Twitter lists have been around for a while, but a random investigation of ConnectVA’s nonprofit followers revealed that many organizations aren’t using them! Building Twitter lists is one of those tasks that may be time-consuming in the short-term, but can help make using Twitter more manageable. Here are some of the benefits:

• A list is “a curated group of Twitter accounts,” and is a great way to organize both your followers and who you’re following into categories. For example, you could add local media outlets to a Press list to monitor relevant news and spark relationships. Check out Kivi Leroux Miller’s 8 Ideas for Nonprofit Twitter Lists.
• Though you can’t craft a Tweet to a whole list, lists can help you sort through the high volume of Tweets from your followers so you can read key updates and retweet posts of interest to your followers. Social Media Examiner put out a list of How to Use Twitter Lists for Business which has a lot of helpful ideas for nonprofits as well.
• Lists can be private or public. For example, you could add donors and/or employees to a private list, and event presenters and/or sponsors to a public list. Anyone you add to a public list will be notified and Twitter users can subscribe your public lists. If you’re planning on attending the Social Media for Nonprofits Conference, be sure to subscribe to our #SMC4NP16 Twitter list – where we’ve started to compile all confirmed attending and presenting organizations.

To get started (or back into the groove) with Twitter lists, check out Twitter’s guide to using Twitter lists here.

Learn more about the latest Social Media trends and much more at the Social Media for Nonprofits Conference on May 4th. Early Bird Registration ends on 4/13, so register today!