Hosting a Successful Twitter Chat with @BeckyShindell #VCBuzz

Hosting a Twitter chat is one of the most efficient social media marketing techniques… if you do it right! Let’s learn a few tricks today!

***Add #VCBuzz chats to your calendar here.

***Please sign in here to follow the chat -> twchat.com/hashtag/vcbuzz

About Becky

.@BeckyShindell is Social Media Manager of @semrush & host of #semrushchat

Connect to Becky on LinkedIn

Questions we discussed

Q1 How did you become a social media marketer? What’s your career path?

I started my career doing SEO & moved on to an agency where I wore multiple hats.. that’s when I started doing SMM. And then I fell in love with it. I always knew I was more creative than analytical but having SEO skills definitely helped with my SMM career. Now I’m at my dream job, I get to travel & meet experts all over. It’s really amazing!

A1. I started in design as a freelancer and branched out to helping small biz owners leverage social. I'm an early adopter. 🙂 #vcbuzz

— Kristin Huntley (@seekristintweet) May 2, 2017

The best kind 🙂 It’s pretty crazy how much this industry has changed in the past 5 years.. even the past year!

@seekristintweet which social media networks do your services focus on? #vcbuzz

— Anna Fox (@manifestcon) May 2, 2017

@manifestcon I'm at a tech startup now, but back then it was just a lot of education and casting a vision for what social can do.
#vcbuzz

— Kristin Huntley (@seekristintweet) May 2, 2017

That’s awesome, kind of sounds like how we started out, too!

Q2 How old is #semrushchat and how is it held? What’s the format and why did you stick to it?

I actually started learning in college.. I studied online marketing & I remember my professor telling us that some of would be in SEO… and that’s where I started!

#semrushchat is about 3 yrs old, it’s every Wednesday @ 11AM ET/4PM GMT. When I became the host, I was lucky enough that there was already a great audience & format. BUT, we do try to change it up every so often with topics and I think what really sets us apart from others is that we humanize the chat, adding pictures of ourselves.

I love #SEMRushChat with @BeckyShindell of course. #contentwritingchat #CMWorld #vcbuzz

— Kristin Huntley (@seekristintweet) May 2, 2017

I’m a big fan of #contentwritingchat! I have to check out #CMworld, too…

@BeckyShindell I would agree. Useful content + fun + authentic is the winning trifecta. #vcbuzz

— Kristin Huntley (@seekristintweet) May 2, 2017

Q3 How do you ensure many people show up? How do you invite people and what do your event reminders look like?

I use @AudienseCo to find relevant followers & then we invite all of them! It’s an awesome tool! I highly recommend it.

We try to start promoting a week ahead and with custom images for each chat topic and guest! And then, I write up a recap that goes out the Monday after 🙂

This is a great list of social/content chats. https://t.co/h8g418Hbir #vcbuzz

— Kristin Huntley (@seekristintweet) May 2, 2017

IMPORTANT >> By using @AudienseCo #Semrushchat can continually grow as @BeckyShindell and her team send out personal invitations. #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

Using full size custom images to promote #semrushchat and for the questions provides much higher visibility @BeckyShindell #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/BeckyShindell/status/859442356826890244

Many regulars on #semrushchat share gifs and humor which makes that chat more enjoyable and interesting @BeckyShindell #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

Totally agree! I think gifs are the best part of Twitter chats 🙂

@seekristintweet A chat list is almost enabling for chat addicts (like someone I know). #vcbuzz

— Jim Katzaman – Get Debt-Free One Family at a Time (@JKatzaman) May 2, 2017

My top Twitter chats that I frequent most are #vcbuzz @SEMrushchat #AtomicChat #TwitterSmarter #myblogu @seosmarty

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

Q4 How do you come with the topics and the “speakers”? How do you manage your chat editorial calendar?

A lot of our guests are our friends, but I meet people at conferences or search for influencers in the industry…

For the most part, I invite them on Twitter & then send them an email explaining it. For the topics, I search for topics from sessions at conferences& what pertains to the guest’s niche & send them options. We have a calendar that we share to add guests, topics, etc. so that the team is organized!

A4 look at your own pain points for a good source of topics and speakers for twitter chats @BeckyShindell @seosmarty #vcbuzz

— David Pepper (@davepepper01) May 2, 2017

Definitely a good idea! I learn SO much from hosting these chats, it’s amazing.

You have to personally invite people. I make #vcbuzz & #myblogu most because Ann shares in Skype groups I'm in @BeckyShindell

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

Q5 What are your favorite Twitter chat marketing tips and tricks?

Promote like crazy! Having more advanced questions gets a diff. audience vs. having simpler ones. I use @canva and @SnappaIO mostly for the images (they’re SO user friendly) & invite people like I said earlier using @AudienseCo!

Really important is how you word tweets leading up to your chat for easy RTing. (Not specific times!) @BeckyShindell #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

Great point! I definitely test out what works and what doesn't #vcbuzz https://t.co/XUq8PkNkcO

— Becky Lane (@BeckyShindell) May 2, 2017

@canva and @SnappaIO are my favorite image making apps! #vcbuzz

— Anna Fox (@manifestcon) May 2, 2017

They’re the best!

This GIF leading up to #MSBizTips really worked https://t.co/ANTG9WTQX5 #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017

Q6 What are your favorite Twitter chat hosting tools?

So you’re all going to think I’m crazy, but for the most part I use good ol’ Twitter.

BUT.. I am a big fan of @TweetDeck, @tchatio, & @SproutSocial to help.

A6 Once when I co-hosted a chat and had to send out the questions, I scheduled them via TweetDeck. #vcbuzz

— Jim Katzaman – Get Debt-Free One Family at a Time (@JKatzaman) May 2, 2017

@JKatzaman I get scared when it comes to scheduling beforehand.. you never know if the convo for one ? will be longer than another! #vcbuzz

— Becky Lane (@BeckyShindell) May 2, 2017

I think scheduling beforehand works fine because conversations in Twitter chats overlap anyway. @BeckyShindell #vcbuzz

— Gail Gardner (@GrowMap) May 2, 2017