Author Q&A  |
| Author Claire Diaz-Ortiz |
Who is Twitter for Good for? Twitter for Good is for organizations of all sizes who want to make a difference in the world using the Twitter platform. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a small non-profit organization, you can use the tools in Twitter for Good to catapult your message to the world.
What is the T.W.E.E.T. framework? The T.W.E.E.T. framework is a model I developed to show how to excel on Twitter. I teach it to organizations and individuals around the world because it works. The obvious acronym also rocks.
T = Target: You can’t get anywhere on Twitter if you don’t have a target (or goal). The most common goals on Twitter can be achieved through one of three types of accounts—the Information Account, the Personalized Account, and the Fundraising Account (otherwise known as “The Direct Ask Account”)—all of which I describe in detail in the book.
W = Write: It’s time to send your first Tweet, whatever it may be. Now send your second. Stop editing yourself and let it flow. Do it like Kanye to really win.
E = Engage: Unless you’re Kanye, the world won’t come running the second you send your first Tweet. Engage with others to get them to see you, listen to you, and interact with you. From hashtags to @replies, Twitter offers tons of tools to help you do so.
E = Explore: Reach outside yourself to expand your world. Search for your interests. Search for your name and brand. And search for new influencers. Twitter is about relationships, and it’s time to start building them.
T = Track: You won’t know if you’ve met your target unless you’re tracking it. Are you?
What is #Twitter4Good? In 2011, I hosted a workshop at South by Southwest that aimed to come up with some tangible ways that Twitter could better support the individuals and organizations already using the platform to make a difference in the world. One of the takeaways was the need for a new hashtag to highlight and share important cases of Twitter being used to change the world. (Hashtags make it possible for people to search for relevant Tweets on topics that matter to them.) The hashtag we created was #Twitter4Good, and it turned into the title of this book.
Given recent events in Japan and Haiti, how is Twitter’s use around the world evolving? Twitter’s use in the world is expanding at startling rates, and the use cases are becoming increasingly more diverse and creative. Every day, I work with individuals sending Tweets from the unlikeliest of places: earthquake survivors sending Tweets from mobile phones in Haiti and Japan, volunteers tweeting information following volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, citizens tweeting in the midst of civil unrest in the Middle East, etc. Users have come up with incredible ways to use the platform, and each day I hear about new, innovative ways people are using Twitter to change the world.
“Twitter's a very effective tool for getting the word out fast to lots of people, from the everyday mundane to the genuinely world-changing. #Twitter4Good helps you figure out how to use Twitter to drive any campaign and make real things happen. It provides focused direction and real-life examples.”
—@craignewmark, Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, Inc.“Strategic, thoughtful, and thorough, #Twitter4Good will teach you how to make Twitter a driving force in any campaign.”
—@aaker, Jennifer Aaker, coauthor, The Dragonfly Effect, and professor, Stanford University Graduate School of Business
“Using Twitter, social causes can quickly amplify their voice and catalyze massive change. But one has to know how to use it effectively. Claire Díaz-Ortiz is one of the best at showing you how.”
—@johnwoodRTR, John Wood, founder, Room to Read, and author, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
“#Twitter4Good is a must-read for any organization hoping to lay a strong foundation towards creating fresh and dynamic campaigns involving Twitter and social media.”
—@amanda, Amanda Rose, founder, Twestival
“Twitter is an enormously useful tool for our organization, and with #Twitter4Good, Claire has provided a clear, focused, important map for any person or organization who wants to create positive change in today's world.”
—@maxschorr, Max Schorr, cofounder, GOOD, Lead, GOOD/Corps
“#Twitter4Good is a must-read for nonprofits and causes that want to use Twitter for social change. It is filled with practical frameworks and great tips, and is fun to read.”
—@kanter, Beth Kanter, coauthor, Networked Nonprofit
“#Twitter4Good is the quintessential handbook for Twitter newbies, social marketing pros, and curious executives alike. Claire packed this guide full of overarching principles, scalable models, practical tips, and real-world case studies, gleaned from an insider's perspective. She debunks the skeptics and clearly maps out how people, content, and technology come together to make a very real impact, 140 characters at a time.”
—@darbyDARNIT, Petri Darby, director of brand marketing and digital strategy, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America (@MakeAWish)
“A marathon achievement! Packed with insights and wisdom. #Twitter4Good illustrates-simply and clearly-how Twitter can propel your business to completely new heights. ReTweet this!”
—Raymond Nasr, early Twitter advisor and communications consultant
“Giving is important to us all, and #Twitter4Good shows how to best use this exciting technology to share your social passions.”
—@LAAGiving2, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, author, Giving 2.0, and founder, Stanford PACS (Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society) and SV2
“Twitter provides a direct line to your constituents, where through authentic engagement-listening, learning, conversing-you can build genuine relationships that drive real-world impact. Claire Díaz-Ortiz shows organizations how to make the most of Twitter to deliver maximum value for their organization and the world.”
—@lauramansfield, Laura Adams, digital lead of sustainable business and innovation, Nike
“For most organizations, Twitter is a foreign language, feared and misunderstood. Claire Díaz-Ortiz has written the greatest translation that exists, turning Twitter into an effective and manageable tool for businesses around the world.”
—@unmarketing, Scott Stratten, author, UnMarketing
“Every non-profit and social justice organizations knows now that they need social media to support the work they do. What's still unclear for many is the ‘how'-what to say, when to say it, and how to know if it's working. Claire Díaz-Ortiz removes the mystery of tweeting for good. Her nuts-and-bolts guide is indispensable for beginners and experts alike.”
—@randomdeanna, Deanna Zandt, media technologist and author, Share This!
‘A more engaging read for non-tweeting non-for-profit organisations seeking fresh inspiration to become one of the Tweeples.’ (Financial Adviser, December 2011)
