from a business perspective, it’s an opportunity for you to connect with and engage other Twitter users in a way that you would never be able to accomplish on your own. By participating in the conversation and injecting your comments, you create opportunities for you to connect with new people, whether they’re influencers in your industry or potential clients.

HootSuite Chatting

If you’re already using HootSuite, as I am, to manage and monitor your social network activity, this will be a natural extension of that usage. If you aren’t, sign yourself up for an account and get your Twitter account connected. And note, since you can connect multiple Twitter accounts to HootSuite, you can actually participate in a Twitter Chat using HootSuite as yourself or your brand, or both.

What makes HootSuite better than Twitter web is that you can save a chat as a stream in your HootSuite dashboard. This will let you monitor the chat easily, as well as jump into it at any time without having to remember the right hashtag or do a search. And as we mentioned in our earlier article on Tabs & Streams, you can actually create a Tab just for Twitter Chats, and have multiple chat streams saved within it (up to 10).

Within HootSuite, in the upper right corner, do a search for the hashtag of the chat you with to join. You’ll see a number of tweets show up in the results. At the bottom of the results, there’s a button to “Save as Stream.” This will allow you to save that search, and that chat hashtag, as a stream in your tab.

Twitter Quick Search within HootSuite

You can now view the chat as it occurs in a saved stream. You can use the HootSuite tools to favorite and reply to tweets from other participants, and use the Compose dialogue to create tweets of your own. Just be sure to always include the hashtag for the chat.

On a regular basis, the HootSuite stream will check for and indicate that there are new tweets available to view. Remember that each stream has its own refresh button so you don’t have to refresh your entire screen – just that chat stream.

The beauty of using HootSuite is that it allows you to monitor and manage your total Twitter activity simultaneously. I mention this because, if you’re involved in a chat and you’re providing valuable information, other participants and observers are likely to retweet your tweets and mention you, and may even send you a direct message if they have a private conversation. HootSuite allows you to easily manage all of these facets at the same time. If you like the idea of using a dedicated Tab for chats, you can always add a Mentions and Direct Message stream to that tab, alongside your saved chats.

Monitor and Manage Twitter Chats within HootSuite

I would encourage you to find a couple of scheduled chats that are on topics that interest you, and take place at a convenient time for your schedule.

Next time, we’re going to cover how to automate your social media activity with HootSuite (and why that can be good thing).

If you haven’t yet signed up for a HootSuite account, you can get a free trial here, and you can contact me if you would like additional training and support.

Image courtesy of USDAgov, Flickr.

Related

Category: Social Media ArticlesTag: Hootsuite

About Mike Allton

Mike is an international keynote speaker, an award-winning blogger & author at The Social Media Hat, and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse where he strengthens relationships with social media educators, influencers and partner brands. He has spent over a decade in digital marketing and brings an unparalleled level of experience and excitement to the fore, whether he's delivering a presentation or leading a workshop.

Join The Community!

35,000 savvy marketers have signed up to get the latest social media insights and ideas. Will you?


Previous Post: « The Marketing Value of YouTube
Next Post: Five Things I’ll Miss About the Old MySpace »

Primary Sidebar

Work With Mike

Work with Mike Allton in a consulting capacity, or to speak at your next event.

Meet Mike

Mike Allton is an international keynote speaker & consultant, and an award-winning blogger and author at The Social Media Hat, where he has been educating businesses and organizations on the best use of content marketing for reaching and converting target audiences. Mike is proud to serve as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse, where he builds relationships with influencers and brands around the world.

Since 2012, Mike has worked with over a hundred brands and executives to help them identify and implement successful strategies. As a certified NLP Coach & Practitioner, he helps YOU achieve excellence. Work With Mike

Partnership Unpacked

Featured Posts

Goldie Chan Partnership Unpacked - Landscape graphic - 1920x1080

B2B Influencer Marketing From The Influencer’s POV w/ Goldie Chan

February 3, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

Partnership Unpacked, Episode 6, with Goldie Chan

B2B Influencer Regulations London View

Rules And Regulations Every B2B Influencer Needs To Know

January 28, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

Over a dozen state, federal and international regulations for the B2B influencer to be aware of.

B2B Influencer Marketing Revenue Information

How Much Revenue Can A B2B Influencer Earn?

January 25, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

7 Ways B2B Influencers Can Make Money

More Like This

  • B2B Influencer vs B2C Influencer Marketing
  • Fintech CEOs Demonstrate Leadership Through Personal Brand
  • Setting Goals for Partnerships & Omnichannel Marketing

Footer

Recent Posts

  • B2B Influencer Marketing From The Influencer’s POV w/ Goldie Chan
  • Rules And Regulations Every B2B Influencer Needs To Know
  • How Much Revenue Can A B2B Influencer Earn?
  • B2B Influencer vs B2C Influencer Marketing
  • Fintech CEOs Demonstrate Leadership Through Personal Brand
  • Setting Goals for Partnerships & Omnichannel Marketing
  • How To Build Strong Client Relationships
  • How To Develop Successful Influencer Marketing Campaigns

Marketing Resources

  • Marketing Hyperdrive Podcast
  • The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast
  • Partnership Unpacked Podcast (Coming soon!)
  • How To Craft Your Marketing Plan
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect LinkedIn Profile
  • Social Media Spring Cleaning
  • Social Media Planner
  • Get The Newsletter
  • Home
  • Virtual Event Strategy
  • Mike Allton, Your Next Keynote Speaker
  • Mike Allton’s Newsletter
  • Work With Mike
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Site Footer

Partnership Unpacked Podcast

  • Listen on Amazon
  • Listen on Apple
  • Listen on Google
  • Listen on Spotify
  • Listen on Stitcher
  • Social Media Articles
  • Digital Marketing Articles
  • Social Media Tools & Resources
  • Virtual Events Articles
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2011–2023 The Social Media Hat · All Rights Reserved