Twitter sure has changed a lot since its inception in 2006, but especially in the last several years. One thing that has not changed, however, is its usefulness for actors as far as both networking and booking jobs. Well, that’s actually not true: it has not changed in theory, though it has changed in practice, which is why we’re presenting you with the updated actor’s guide to 2020 Twitter.
What should my Twitter profile look like?
Twitter is among the least comprehensive profile-wise in that it’s really less about the stagnant information you provide and more about the ever-ephemeral tweeting itself (but we’ll get to that). As for what should be on your profile, let’s start with the obvious: a clear profile picture that shows your face well. Your bio can display as much or as little personality as you see fit, but you definitely want to have the bare minimum: “Actor, singer, writer,” etc., as well as the city or cities you’re permanently located. These days, it’s also very common to have your preferred pronouns in your bio.
Also speaking to modern day Twitter practices, if you’re appearing in a theater production or a currently-airing TV show, or you star in a newly-released film, you should add those details into your bio; just tack it on at the end: “Currently starring in/on…” As for a banner photo, you can opt to have none at all, or go with something generic like a city skyline. But for actors, similar to your bio, it isn’t a bad idea when it comes to the banner to use a photo of the current project you are promoting; a still from a theater production, film, or TV show all work.
How to Build Your Digital Brand as an Actor Who should I follow on Twitter?
Who you should follow on Twitter will depend a lot of your industry specialty (film, TV, theater, musical theater), as well as your location. Start, of course, by following as many of your peers as you can find: those in your acting classes, co-stars past and present, any teachers or coaches you’ve worked with, and the like. Additionally, you should follow the industry trades to keep tabs on all the upcoming projects happening across mediums: Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Playbill. It’s also not a bad idea to follow the New York Times Arts and New Yorker accounts to read features with some of your favorite actors and creators. Finally, of course, you should follow Backstage as it provides up-to-the-minute posts for industry happenings, interviews with inspirational artists, and tons of casting notices.
Beyond these, you’re going to need to do some digging/scrolling to figure out who is useful for you to follow and also whom you enjoy following. Obviously, it’s a good idea to follow as many legit casting directors and agents as possible. Similarly, find the local theater companies that you either want to work for or just want to support. Many of your favorite filmmakers are on Twitter these days, and even more of your favorite television and theater-makers are. And of course, follow the actors whom you admire or hope to emulate. Figure out what kind of work you want to make, and then follow every person you can who is associated with it. In short, follow the people whose work you like, and ways to engage will arise organically.
READ: Strategist's Guide to Social Media With Personality
What should I tweet?
This is where hands-on guidance becomes more tricky, because the way to be a successful tweeter is to be as specifically and uniquely you as possible. Those who carve out fervent fellowships do so by finding their precise niche and sticking to it. With that approach, ultimately, the followers who are meant to find you do so. For general practices, though, it’s important not to tweet too much on a daily basis. You can’t put an exact number on it, but the five tweets/day range is generally a sweet spot. Retweets can be used more freely.
Speaking of retweeting, the time has come to broach the subject of politics and Twitter. Twitter, more than any of the other big social media platforms, has become increasingly political with each passing year. That isn’t a bad thing! Additionally, another major shift of the last few years is that it is no longer as taboo for actors and celebrities to speak out about their beliefs; in fact, by many industry standards it has become encouraged to engage with what’s happening in the world, though it’s best to do so positively. Don’t tweet about the politician you hate, but consider tweeting about the one you love. Positivity breeds positivity.
Also along these lines, it’s beyond important to “read the room” on Twitter when something in the broader context is occurring. For example, at the start of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, it would have been entirely tone deaf to be promoting your work without acknowledging that something far bigger than your career is taking place.
On the note of promoting your work, do that! But do it delicately. The best promotional tweets are ones that still use the voice that you have honed, and have some personality to them that make your followers actually want to click whatever link you’re shilling out—or better, make them want to re-share it themselves. Self promotion is inherently a little icky, but we all have to do it! So don’t inundate your feed with promotion; sprinkle it in sparingly and meaningfully, and you will have a much better shot at actually getting eyes on the thing you want to get eyes on.
READ: What Social Media Does an Actor Need?
How should I engage (AKA how should I network)?
Someone once wrote (on Twitter, duh): If you call it “networking,” you’re probably not very good at it.
The thinking is, when you’re so actively seeking to network with others in your industry, the desperation is usually pretty apparent. People can smell when you want something from them, and it’s an automatic turnoff. This is why following people you genuinely admire on Twitter is so important: They will eventually post something about their work and you can respond in truth. Let them know you loved that recent play or short film. Or it doesn’t even have to be a tweet about their work that you’re responding to. If you have any perspective in common, simply reply when it feels organic to do so.
Do not inundate a single person with responses to their every tweet. Seriously. That is Bad Twitter Practice 101. Just build out your network in the same way you would in real life: slowly, naturally, steadily. Do not reply to casting directors asking them for jobs. In fact, do not reply to anyone with anything resembling a pitch. In the best case scenarios, you can generate a repertoire with tons of your industry peers, and then one day when one of them posts an actual call for submissions, you’ll be heads and shoulders above the rest of the crowd. This is the long game, and don’t forget that.
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