1. Back to Basics
Set up your profile – completely and properly. Choose a username that represents your professional interests. Experts in the medical field are more likely to follow someone with the handle of @PathologyPro over @ilovepizza54. Next, be sure to upload a profile picture. Potential followers are more apt to engage with a user when they see a photo of an actual person. Keep it professional, but also don’t be afraid to show your personality. Lastly, add a few lines of info to your bio. Informing the Twitter world you are in a specific field will attract similar users. Think about adding something along the lines of “Pathology Resident at Medical University”. Also consider adding other relevant links such as a LinkedIn account. Now you’re all set up and ready to start Tweeting!
2. Tweet Away
Some say you should start following others first, but best practice is to start tweeting before you follow anyone. Someone is notified when you follow them, so there is a fair chance they will take a look at your profile. If you have a blank slate, why should they follow you back? So get to tweeting! Post an interesting industry news article (but be sure to give credit where needed) or share some information on a case you encountered. People love visuals on social media, so post a tissue slide – pathologists are certainly drawn to the pink and purple photos in their feed.
3. Nice to Meet You
Now it’s time to start following some friends! Do a search for pathology terms to find profiles you’re interested in. You can also seek out “lists” that other pathologists have made to quickly follow relevant professionals.
4. Sharing is Caring
Spread the love by retweeting great posts from the people you follow. This engages other pathologists, which starts to grow your network. Respond to case study questions and interact with conversations by chiming in with your own experiences. The more engaged you are, the more others perceive you as being a thought leader.
5. Keep it Going
If you want to make an impact, be consistent. Try to post on a daily basis. If a profile visitor sees that you haven’t tweeted in a long while, they may think you’re not active anymore and won’t see a reason to follow you. Remember that it’s okay to retweet someone or share a news article if you just don’t have the creative juices flowing that day.
* Bonus Tip!
Don’t forget the hashtags! Hashtags are a great way to gain exposure on trending topics. Use one or two but be careful not to abuse them, as it could be seen as an annoyance.
Here at Mopec, we love to hear from pathologists! Do you have any additional tips for Twitter newcomers? Share them in the comments below.
Follow us @MopecCo for remarkable industry tweets.