Include staff members’ usernames in tweets promoting your content

Sometimes I want to slap my forehead when I hear an idea so simple that I should have thought of it myself ages ago. Then I sigh and steal the idea.

At a meeting this week with Denver Post colleagues, they noted that their tweets promoting staff-written content include the staff member’s username:

Hickenlooper, Hancock still working on what to do about #Denver tent city protesters: dpo.st/oYgxtp via @timhoover—
The Denver Post (@denverpost) October 13, 2011

It’s a simple idea that makes great sense, and I shared it this morning with Journal Register Co. editors. Our newsroom Twitter feeds regularly share links to our staff-produced stories and videos, such as this one this morning from @TheOaklandPress:

#Troy, #Oxford lead county in student enrollment growth bit.ly/n3J6aj—
The Oakland Press (@TheOaklandPress) October 13, 2011

The Oakland Press has more than 6,000 followers on Twitter. The reporter who did that story, Diana Dillaber Murray, has 671 followers. Just including her username in the tweet would tell a much larger audience that this is someone they should follow if they’re interested in local education.

It’s a simple way to help staff members build engagement on Twitter. I should have included this in my tips for engagement through newsroom Twitter accounts. I’ll be adding it.

Update: Just thought of this point to add: You should similarly tag staff members who are using Facebook professionally when you promote their content on Facebook.