Sharpen Your Content Skills with TweetChat

Don’t just tweet — tweetchat!

A tweetchat is an organized Twitter discussion over any topic. They usually occur once a week and anyone can participate. Tweetchats are one of the coolest and most productive features of Twitter.

Of all the tweetchats I know about, I highly recommend you join #editorchat. It’s the hottest tweetchat around if you’re serious about creating sensational content. #Editorchat is described as

a place for professional writers and editors who use the micro-blogging service Twitter to discuss how best to help one another.

During the chat you’ll meet a lively and progressive group of writers, editors and publishers who are passionate about their craft. The conversation centers around a series of prepared questions and lasts about an hour a half.

6 Reasons Why You Should Join #Editorchat

1. If you’re a blogger, you’ll learn why it’s so important to think like an editor.
2. You’ll see how blogging fits within the much bigger context of web publishing. This is very important to understand if you want to position yourself for large-scale, long-term success.
3. You’ll learn about revenue models of publishing– which ones are making money and which ones are aren’t, and where you can find opportunities to prosper.
4. You’ll make lasting connections with people moving in the same upward direction as you.
5. #Editorchat counts as productive Twitter time — can you believe it?!
6. It’s free.

So Far, So Good

I’ve participated in two #editorchat sessions and so far they’ve been wonderful. The chats are quick and energetic and moderators do a splendid job of keeping the discussion on track.

One theme that underscores #editorchat is the future of online publishing. This is an important subject — one I recommend you pay close attention to — with huge implications and upside potential. With the web starting to replace failing newspapers and magazines, we will see the value of editors rise on the web.

There’s also a refreshing mix of people who are still working in print. They are embracing the web and have a lot of significant knowledge to share.  I suggest you listen to these people, as there’s much to learn from them.

How to Join #Editorchat

You can join #editorchat on Twitter every Wednesday from 5-6:30 pm PST.

Tweetchats use Twitter’s hashtag (#) function, so you’ll have to filter out the #editorchat tag using Twitter’s search page, TweetGrid or Tweetchat (my preference).

Before each meeting, go to the Editorchat website to read the questions for the next chat. If you miss #editorchat, don’t worry — the website posts full archives of each week’s discussion.

Another way to catch up on anything you missed on Twitter is to use TweepBeep, which helps you keep track of any Twitter conversation. I have TweetBeep setup to email me any mentions of #editorchat once a day (50 tweet limit).

#Editorchat was started by Motley Fool contributor Tim Beyers (@milehighfool) and freelance writer Lydia Dishman (@lydiabreakfast), who are also the moderators. Much thanks to them.

But Wait, There’s More…Much More

Wanna get really crazy with tweetchats? I’ve found three others you might find useful:

• #blogchat: Sundays 6-9 pm PST, follow @MackCollier, website http://ow.ly/1LsC
• #journchat: Mondays 2-5 pm PST, follow @journchat, website: http://journchat.info/
• #brandchat: Wednesdays at 8 am PST, follow @brandchat,  website http://yourbrandchat.wordpress.com/

I haven’t checked any of these out yet — the times are too problematic for me here in Hawai‘i. So please let me know if you do.

UPDATE January 2010: Editorcat has been moved to friendfeed.com/editorchat and a new website at http://editorchat.net. It’s still on Wednesdays from 5-6:30pm PST.