Social media 101: How about going on Twitter?

It is true that Twitter has turned into a huge social media phenomenon, with worldwide-growing popularity and engagement. Some sources state that because of its exponential growth, Twitter has even surpassed Facebook and other social networks, becoming the ultimate networking site!

So why not to make it at home on Twitterland and take advantage of this powerful marketing tool? Simple to use and extremely valuable, Twitter is a must for institutions offering international education. It is not just a platform for publishing breaking news from your campus, but a whole new world to explore: a community for conversations and a daily source of inspiration. It’s a place where ideas are tweeted and retweeted.

So, here are 4 ways to rock the most out of your Twitter account to the advantage of your school or university:

Verified account

Many international education providers are already on Twitter. Our research shows that there are over 230,000 verified accounts! Therefore, one thing you have to consider is getting a verified blue badge, as it lets people know that this really is the official account of your institution. It is the best way to prove genuineness and attract students’ interest.

Direct Messages

Direct Messages on Twitter are a great way to differentiate your account and give personalized responses to requests. In order to turn on Direct Messages, all you have to do is to visit the Customer Support page and click on the first option. Remember that instead of “customers”, you are free to use other words such as “students”, “parents”, “staff”, “professors”, etc.

Providing support

Once you have become a verified Twitter user, you are ready to embrace a whole new world of direct messaging. You are able to receive messages and to engage in direct personalized communication. In this way, you can provide support and share exclusive information with your followers like for example the time of the day when you are available.

Quick replies and automatic welcomes

In addition to the above, you can further customize your account with options such as quick replies and automatic welcoming. Twitter has made it all even easier for you now, adding the welcome messages and quick replies functionalities. They allows you to add a customized message – this way you can surely impress your readers. In order to use these features, you need to set your account to receive Direct Messages from everyone. The customized welcome message should be structured in a way that adds value to the person visiting your institution’s account.

To sum up, Twitter is continuously coming up with new ways to improve engagement. These new additions create opportunities for establishing stronger connections and do networking easily.

What are your ways to tweak Twitter for university success? Join us in the comments below!