Guide to Live Tweeting Church Events

Live Tweeting
Church Events*
An Easy-Peasy Guide
created by
Meredith Gould
@meredithgould
Updated! © 2016 Meredith Gould
*Celebrations, Conferences, Diocesan Conventions, Presbytery Meetings,
Sermons, Sessions, Synod Assemblies, Worship

Contents
2
 Live Tweeting Defined
 Why Live Tweet
 How To Live Tweet
 Hardware Tools
 Software Tools
 Hashtags
 Types of Tweets
 Tweeting
 Optimize Comfort
 After the Event
 Important Miscellany
 Kudos and Gratitude

Live Tweeting Defined
3
Live tweeting involves using Twitter
(in real time) to share information,
inspiration, and insights during events.
Live events in the world of church include
but are not limited to:
 Celebrations
 Conferences (Keynotes & Workshops)
 Diocesan Conventions
 Presbytery Meetings
 Sermons
 Sessions
 Synod Assemblies
 Worship

Why Live Tweet
“Where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
“Therefore go and make disciples of
all nations.”Matthew 28:19
4

Why Live Tweet
 Reach those who cannot physically attend.
 Encourage participation by those who
cannot physically attend.
 Help visual-kinesthetic attendees focus.
 Support conversation among participants
during events.
 Broadcast citations and resources.
 Generate tweets to save and reuse.
5

Pro Tip:
Use a smartphone to
live tweet images.
Best Practice:
But they promised WiFi!
Yeah, okay. Bring your
own mobile hotspot. Really.
How To Live Tweet: Hardware Tools
 Laptop and/or tablet computer and/or
smartphone.
 Extension cord(s) with surge protector and
extra power outlets.
 Mobile hotspot.
6
Pro Tip:
For heavy duty tweeting over long
periods of time, use whatever best
reduces wear-and-tear on wrists.

How To Live Tweet: Software Tools
 Choose and sign into a Twitter management
platform in advance:
 http://www.tweetdeck.com
 http://hootsuite.com
 http://tweetchat.com
 http://twubs.com
7
Pro Tip:
Choose a platform that adds the
hashtag (#) and counts characters.
Pro Tip:
Log onto more than one platform
and keep all of them open because
one is bound to crash at some point!

 Choose a Twitter transcript/aggregation
platform:
 http://www.hashtracking.com
 http://storify.com:
8
Best Practice:
Generate and post transcript
as soon as possible after event.
Pro Tip:
Storify will let you to add
images/content from
social media platforms in
addition to Twitter.

 Choose a platform for projecting tweets:
 http://www.tweetviz.com
 http://www.tweetwall.com
9
Best Practice:
Let participants know, in advance,
that tweets will be projected live.
Pro Tip:
Encourage presenters to use
streamed tweets to address
questions and concerns.

How To Live Tweet: Hashtags
Use Hashtags (#) to:
 identify tweets from your event.
 help catalog and archive tweets.
 monitor tweets.
 http://whatthetrend.com
 http://www.hashtracking.com
 http://www.hastagify.me
10
Pro Tip:
Create, test, and publicize your
event’s hashtag at least one
month before your event.
Best Practice:
Add #chsocm to tweets with
content/conversation about
using church social media.

How To Live Tweet: Hashtags
Make sure your hashtag is:
 descriptive enough to be easily recognized
as yours.
 short enough to allow ample room for
tweets.
 easily reusable for annual events (Note:
this builds brand identity!).
 thoroughly tested to identify glitches.
 rolled out to users well in advance!
11
Pro Tip:
In the name of all that’s holy,
do not underestimate the importance
of crafting a great hashtag.

How To Live Tweet: Type of Tweets
Content:
 Reporting facts.
 Verbatim quotes with attribution.
 Presentation slide content.
 Photos from the event.
Commentary:
 Opinions.
 Observations.
 Quips.
12
Best Practice:
Don’t make Jesus weep.
Pro Tip:
Use the institutional/official account for
content not commentary!
Use your personal account for commentary.

How To Live Tweet: Tweeting
Remember to:
 get the program and list of presenters’ Twitter
handles in advance.
 use a platform that counts characters and includes
hashtag.
 leave room for re-tweeting.
 streamline tweets by editing out extraneous words
(e.g., the, that) and using contractions (e.g., we’ve
not we have).
 attribute quotes.
13
Pro Tip:
Modify Tweet (MT) to save
characters without changing
meaning when re-tweeting.
Pro Tip:
Pair up with someone who can
help you monitor the screen, so
you don’t miss anything.

How To Live Tweet: Optimize Comfort
Live tweeting is intense and taxes
body, mind, and even spirit. Take care
of yourself in every possible way.
14
Self-care includes but is not limited to:
 Requesting a large, flat surface for your equipment.
 Wearing layers of clothing to account for room
temperature.
 Using wrist guards/braces before needed.
 Staying hydrated, especially if uber-caffeinated.
 Training others to assist and asking for help.
 Embracing live tweeting as ministry.

After the Event
 Create and distribute transcript(s) via social
media.
 Create screen shots for future use (e.g., post to
Facebook page/group).
 Retweet key tweets.
 Build community by responding to those who
engaged by tweeting or re-tweeting.
 Get input about what worked…or didn’t.
 Provide feedback to organizers about what
worked…or didn’t.
15
“Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25: 23

Important Miscellany
16
 #ChSocM chat on Twitter: Tuesdays @9PM
Eastern, 8PM Central, 7:00PM Mountain,
6:00PM Pacific.
 Use the #ChSocM hashtag to find content and
conversation about using social media to build
church and deepen faith.
 Join Church Communications (Closed Group) on
Facebook (organized by Katie Allred.
 Read The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good
News in New Ways 2nd Edition (Liturgical Press)

Kudos
17
Created with input from these #ChSocM
Twitterati:
 Laura Catalano (@LeistCatalano)
 Jason Chesnut (@crazypastor)
 Carolyn Clement (@SingingCarolyn)
 Beth Felice (@bfelice)
 Neal Fischer (@nealffischer)
 David Hansen (@Rev_David)
 Megan Dosher Hansen (@megateer)
 Ed Kay (@edkay77)
 Julie Stecker (@ohxjulie)

Guide to Live Tweeting Church Events

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