How much do you leverage Flipboard for your marketing efforts? If you raised your eyebrows at that question, utterly bewildered, you’re not the only one. Flipboard is a content curating platform that not many marketers know about.
That’s why we invited Janette Speyer, Flipboard expert, marketer, and partner of the digital marketing firm, Hot Ice Media, to share some tips about getting the most out of Flipboard.
Here’s a summary of our chat.
Guest: Janette Speyer
Topic: Using Flipboard with Twitter
Format: Eight questions directed at the guest. Everyone’s welcome to share.
Think of Flipboard as a magazine, except it’s online. Just like a traditional magazine, it curates articles from various sources in the internet, and offers content in a range of topics. As our guest pointed out, you can choose from 34,000 topics to follow.
A1. @Flipboard is an online magazine that mimics a traditional publication. The app aggregates content from the web & organizes articles by topics. They have 34,000 topics to choose from. Flipboard is the “Swiss Army Knife” of apps because it has so many uses. #TwitterSmarter
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Terry explained beautifully why Flipboard is a great tool. If you’re interested in wildlife photography, you can follow that as a dedicated topic, and not the broader category. That’s an excellent way to keep up with your passions.
A1. Flipboard is a FREE app that lets you follow your passions. And specific niches, not just broad categories. So Wildlife Nature Photography, not all Photography. You can search Twitter from within Flipboard, and flip tweets into your @Flipboard magazines. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/un6C70DSAh
— Terry Porter (@TPorter2) May 7, 2020
Since Flipboard integrates quite well with Twitter, you can easily use it for research, social listening, keeping up with your lists, and more.
A1b. @Flipboard seamless integration with Twitter allows you to organize your tweets for easy access. It's great for the following:
1. Organizing research
2. Social listening
3. Monitoring searches
4. Easy for following Twitter lists 5. #TwitterSmarter— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
If, like most of our chat members, you’re also fairly new to Flipboard, check out this article about how to integrate your Twitter account with Flipboard.
Though we all know how valuable Twitter is as a source of information, we often forget that Flipboard is just as powerful. When the two come together, it’s a recipe for success.
For instance, you can combine tweets from multiple topics or lists and create a magazine on Flipboard. You can then share this on your social media channels and other sources to drive traffic to your profile.
A2a. Twitter and Flipboard are powerful information tools. You can combine tweets from topics or lists and can add them to a magazine. You can then share this magazine with your colleagues or on your social media channels. #TwitterSmarter
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
You can also save a search so you can always find tweets related to a hashtag, a topic, or even your competition.
A2b. By saving a Twitter search you can monitor a hashtag or search term without having to type it in all the time; track your competition, social media, sales, and campaigns. #TwitterSmarter
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
The best part about using the two tools in conjunction is that they help each other out. For example, as our friend said, Flipboard users can find a new audience on Twitter by sharing their magazines. On the other hand, Twitter users can also develop their Flipboard profile by sharing articles only found on Twitter.
A2 On Flipboard you can curate magazines, for example, the ones I use: Baseball and Neuroscience. Publications can use Flipboard as another way of publishing their content on Twitter. #TwitterSmarter
— Crapulous Baguette (@sarcast0ny) May 7, 2020
That’s why when you combine the two, you can get so many benefits across your marketing and PR activities, social media management, research and learning, user education, content creation, and so much more.
A2d. Flipboard & Twitter are essential communication tools. This powerful combo allows for the following:
1. Learning +Teaching
2. Project creation & management
3. Content curation and creation 4. Marketing, PR promotions
5. Project management
6. Social selling #TwitterSmarter— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Most importantly, Flipboard’s interface is intended for reading. The layout is clean and user-friendly. It’s another, beautiful, way to experience Twitter.
A2c. By using @Flipboard, you are creating a whole new way to experience Twitter. The format is organized, beautiful, and easy to read. #TwitterSmarter
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
If you’re homeschooling, you should definitely check out Flipboard’s FlipEDU library. From maths and languages to special needs and STEM, you’ll find a host of articles to fuel your child’s brains.
But that doesn’t mean you can learn a thing or two as well. FlipEDU also has a massive publication about remote learning with online courses, how-tos, and so much more.
Like our guest suggested, you can publish your own course online, too.
A3, You can teach in every EDU institution with Twitter & @Flipboard. Both are powerful learning tools. Use Twitter info to curate courses in @Flipboard. Then divide your curriculum into mag libraries like in this #FlipEDU School library. #TwitterSmarterhttps://t.co/Xh8ebKUjmK
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Alberto told us how he combines Flipboard, Feedly, and Twitter Lists to stay updated on a range of topics that interest him. This mix-and-match strategy is great to make sure you’re always on top of what’s happening in your industry. Even if you miss a news item on one platform, you’ll hear about it on the other.
A3
In my case, Flipboard plus Feedly and Twitter Lists, are my top sources of information. By using this combination I'm always update in different topics. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/N2gFIsIvHA— Alberto Gómez (@alberMoire) May 7, 2020
Consider Flipboard as another branding opportunity. If you’ve just released a product, a service, or a business, create a magazine on Flipboard with all the PR articles that covered your release. Include announcement blogs, social media posts, images, and videos. That way, you’re building a complete online asset for that particular release. It’s an easy and effective way to curate your successes.
A4. Twitter + Flipboard = best sales team! Here's why:
1. Flipboard is a beautiful branding tool
2. Launched a product on Twitter? Build a Flipboard with product experience. Add blogs, tweets, images & videos.
3. Monitor Twitter influence activity in one magazine. #TwitterSmarter— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
As our friend reminded us, all of these links you curate will give you invaluable website visits from Flipboard. Aside from increasing your brand’s awareness, you’re also establishing a permanent link that people may find even years later. It’s an investment, y’all.
A4- Flipboard can be used t o increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your websites. You can also keep an eye on your competitors and track their activities. #TwitterSmarter
— SamNaz (@naaz410) May 7, 2020
Christel, who works for Flipboard, demonstrated how you can follow a hashtag. Just search the hashtag and then tap Follow to get all related tweets.
You can search of Flipboard for a hashtag and the follow it. Here I did that with #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/iO9mWZlvpQ
— Christel van der Boom (@Xtel) May 7, 2020
Once you follow a hashtag, it’ll appear as a tile on your Flipboard. You can add it to your home feed by clicking the “More” icon.
A5b. Here’s a bonus. Open Flipboard, type in your topic or hashtag using the search icon on the bottom of your smartphone. Follow your hashtag. Flipboard will then import your Twitter feed. You can then add a tile to your home screen for easy updates. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/GYZSNOyvk7
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Our guest also showed us how to save a story or article from Twitter to Flipboard. Tap on the three-dot menu icon (also called the hamburger menu button) on the top of your screen and select Share Via… then choose a magazine to Flip it on to.
A5a. It’s very easy to follow Twitter topics on Flipboard. Use the Twitter search box to find a topic or hashtag that you like, add it to a magazine. That’s it! You also can save a Twitter topic in a Flipboard magazine. #Twittersmarter pic.twitter.com/aQ5HWSdTmZ
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
It’s quite straightforward. In Flipboard, connect your Twitter account. Then, open up your profile and access your Lists.
A6. It’s easy!
1. Connect your Twitter account on Flipboard.
2. Once connected, click on your Twitter icon to bring up your profile.
3. Find your lists, choose the ones you want to follow. More in this video. #TwitterSmarterhttps://t.co/9VUVi80bVc— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Here’s a quick video that demonstrates the process:
What’s also great, as Chris pointed out, is that you can subscribe to specific Twitter Lists from within Flipboard.
A6: You can subscribe to Twitter Lists within @Flipboard to enjoy the gorgeous UX it has, oh boy this is going to be on my agenda this weekend! #TwitterSmarter
— Chris Dack (@chrisgdack) May 7, 2020
Flipboard magazines are just links. You can share them as you would any webpage or article. As our guest suggested, share on social media, on email campaigns, on your business blog, or you can even embed them on your website.
A7. Share your magazines: 1. In an email
2. On Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn 3. On a blog
4. Embed on your website
Here is a handy list of Flipboard tools to help you share your magazines or to add Flipboard to your website. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/dBfditfF1S— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Here’s a list of tools from Flipboard to help you share your magazines.
Janette even showed us how exactly you can share a Flipboard magazine on Twitter. Just tap share, select Twitter, and compose and post your tweet.
A7b. Here’s how you can share your magazine on Twitter.
1. Open @Flipboard and find a magazine you want to share, tap on “share” 2. Find the Twitter icon, select
3. Compose your Tweet and post. #TwitterSmarter pic.twitter.com/sVdyuoWfi2— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Be creative about sharing your magazines. As Terry, one of our community members specified, she shares a magazine about Flipboard every Friday with the hashtag #FlipboardFriday
Once you’ve connected your Twitter account to Flipboard, you can monitor competition, follow hashtags, retweet, reply, and like tweets, and even create lists to keep up with your favorite accounts.
A8. Your Twitter account is now connected to @Flipboard. You can 1. Monitor followers
2. RT favorites
3. Build a library w/Twitter lists.
4. RT from inside Flipboard
5. Curate good quality magazines, not only you will learn but so will your Twitter followers. #TwitterSmarter— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Flipboard gives you a great opportunity to curate high-quality content for your Twitter audience. Use that to both educate and learn. For instance, use Flipboard as an extension of your business. For product-based retail business, that might mean creating a catalog that people can browse through. It’s all about bringing value to your audience.
A8b. Be useful to your customers. Use Flipboard to enhance your Twitter account by offering something of value. For example, do you have an online store? Build a Flipboard shopping catalog and share useful tips in a magazine and share it on Twitter. #TwitterSmarter
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
With Twitter and Flipboard together, you can create a successful social selling experience. For inspiration, take a look at this portfolio our guest shared. It’s Hot Ice Media, a marketing agency that specialises in Flipboard.
A8c. Flipboard + Twitter = great #socialselling combo. Engage with customers using Twitter curated magazines. Here’s our @HotIceMedia portfolio. It has all our PR efforts, mag curated for publications & brands. It’s fluid & changeable. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/ZMxe6v9RxD
— Janette Speyer- Independent #Flipboard Mkt. (@JanetteSpeyer) May 7, 2020
Finally, here’s a great Medium Publication exclusively about using Flipboard for business.
Well, that’s all from me folks. For more great information from our chat with Janette, check out this Twitter Moment that Joana put together. Thanks for reading, and if you’ve got some time next week, please join us at 1pm ET for the next #TwitterSmarter chat.
Take care and stay safe!
About me, Narmadhaa:
I write all things—technical and marketing copy to fill the pocket; haiku and short stories to fill the soul. A social media enthusiast, I’m a member of the #TwitterSmarter chat crew, and always happy to take on writing gigs.
Say hello: Personal blog | LinkedIn | Twitter