Twitter Spaces: A Complete Guide to Using Twitter Spaces to Grow Your Brand
Audio is taking over social media. Images are still important, but audio is on the rise. Clubhouse made waves with live audio in 2020.
Now, Twitter has introduced Twitter Spaces. This feature lets you host live audio conversations.
In this guide, you’ll learn what Twitter Spaces is, why it matters for your brand, and how to use it effectively.
Table of Contents
- 1 What is Twitter Spaces?
- 2 Why Use Twitter Spaces?
- 3 How to Start a Twitter Space
- 4 What Else Can You Do?
- 5 How to Schedule a Twitter Space
- 6 How to Find a Twitter Space to Join
- 7 A Few Ideas of How Businesses Can Use Twitter Spaces
- 7.1 Discuss Industry Topics and Trending News
- 7.2 Offer Expert Advice via a Weekly Series
- 7.3 Get Feedback on Your New Features or Product
- 7.4 Lead an Open Mic Conversation
- 7.5 Share Company Updates or Announcements
- 7.6 Host a Podcast-Style Interview
- 7.7 Host a Q&A Session to Address Frequently Asked Questions
- 7.8 Conduct Live Audits for Personalized Feedback
- 8 Best Practices to Use Twitter Spaces
- 9 FAQs
What is Twitter Spaces?
Twitter Spaces is a live audio conversation feature on Twitter. It lets users host real-time chat rooms where anyone can join as a listener.
Inspired by the buzz around Clubhouse – a platform known for its exclusive, invite-only audio chat – Twitter Spaces brings a similar experience to a broader audience.
In a Space, the host creates an audio chat room and invites others to join the conversation. Up to 13 people can speak at once, including the host and co-hosts.
When someone you follow is hosting or speaking in a Space, their display picture appears with a purple bubble at the top of your timeline, making it easy to join in.
The feature is available both on mobile and desktop versions of the platform. However, while you can create, join, and participate in Twitter spaces on your phone, you can only listen in to a Space on the desktop version.
Why Use Twitter Spaces?
#1: Expansive Global Reach
Twitter boasts over 353 million active users from diverse backgrounds. This vast audience gives your brand a huge platform to share ideas.
With Twitter Spaces, you will be tapping into a network where nearly 93% of brand followers are ready to buy. It’s a powerful way to connect with people from all around the world.
#2: Embrace the audio revolution
Social audio has taken off since Clubhouse’s debut. Today, platforms like LinkedIn, Spotify, Discord, and Instagram are joining the trend.
Audio conversations offer a break from screen fatigue and help foster genuine human connection. With Twitter Spaces, you are part of a movement that is here to stay.
#3: A great avenue to build genuine community
Twitter Spaces offers a casual and inviting way to build community. Unlike live video that demands a perfect setting, Spaces lets you host discussions without the fuss. This relaxed environment encourages authentic conversations, making it easier to build meaningful relationships with your audience.
#4: Helps you stand out in the crowd
Tweets come and go quickly, but Spaces keep you visible. When you go live, your profile appears at the top of users’ mobile apps.
This increased visibility makes it more likely that people will join your conversation and engage with your content.
#5: Simple and cost-effective
Getting started on Twitter Spaces is easy and free. There’s no need for expensive equipment or formal attire. All it takes is opening the Twitter app, creating a new Space, and sharing valuable insights with your followers.
#6: You can leverage your existing following
Unlike platforms like Clubhouse where you have to build an audience from scratch, Twitter already gives you a head start.
Your current followers are already waiting to hear from you. This built-in audience means you can quickly kickstart your live audio conversations and grow your brand further.
How to Start a Twitter Space
Starting a Twitter Space is simple and quick. Let’s walk you through the steps below:
Step 1: Open the Twitter Spaces
First, open your Twitter app on Android or iOS. Tap the “+” post button at the bottom of the screen, from the options that show up, tap on “Spaces” to begin creating your Space.
Step 2: Describe your Twitter Space
Next, you’ll be prompted to name your Space and give a description of what it is about. Choose a clear, relatable name that describes the topic you plan to discuss. This helps attract the right listeners.
Once you’ve named it, you can either start your Space immediately or schedule it for later. You will also have the opportunity to invite people right away to join the Space.
Step 3: Manage your Space audience
When your Space is live, you can manage your audience easily. Invite people by sharing a tweet or sending a direct message using the menu at the bottom.
Up to 10 speakers can join the conversation, while an unlimited number of people can listen. To control guest interactions, tap on the people icon.
This shows you the number of participants, their roles, and any speaker requests. You can make listeners speakers or remove participants as needed.
Don’t forget to add captions. Tap the three-dot menu and then on ‘Adjust settings’. Here, you will be able to ad captions by checking the “View caption” option.
Captions make your conversation accessible to a broader audience and ensure that everyone can follow along. They also create a transcript of your discussion, which Twitter keeps for up to 30 days. This transcript can help you revisit key points and repurpose the conversation later.
And that’s it. You now know how to host a Twitter Space. Go ahead and start connecting with your audience in real time!
What Else Can You Do?
Once you’ve created your Space, there are several ways to enhance the experience for you and your audience. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Assign a co-host
You can assign a co-host to help you manage the Space. If you have a team member who can join live, invite them as a co-host. Twitter allows up to two co-hosts. They can manage speaker requests and help keep the conversation flowing.
Pin a tweet in your Space
This is another great feature you should leverage when hosting a Twitter Space. It lets you highlight a key talking point or discussion starter.
Simply navigate to the tweet you want to pin, and it will appear at the top of your Space for everyone to see. This visual aid makes it easier for both speakers and listeners to follow along.
Manage speakers
You can also manage speakers directly during your live session. Tap the speakers button to see all participants and accept requests from listeners who want to join the conversation.
Listeners can also use the raised hand emoji to signal that they have something to say without interrupting.
Host ticketed Spaces
If you’re looking to monetize your presence, consider hosting Ticketed Spaces. This feature lets you charge a fee for access to your Space, opening up new revenue opportunities.
Just be aware that there are eligibility requirements and you’ll need to request access to use this option.
How to Schedule a Twitter Space
Just like you can schedule tweets on Twitter, you can also schedule your Twitter Space to go live at the time you think will be best for your audience.
While creating your Twitter Space – at step 2 above, you will have the chance to either go live immediately or wait till later. To schedule your Space, instead of tapping on ‘Start your Space’, tap on the calendar icon beside it.
This will bring up a menu for you to choose the date and time that you plan to go live.
How to Find a Twitter Space to Join
When someone in your network starts or joins a Space, you’ll see a purple circle at the top of your screen. This circle shows the Space host’s profile picture, username, and the number of people already in the Space.
Simply tap on the purple circle to see more details.
Once you tap the circle, you’ll be taken to a screen that displays all the participants and their roles. You will also see a “Join this Space” button. Tap that button, and you’re in!
As a listener, you can:
- Request to be a speaker
- Turn on captions
- View the list of speakers and listeners
- Send emoji reactions
- See pinned tweets
- Hare the Space via tweet or direct message.
If you join as a speaker or later become one, you’ll be able to talk and share tweets directly in the Space.
A Few Ideas of How Businesses Can Use Twitter Spaces
Discuss Industry Topics and Trending News
Your audience is always curious about the latest changes in your industry. Use Twitter Spaces to host live discussions on trending news and current events.
You can bring in multiple speakers to form a panel of experts. This setup not only shares valuable insights but also lets you hear directly from your audience.
It’s a great way to understand their concerns and how your product or service can help them navigate industry shifts.
Offer Expert Advice via a Weekly Series
Create a recurring Twitter Space to offer weekly expert advice. Host a regular session where you provide real-time tips and solutions for challenges your audience faces.
This series keeps your brand visible and builds trust over time. If something significant happens in your industry, you can address it immediately, making your content timely and highly relevant.
Regular sessions encourage your listeners to come back for more insights.
Get Feedback on Your New Features or Product
It can be hard to predict if your customers will love a new feature. Instead of guessing, ask them directly. Twitter Spaces gives you a chance to get live feedback from your loyal customers.
You can chat in real time and quickly learn what they think. This makes the feedback process faster and more engaging than surveys or emails.
Lead an Open Mic Conversation
Twitter Spaces lets you host an open mic session. This casual chat format invites people from all over the world to join in.
Choose a topic to keep the conversation focused, but allow everyone to share their thoughts. It creates a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. This approach has always helped brands build a strong community around their brands.
Keep your followers in the loop by using this feature for company updates. You can use Twitter Spaces to announce new products, feature updates, policy changes, or upcoming events.
Sharing these updates live creates a sense of exclusivity and direct connection with your audience. It also allows for immediate feedback and engagement. This can go a long way to help you build a stronger community around your brand.
Host a Podcast-Style Interview
Live interviews can be a great way to engage your audience. Invite a guest expert and conduct a podcast-style interview on Twitter Spaces.
Plan your questions in advance to keep the conversation smooth. After the interview, open the floor to questions from the live audience.
This format makes your content dynamic and interactive, and it gives your listeners a chance to connect directly with industry experts.
Host a Q&A Session to Address Frequently Asked Questions
A Twitter Space Q&A session is a simple and effective way to engage with your audience. It lets you answer their most common questions live while offering helpful advice.
This interactive session not only builds trust but also gives you insights into your audience’s pain points and preferences.
To make the most of your Q&A, prepare a list of frequently asked questions. This ensures there’s plenty of valuable content, even if live attendees are a bit quiet.
Conduct Live Audits for Personalized Feedback
Live audits are a fantastic way to offer personalized feedback and demonstrate your expertise.
For instance, if you’re a social media manager, you might conduct a live audit of a company’s social media accounts to show what works and what can be improved.
Similarly, website developers can review site usability in real time. These sessions give your audience unique insights that they wouldn’t get otherwise, and they position you as an expert in your field.
Best Practices to Use Twitter Spaces
To make the most out of Twitter Spaces, it’s important to follow some best practices. We encourage you to pay attention to the following:
Have a clear goal in mind
Know whether you’re hosting a Q&A, sharing insights, or giving a live audit. This focus will guide your conversation and help deliver value to your audience. It will also help you understand what exactly you want to achieve with the Space.
Give your Space an attention-grabbing name
This is very important. The name of your Twitter space must be one that easily and quickly grabs the attention of your target audience. However, the name also needs to be relevant to the topic.
A catchy title draws people in and sets clear expectations.
Go live immediate
Many people are always wondering which is best between scheduling Twitter Space or going live immediately. Well, our advice is that while scheduling has its benefits, don’t be afraid to go live instantly.
Sometimes, spontaneity can make the session feel more authentic and engaging.
Use Spaces to learn more about your audience
Yes, use Spaces as a tool to learn more about your audience. Encourage them to share their opinions and ask questions. This interaction helps you understand their needs and tailor your future content accordingly.
Engage!
Actively engage with your listeners throughout the session. Ask open-ended questions, invite audience members to share their thoughts, and use features like the raised hand emoji to give everyone a chance to participate.
Plan and organize your session
Even a loose outline of topics or key points can keep the conversation flowing smoothly and ensure that you cover all important aspects.
FAQs
Why can’t I see Spaces on Twitter?
If you’re not seeing Spaces, make sure your Twitter app is updated to the latest version. The feature may also roll out gradually in certain regions or to specific account types. If it’s still missing, it might not be available for your account yet.
How can I share a tweet on Twitter Spaces?
While you’re in a Space, you can easily share tweets related to the discussion. Just tap the share icon within the Space interface to retweet or send the tweet via direct message.
This helps you highlight key points and keep your audience engaged.
Will I get notified about a scheduled Space?
Yes, if you follow the host or have enabled notifications for Twitter Spaces, you will get alerts when a scheduled Space is about to go live. This way, you never miss an opportunity to join a conversation.
Who can speak on Spaces?
By default, the host is the main speaker. However, hosts can invite co-hosts (up to two) and allow listeners to request to speak. This means anyone in the Space can potentially speak if the host approves their request.
Can I record and download a Space?
Twitter Spaces offers a recording feature. If you choose to record your Space, the recording is saved and available for a limited time after the session ends. You can download the recording if you need to review or repurpose the content later.
Is Twitter Spaces available on Android?
Yes, Twitter Spaces is available on both Android and iOS devices. Just update your app to access this feature on your preferred mobile platform.
Who can see my Space?
Twitter Spaces are public by default, meaning anyone on Twitter can join if they know about it. However, if you’ve blocked someone, they won’t be able to see or join your Space.