Neonjade

Twitter may be used as a chat room by assigning a #hashtag term for the chat name. A time is announced, and all participants append the assigned hashtag to their Twitter posts. Posts are then tracked by using Twitter utilities that allow streaming hashtag searches.

Please note that chatting on Twitter usually means posting more than normal. Regular followers might consider the increase as spamming. It’s always prudent to warn followers prior to a chat time that you will be participating and that they may wish to “unfollow” you for the chat period using one of the moderating tools mentioned below.

Finding Twitter Chats

Details for several writer chats are listed the post “Twitter #hashtags for Writers“.

hashtags.org – trending results site

Enter a term in the search box and this site brings up a “Trends in Twitter” graph showing that hashtag term usage over time. Below the graph, tweets containing the hashtag term are displayed and updated every few seconds.

twubs.com – content by #hashtag aggregator/directory

Twubs tracks hashtags that have been entered by users and editors into directories, including “tweetups”.

tagal.us – #hashtag dictionary

Some aren’t self-explanatory. Want to know what all those #litacamp tweets are about? Enter the term in the search box and tagalus defines it as the LITA (Library & Information Technology Association) conference. Also links to recent tweets, Flickr photos and YouTube videos associated with the term.

wthashtag.com – user wiki that includes trending

Another user defined database of hashtags. Main page includes trending and recently added hastags. Click a term and you’ll be taken to analytics detailing the past week’s usage and top contributors. You can also advertise a designated hashtag on their site.

Participating in Twitter Chats

twitterfall.com – custom twitter keyword and #hashtag searches

Enter list names, hashtag terms and geo locations that you would like to track. The page includes several settings to adjust the resulting feed, and you can use your Twitter login to save your terms and settings for future use.

tweetchat.com – web based chat room based on Twitter #hashtags

Focus on one hashtag term at a time using this service. Settings include identifying tweeps to block and tweeps to highlight, along with refresh speed and font size.

Moderating Tweeps

muuter.com – Mute tweeps during times they tweet at what you consider an excessive rate using this service. Muuter automatically unfollows and then refollows tweeps that you designate at times that you designate. Great for not dropping tweeps you enjoy just because they participate in a Twitter chat that you don’t follow.

tidyTWEET – This service includes custom user, word and spam filtering. Provides tools to pass along the resulting filtered feed to a website widget – think no possibility of curse words appearing on your front page. Free personal and priced business access available.

I hope you find this list helpful. Feel free to share other tools that you find useful in the comments!