Learn how to tweet like Kanye West

Sometimes, the word “Twitter” can inspire feelings of apprehension in many organizations. The thought of losing control of your brand. A misunderstood tweet. Negative publicity.

But most of all, it’s the relative novelty of the tool and the unpredictability of what will stick and what won’t which can cause organizations to hesitate to get involved. Twitter doesn’t come with a handbook, and there are no tried and true formulas for successful tweeting.

So, the question is “to tweet” or “not to tweet”? We’ve learned from many of our Social Media Gurus that option #2 is not a particularly effective strategy; it’s highly likely that people are already tweeting about you whether or not you are on Twitter, and your best line of defense is to join in the game.

So how do you get started on Twitter? Well, according to Claire Diaz Ortiz, Twitter’s head of Social Innovation and Philanthropy, one model to consider is that of Kanye West, per the video below. While it’s not likely that your organization will want to embody the language or tone of Mr. West’s tweets, his openness, eagerness and flexibility are all qualities important for Twitter success. Claire says the Kanye model calls for you to just dive in, start tweeting, see what works and adjust your strategy to whatever fits you and your audience most naturally. Making mistakes is just part of the game, and a necessary risk.

For nonprofits, Twitter is about using your own voice to have your issues heard and your stories shared; basically, it’s a microphone to reach the masses, so take it from a guy who knows a thing or two about using a mic. While Kanye has certainly made some mistakes, with over 2 million followers, he seems to be doing something right. Check out the video below to learn more.