Twitter allows users to create lists to organize Twitter accounts into customized groups. To create a list, you name and describe the list, choose whether to make it public or private, then search for and add accounts. Once accounts are added, the list can be embedded into websites or LibGuides using Twitter widgets, which generate code to display a list feed.
2. Before beginning, you will need to create a Twitter account, which is much the same as
creating an account at any other site. You can initiate the process by going to their
homepage at www.twitter.com
Once you create an account, you will see a homepage similar to this, but without any of the
feeds you see here (under What’s happening?)
3. From the homepage, you will see a horizontal menu (your timeline). The last menu option
is Lists, from which you will have the option to select a list you have already created (for
me, @YoungBrianW/local-theaters) or create a new list (currently highlighted grey)
4. You will now be asked to create a name for you list. You can also provide a description,
though not required. If you are creating a list for your own, personal use, then you may
want to make the list private. However, if you are creating to be used on a LibGuide, for
example, your list must be public.
5. You will now see a page similar to the one below. To find accounts to add to your new list,
you can use the provided search bar on this screen, or use the search bar at the top of
every Twitter page. You may also choose to find accounts by clicking on the Twitter icon
often found on organization or personal web pages.
Twitter icon example taken from http://www.hoofnhorn.org/
6. Once you find the account you wish to add, you can click on their account name, and you
will be directed to their Twitter page. From this page, you can click the drop down menu
icon and select “Add to List”
7. After clicking “Add to List,” you will see a screen similar to this. From here you can choose
which list to add the account to, or you can choose to create a new list directly from here.
8.
9. Twitter widgets allow you to essentially create Twitter feeds of either your own tweets
(Profile), search results (Search), Favorited tweets (Faves), or from created lists (List)
We have focused on creating lists, but all three other widgets have suitable applications as
well.
10. To create your list widget, you need to input the username (in our case, it will be your own
user name), and then you will be able to select a list from the lists that account has
created. Also, you can customize the feed’s appearance by adding Title/Caption on this
screen, or through the menus on the left (Settings, Preferences, Appearance, Dimensions)
Once you have finished customizing, you can click Finish & Grab Code
11. Now, you should see your widget’s code that can then be copied/pasted into your web
page and/or LibGuide
12. Once you have created your box, you will:
1. Select “add text”
2. Click the HTML icon
3. Paste Twitter widget code into editing area
4. Select Update
5. Select Save and Close
