How charities can use Twitter Spaces

Twitter Spaces are live audio conversations that take place on Twitter. Anyone can create a Space at anytime and anywhere – and anyone can join them.

Victoria Lyons, Senior Consultant Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK and host of their monthly Spaces, describes it as: “An interactive podcast where listeners can engage with the hosts and ask questions, with authenticity at its heart.”

How to use Twitter Spaces

For those of you familiar with Clubhouse, the concept for Twitter Spaces is similar but some features differ. Currently there isn’t a place where you can see what Spaces are happening at any given time, or see analytics about your Space, but a Spaces Dashboard is coming soon.

Before embarking on creating a Space, think about what you’re trying to achieve and who you’re trying to reach and engage with. As Spaces are all about discussion and conversation, think about who in your organisation is the right person to host them and can speak with knowledge, authority, and experience.

How to promote your Space

When you create a Space you can choose to schedule it for a future date or you can start it straight away. The advantage of the former is that you can promote it beforehand by sharing the link so that people can add it to their calendars.

Once your Space is live, you can share a Tweet directly from the Space, or Tweet a link to the Space, which you can find in the share menu. If you would like specific people or organisations to join in the conversation, you can send them a direct message and include the link for them to join. Your followers will also see your Space lit up in purple at the top of their timeline where they can click to join.

How to host a Space

Currently you can only start a Space via your IOS or Android mobile phone, but anyone can join via phone or desktop. To create a Space, hold down the compose button until you see the cluster of dots icon.

Click on the icon to create your Space. Give it a title and a description so that people will know what it’s about. You can then either schedule your Space or start it immediately.

For now, Spaces only allows for a maximum of two hosts. If you’re planning on having more guest speakers, hosts can invite them up to speak.

When people join, they will be on mute. If they wish to ask a question or speak at any time, they can request mic access and the host can approve their request.

How can charities use this feature?

Dementia UK has been running a monthly Space for the last four months, each addressing a different topic. For World Alzheimer’s Day they ran a Space on stigma in dementia and they’re currently planning one for Black History Month. “We look ahead and think about what topics are of interest to people and how we can put a dementia lens on it,” says Lyons.

The beauty about Spaces is that you can run different topics that appeal to different audiences. You may want to run one on new research within your cause area, targeted at peers and those working in that sector, or you may want to run one with a running expert, on how your fundraisers can prepare for a marathon. The possibilities are endless.

Spaces offer a unique opportunity to really get to know and understand your service users, beneficiaries, and supporters. It’s a safe place where they can share stories and experiences and learn from experts and each other.

Lyons says: “At Dementia UK we’ve used Spaces to give people affected by dementia a chance to share their experiences with other people in similar situations. It is always really powerful hearing people’s experiences first-hand.”

There is the ability to record Spaces, however you do need to add a disclaimer so that people know they’re being recorded. Lyons sees both advantages and disadvantages to this. “On the one hand, it would be great to share the recording after and to post on other channels so more people can benefit from the discussion. On the other hand, knowing it’s being recorded may change the dynamic amongst those joining the Space.”

Once you’ve hosted at least three Spaces in a month, have a minimum of 1,000 Twitter followers and are on iOS, you can apply for Ticketed Spaces. Consider ticketing a Q&A with a celebrity supporter or hosting a comedy night to fundraise for your charity.

Twitter Spaces offers the opportunity to really engage with your audience in a way that’s real, authentic, and meaningful. What Space will you create for your nonprofit?