Starting Tuesday July 12th, 2011 IAWBO Founder Gina Bell along with carefully selected guest experts will answer YOUR most burning questions about how to start, grow and thrive in business online during weekly #IAWBOchat events.

Since this is a new offering, we’ll take a “beta test” approach with the first 90 days. After that, we’ll then decide if the chats will continue and if yes, how often. Your feedback will be invaluable during this process.

Make sure you’re subscribed to our updates so you’ll be the first to know when we launch this new program!
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What is a tweet chat?

It is an online conversation between a group of Twitter users, and references a specific Twitter hashtag used to identify the discussion. In this case, we’ll be using hashtag #IAWBOchat
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What is the format of a tweet chat?

Each chat will feature the top 10 burning questions on a specific business boosting topic. i.e. Networking; Branding; Blogging; Membership Programs; Joint Ventures, Info Products, Social Media Marketing and more…
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Here’s a SAMPLE agenda for #askIAWBO tweet chats:

• 7:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST – open networking, welcome attendees, introduce guest experts, discuss “rules of the road”, build buzz about the tweet chat
  
• 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST - Questions and Answers. The Tweet Chat host (typically IAWBO Founder, Gina Bell) will post 1 question approximately every 6 minutes allowing for 10 burning questions to be addressed.
  • attendees are asked to retweet each question; retweet each expert answer; AND, share your own experiences relating to the topic. Your topic related questions can also be submitted in advance to support (at) iawbo.com
    
• 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST – The “After Party”. Introductions, open conversation, invitation to promote what you do.

Tweetchats are extremely convenient and flexible. As a participant, you can jump in and out of the discussion whenever you want. Or just follow along silently and watch. Stay for the whole thing or pop in when you can. It’s up to you.
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How do you separate the Tweet Chat discussion from non-relevant tweets?

The trick to participating in a tweet chat is to be able to isolate the tweets made by the chat participants, from all the unrelated tweets on Twitter. In other words, put blinders on to non-relevant tweets while you monitor and chat about one topic/hashtag. You want to see only the tweets relating to the tweet chat you are part of.
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Tools for Tweet Chats:

• TweetChat.com (recommended for simplicity plus pause and retweet functions)
  
• Tweet Grid (allows you to follow more than one chat at a time)
  

You can also use your regular Twitter client to create specific columns based on a #hashtag search providing another ideal way to track Twitter chats. Common ones are:

• Hootsuite
• TweetDeck
• Seesmic

If you don’t want to use a tool, you can simply follow along using Twitter Search. Keep a search window open on your chat’s assigned hashtag.
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There are many benefits of a tweet chat:

• You connect with like-minded people – in this case both women in business online and the experts who can support their success.
• You can crowd-source ideas. The diversity of the participants and experts leads to fascinating feedback that is invaluable when often if feels like you’re working in a bubble.
  
• Get YOUR burning questions answered – this perk alone is priceless.
  
• You increase your community of “relevant” Twitter followers
  
• And if you’ve experienced these or other benefits as a tweet chat host or participant, please share it in the comments section below…
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Other Tweet Chats?

Do you participate in, or run, a Tweet chat you believe would be valuable for women in business online? Share the hashtag, usual meeting time and brief description in the comments section here.

One other tweet chat that I participate in frequently and have appeared as a guest expert panelist for is #MOMeoChat hosted by @CarlaYoung every Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Tip: Enter “tweetchat” into Twitter search to find other popular chats and hashtags to follow.