Three Favorite Tools to Manage Twitter Chats
If you’ve been tweeting for awhile, you are already familiar with some of the more common tools out there. However, you may not know about which tools you can use to help you with Twitter Chats. Many people use the Twitter app on their smartphone to tweet, or manage their accounts with Tweetdeck or Hootsuite. For a chat, it’s much easier if you use the desktop–there’s so much going on and so quickly.
You can use Tweetdeck/Hootsuite with specific columns for your chat’s hashtag and mentions, but specialized tools are much more helpful. What other tools are available to help you manage your chat and keep your sanity? Here are three of my favorites.
TweetChat is a Favorite Tool to Manage Twitter Chats
TweetChat
TweetChat is an interface that allows you to run and attend Twitter chats. Enter your hashtag to start, and login through your Twitter account. As moderator, your questions will be highlighted and more visible to others in the chat. You can slow down the stream, which is handy if you’re on a busy chat. TweetChat automagically adds the hashtag to your tweet, too.
TweetChat Automagically Adds the Hashtag to Your Tweets During a Chat
The screenshot above shows you the TweetChat interface during an actual chat (#DigiBlogChat is on Tuesdays at 1 pm Pacific time, run by myself and @LazBlazter). Note the green “Pause Stream” button–very handy sometimes! I also like the “active rooms” feature, where you can see which chats are active.
Twubs is a free and easy-to-use tool to help you manage your Twitter chat
Twubs
This free and easy-to-use tool helps you manage your Twitter chat. Simply enter your hashtag and sign in through Twitter. Like TweetChat, Twubs adds the hashtag for you, and lets you isolate tweets from the chat. There’s also a handy list of chats if you get on Twitter and feel like chatting (tweetchats are an excellent way to get high-quality followers), but don’t have a chat in mind.
On Twubs, people can join as contributors or members of a chat
Another nifty feature of Twubs is the ability to register your hashtag. Keep in mind, though, that no one “owns” a hashtag. And people can join as contributors or members if they are regulars to your chat. On a busy chat, you could easily miss someone’s tweet, so seeing contributors is a handy feature–though this is a partial list of total contributors.
TweetReach analyzes the reach of your Twitter Chat
TweetReach
TweetReach analyzes the reach of your Twitter Chat. Also use it to see how far a url or phrase has traveled (could be a handy way to see who has retweeted your blog posts, for instance). If you use it halfway through the chat you can get an idea of how well your chat as a whole is doing. You could also pay the $20 to get the full-fledged report with all the analytics. If you like data, you’re likely to be in Nirvana if you see the full report!
Have a Favorite Twitter Chat Tool?
Leave me a comment, below. I’m always fascinated by the tools that people use to help manage their Twitter chats. And thank you for reading!
Hi Carol,
Great post!
I like to try new ways of participating, but I always go back to using TweetChat it’s so simple and easy to use. The fact that it adds the hashtag for you can be a real lifesaver because it’s easy to forget to add them during a frantic chat.
I do go back to the stream in my day to day stream manager after the event to make sure I’ve connected with people and responded to any replies or comments I may have missed.
Hi Kittie,
You’re so right about TweetChat. It’s my rock during chats. I’ve had to add the hashtag manually during chats, so know how much work that is.
I try to write down (with old-school pen and paper!) the newbies in the chat to add them to a list, and then say hello.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Carol
I use TweetChat, Twubs, and Tweetbinder.
But I have resorted to a # search column in Hootsuite.
After the chat is when you really need help! HA! I feel really stupid for about 20 minutes.
Hi Bridget,
I’ve never tried Tweetbinder, but have heard good things about it.
And the columns in HootSuite? Same here.
I usually have a few things I do immediately after that are automatic (so don’t require thinking), and that helps. I was planning another blog post about those. :D
Thank you, as always, for commenting!
Carol
This should make my life easier! Thank you for the suggestions.
Glad to make your life easier, Robert!
Hi Carole, I’ve tried tweetchat and twubs, both seem to work well for chats.
Hootsuite is the go to for managing day to day (3 profiles) and I just started a free trial to add Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram and more to the account. Do you have advice on social management media tools like this?
Have a great day!!
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Hootsuite is perfectly fine for managing small accounts. It’s a little difficult to upload images with their bulk upload, but I still use it quite a bit. I wish they worked with Pinterest, too!
Thanks for stopping by,
Carol
Thank you Carol – I’ve not tried bulk upload yet. I bet they’ll add Pinterest.
See you at #digiblogchat tomorrow!
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Bulk upload can save you a lot of time. And I hope they do add Pinterest.
Yes, see you at #DigiBlogChat!
Thanks!
Carol