Every Wednesday from 8 to 9 pm EST, pharma marketers get together virtually on Twitter to talk
Are you intimidated by the blank Twitter box asking “What’s happening”? Do you think Twitter is all about people describing what they ate for breakfast? If so, a Tweetchat might be right for you.
What’s a Tweetchat?
Tweetchats are conversations, held at a pre-arranged time on Twitter. Typically Tweetchats are around a specific area of interest. There are currently Tweetchats on topics ranging from personal branding to real estate to small business technology to dogs. Every Wednesday I moderate a conversation about pharma marketing and social media which you can listen to – or you can join in the discussion. To access this Tweetchat, you use the hashtag #SocPharm.
What’s a Hashtag?
A hashtag consists of the # symbol before a keyword. Hashtags identify the conversation topic. They help Tweeters quickly find content on a specific subject. For example, #FDAsm was the hashtag used for tweeting about the FDA social media hearings. #SocPharm is a hashtag used for topics related to pharma marketing and social media. It’s also what you follow in order to see the Tweetchat discussion I moderate.
How do I Join a Tweetchat?
It’s easy and fun to join a Tweetchat because you are being asked your opinion about a subject that interests you. To listen to a Tweetchat you don’t even need a Twitter account, but it’s more fun if you do have an account and participate. You can listen to the conversation on pharma marketing and social media by going to Twitter.com and typing in #SocPharm in the search box. If you continue to hit refresh you’ll be able to see the ongoing conversation.
If you have a Twitter account and use a tool like Tweetdeck, you can set up a separate search column for #SocPharm which allows you to easily follow along.
Another great option is the website http://tweetchat.com where you enter in your Twitter name and the hashtag you want to follow. It shows you the Tweetchat and also automatically adds the hashtag at the end of your tweets.
What’s #SocPharm Tweetchat?
Every Wednesday from 8 to 9 pm EST, pharma marketers get together virtually on Twitter to talk. The topics range from news that happened during the week, such as the sanofi-aventis Facebook issue, or larger issues, such as using mobile applications for patient adherence programs. The moderator starts off asking for everyone to introduce themselves and then raises a topic for discussion. Everyone chimes in on the topic and the conversation starts going back and forth. About every 15 minutes the moderator presents a new topic.
Each month there is a guest moderator who brings a different perspective. On the last Wednesday of every quarter the #SocPharm Tweetchat is at 8 am EST to accommodate EU pharma marketers.
Tweetchats are a great way to connect to people who have similar interests (pharma), learn about new things and find people to follow on Twitter. I invite you to join our invigorating conversations.
This post was contributed by Eileen O’Brien, Director of Search & Innovation for Siren Interactive. You can connect with her on Twitter at @eileenobrien.
(Image courtesy of Robert Scoble on Flickr)
About Eileen O'Brien
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For Twitter newbies – What's a Tweetchat & How to Join: http://bit.ly/91ub2v
RT @EileenOBrien: For Twitter newbies – What's a Tweetchat & How to Join: http://bit.ly/91ub2v
Want to know what a tweetchat is? Confused about hashtags? Read this: http://bit.ly/91ub2v
Wed at 8 pm est @bradatpharma will guest moderate #SocPharm chat. Learn about tweetchats & hashtags http://bit.ly/91ub2v
Join the #SocPharm Tweetchat Weds 8PM EST to discuss topics affecting pharma marketing in the social media age. http://bit.ly/9jspR7
Join the #SocPharm Tweetchat Weds 8PM EST to discuss topics affecting pharma marketing in the social media age. http://bit.ly/9jspR7
@sheilaacrowe It was so nice to meet you last night. Here's the blog post about how to take part in a tweetchat: http://bit.ly/c8Y4uX
@VladCastillo Always so happy to find pharma people on Twitter. Plse join us on Weds at 8 pm for #socpharm tweetchat: http://bit.ly/c8Y4uX
@carlygk So nice to meet you! Here's how to join the #socpharm tweetchat next Wed at 8 pm EST: http://bit.ly/c8Y4vf #socpharm
All ppl tweeting & following #epatcon might be interested in #socpharm tweetchat Weds from 8-9 EST: http://bit.ly/c8Y4vf
RT @EileenOBrien All ppl tweeting & following #epatcon might be interested in #socpharm tweetchat Weds from 8-9 EST: http://bit.ly/c8Y4vf
RT @EileenOBrien: All ppl tweeting & following #epatcon might be interested in #socpharm tweetchat Weds from 8-9 EST: http://bit.ly/c8Y4vf
@aasposito Pharma marketing & sm chat (#socpharm) has been going for 13 months http://bit.ly/bKQ8H7. Every Wed 8-9 pm EST.
@vj_CR We'd love to have you join! We chat #pharma marketing & sm every Wed from 7-8pm CST http://bit.ly/bcSHJ4
@doctorpreneur Welcome! On Weds from 8-9 pm EST we chat pharma marketing & sm at #socpharm: http://bit.ly/bcSHJ4
For #DTCN2011 attendees check out the #socpharm tweetchat on pharma/biotech markting & sm on Weds from 8-9 pm ET: http://bit.ly/bcSHJ4
RT @EileenOBrien: For #DTCN2011 attendees check out the #socpharm tweetchat on pharma/biotech markting & sm on Weds from 8-9 pm ET: http://bit.ly/bcSHJ4
Found u via @pharmaguy's pharma pioneer list: @Schibell @dcthmpsn @earcario @cmeadvocate. Check out #socpharm tweetchat http://bit.ly/bKQ8H7
RT @EileenOBrien: Found u via @pharmaguy's pharma pioneer list: @Schibell @dcthmpsn @earcario @cmeadvocate. Check out #socpharm tweetchat http://bit.ly/bKQ8H7
@stevenshie @somss If interested in pharma/biotech & sm, you should join the #socpharm tweetchats on Weds at 8 pm est: http://bit.ly/bKQ8H7
RT If interested in pharma/biotech & sm, you should join the #socpharm tweetchats on Weds at 8 pm est: http://bit.ly/bKQ8H7
RT @Antionen: RT If interested in pharma/biotech & sm, you should join the #socpharm tweetchats on Weds at 8 pm est: http://bit.ly/bKQ8H7
What is a tweetchat? http://bit.ly/91ub2v
@TeresaFantacone There is no call in number for tweetchat tonight, simply follow #socpharm. More directions: http://t.co/2wtiSRBu
Join the next #SocPharm tweetchat on 7/11, 8-9 pm EST. Here's info on how to join a tweetchat & describes hashtags: http://t.co/UuJuk0Oz