Social media is ever expanding, and platforms have to adjust as users’ needs and wants of an application also change. It’s important for artists to be aware of these new services so they can maximize their reach on each platform. We’re going to explore Twitters’ Spaces and how musicians can benefit from joining this service.
A number of social platforms are already implementing their own version of audio chat, so it’s safe to say that this is something people want. They want to be able to talk to brands/people without having to wait for a response or wait for the time it takes to create a video or a new post. People already come to Twitter to talk about what’s happening. Users always followed people for their Tweets, now Spaces lets you hear their voices and talk about what important things are happening now – live.
Much like Clubhouse, Spaces encourages and unlocks real, open conversations in small intimate conversations or big discussions with thousands of listeners. From a musician standpoint, Spaces is a great way to connect with your fans and also creates a new space for you to dive into the topics and conversations you care about with people you know and people you want to know.
So how do you join or create a Space? Here’s what we know…
How Spaces work
On Twitter for iOS and Android, when someone you follow starts or speaks in a Space, it’ll appear at the top of your timeline as a purple bubble for as long as it’s live. When you join a Space as a listener, you can react to what you hear with emojis, check out any pinned Tweets, follow along with captions, Tweet or DM the Space, or request to speak.
How to create a Space as a host:
Hosts are the people who created the space and are hosting the discussion happening within it. When you create a Space, you’re in control of who’s speaking, the topics, everything.
As a host, you can invite anyone to be a speaker. Twitter lets you have up to 10 speakers at any time inside your space. Both speakers and hosts have the ability to turn their mics on or off to jump into the conversation and be heard.
If you’re using your space to discuss articles, videos, or other resources you’ve shared over Twitter, you can share those tweets directly into your ongoing Twitter space.
Simply go over to your profile and find the tweet you want to share. Tap on the share icon and choose the Your Space option.
Can you control who listens?
For now, Spaces are public and anyone can join as a listener. If you create a Space, your followers will see it in their Fleets.
There is no limit on the number of listeners.
Note: As the person who has opened a Space, you can also remove, report, and block users in a Space at any time.
How to join a Space:
It’s easy! Find the Space in your Fleets section, select it, and then tap the Join this Space button that pops up. Your mic will be off to start.
If you’re joining a Space as a speaker, in addition to talking, you can pin tweets to the Space, turn on captions so everyone can follow along with what you’re saying, and tweet the Space so your followers can join.
Who can try Twitter Spaces?
At the moment, anyone using Twitter’s iOS app or Android app can join a Space, but only select individuals with more than 600 followers can host Spaces.
How artists benefit from using Twitter spaces:
It goes without saying that any brand can benefit from connecting with their fans or potential fans over social media. Those benefits increase when the engagement is genuine, consistent, and valuable. Twitter Spaces allows the perfect opportunity to bring such a conversation to your fan community.
Here are some ways you as an artist might benefit from using Twitter Spaces:
- Create a regular industry space designed to provide updates about the music industry, and regular entertainment news that your followers would be interested in.
- Share music/merch/services releases designed to keep your fans apprised of new things they can stream or purchase in support of you as an artist.
- Host a live Q&A forum where your fan community can ask questions about your music or self to gain a deeper connection and understanding of your brand.
- Share additional thoughts and discussion points around conversational topics that are meaningful to you.
- Follow up on a podcast, live video stream, conference, or another event with a Twitter space to keep the conversation going and offer even more insights into a topic.
If it isn’t obvious by now, conversation and authentic engagement are the future of social media. Conversational features on platforms allow brands and people with the means for connecting and engaging with their communities on a deeper level than ever before.
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