This Beginner's Guide to Using Twitter for Professional Development will walk you through the entire process, from setting up your account to leveraging Twitter for learning and sharing insights. You'll learn how to create a new account, connect with other professionals, and effectively share your own ideas and resources. The guide not only covers how to use Twitter but also explains why it's a valuable tool for professional growth. If you already have a Twitter account, feel free to jump to the 6:51 mark in the video to continue from there. ***Consider supporting Technology for Teachers and Students on Patreon.

Based on the best practices and tutorials available around 2015, here is a beginner's guide to using Twitter (now X) as a powerful tool for professional development and networking.

In 2015, the core of Twitter was its 140-character limit and the power of the hashtag, which facilitated the rise of real-time online conversations known as "Twitter Chats."

The 2015 Beginner's Guide to Professional Twitter
Phase 1: Setting Up Your Professional Profile
Your profile is your digital business card. Make it clear, concise, and professional.

Choose a Professional Handle (@username):

Use your real name, or a combination of your name and profession (e.g., @JohnSmithWriter or @JaneDoePhD).

Avoid using numbers, underscores, or characters that make it hard to remember or type.

Use a Clear Profile Photo (Headshot):

Use a clear, professional photo of your face. People want to connect with a person, not a logo or a cartoon.

Write a Powerful Bio (160 Characters):

State your profession, area of expertise, and your interests.

Crucially, use relevant hashtags in your bio (e.g., #DigitalMarketing, #HigherEd, #FinTech) so others in your field can find you using the search function.

Include a link to your professional website, LinkedIn, or portfolio.

Phase 2: Building Your Professional Learning Network (PLN)
The value of Twitter comes from the quality of the people you follow.

Find Thought Leaders in Your Industry:

Search for major professional organizations, industry publications, and well-known experts in your field.

Follow them to start curating a feed of high-quality, relevant content.

Use Hashtags to Find "Tweeps":

Search for industry-specific hashtags (e.g., #edchat for educators, #PRchat for Public Relations, #mktg for marketing).

Review the recent tweets under those hashtags and follow the people who consistently share valuable insights and resources.

Follow Back Selectively:

Don't feel obligated to follow everyone who follows you. Focus on following people who contribute value to your professional goals.

Phase 3: Engaging for Professional Growth
Active engagement is what turns Twitter from a newsfeed into a networking tool.

1. The Art of the Tweet (140 Characters)
Share Resources: Tweet links to journal articles, industry news, blog posts, and tools you find useful. Always add your own brief, insightful comment to show your professional opinion.

Ask and Answer Questions: Use the platform to "crowdsource" answers to a professional problem or share your expertise by replying to others' questions.

Use URL Shorteners: With only 140 characters, use services like Bit.ly or Google's URL Shortener to save space. (Note: Twitter in 2015 often auto-shortened links, but using an external one let you track clicks).

2. Mastering Mentions and Hashtags
Mentions (@username): Use the @ symbol to tag people.

Start a tweet with an @: This makes the tweet a "Reply," and only the people who follow both of you will see it in their main feed (unless they click to see all replies). Use this for direct conversations.

Place the @ later in the tweet: This makes the tweet visible to all of your followers. Use this to promote a person or resource to your whole network.

Hashtags (#topic): Use 1–3 relevant hashtags per tweet to ensure your content is discoverable by people not currently following you.

3. Participate in Twitter Chats
This was arguably the most powerful professional development tool on Twitter in 2015.

What it is: A scheduled, real-time public discussion around a specific topic, all linked by a unique hashtag (e.g., every Tuesday at 8 PM EST for #EdChat).

How to Join:

Find the chat's schedule and topic (often posted on a host's blog or Twitter account).

During the chat time, follow the specific hashtag. You could use a tool like TweetDeck to filter the stream.

A moderator will post a series of questions (Q1, Q2, Q3...).

To answer Q1, you would tweet your response and always start your tweet with A1 (Answer 1) and end it with the chat's hashtag (e.g., A1 My best tip is to use visuals. #MyIndustryChat).

Note on the Time Period: In 2015, the character limit was still 140. Tools like TweetDeck were essential for managing multiple streams of information (your main feed, your mentions, and various hashtags) efficiently.