TweetDeck is a social dashboard of customizable columns in which you can view and arrange any of Twitter’s content. It allows users to view multiple feeds at the same time and automatically refreshes the data in reverse chronological order.
Is TweetDeck better than Twitter?
Twitter is one of the most popular social sharing platforms around but it is limited to displaying one feed at a time. The main feed on Twitter is also not displayed in order of time as it uses its own algorithms. This means a tweet from 1 hour ago could appear before the latest tweet.
What TweetDeck does is supercharge your Twitter experience and allow you to take full control of what you see. TweetDeck displays columns of tweets, messages, notifications, etc. in their time-stamped order with no promoted content. TweetDeck is a Twitter management tool that is so good Twitter Inc. bought it.
How do I install and set up TweetDeck?
You will happy to know that TweetDeck runs in your browser, which means you do not need to download or install Tweetdeck. Instead, you just need to visit the webpage. Full instructions are provided below.
Please note that at the time of writing TweetDeck is not supported by Microsoft Edge, but it does work on Chrome and Internet Explorer.
- Click the following link http://tweetdeck.twitter.com
- You will notice a new browser tab has opened.
- Click the blue button marked Log in.
- Enter your details to log in into your Twitter Account.
- You will be taken to the TweetDeck Platform as shown below.
- You are now ready to start customizing TweetDeck.
Customizing TweetDeck columns
Now you are ready to start customizing how the TweetDeck platform looks and works. We will show you how to add columns, remove columns and select what each column displays. You can also change the theme from light to dark and change the order and size of the columns. You can even have multiple Twitter accounts in different columns.
Adding a column to TweetDeck
- To add a new column, click Add column as shown below.
- A new Options Window will open.
- Select your chosen column option. (For further information on column types, scroll down).
- For example, choose User.
- A new window will open
- Enter the name of the user you wish to view, @techsnail
- Click the blue button marked Add column
- Close window and you will see you have added a User column.
Please note that the same above instructions will work when adding any type of column, in step four simply select your column type. A brief description of column types is outlined below.
Types of TweetDeck column
- HOME: This is like your regular Twitter feed. It displays the published tweets and retweets for all of the people you follow.
- USER: This displays a specific Twitter accounts tweets and retweets, use this to show activity on your favourite Twitter accounts.
- NOTIFICATION: This will notify you if any activity happens on your account, such as someone retweeting your tweets, liking your tweets, mentions you in a tweet or follows you.
- SEARCH: This displays any activity relating to a search term you specify.
- LISTS: Create or connect to a list you follow.
- COLLECTION: A timeline of tweets you selected to share with others.
- ACTIVITY: This displays any activity for all of the people you follow such as likes, who they follow, lists, etc.
- LIKES: Tweets liked by you or from a specific account.
- MESSAGES: Direct/Private Messages.
- MENTIONS (Per Account): When someone mentions you or a specific account.
- FOLLOWERS: Follow activity for a specific account.
- SCHEDULED: Any Tweets you have scheduled.
- MESSAGES (All accounts): Direct/Private Messages from all your accounts.
- TRENDING: Displays anything which his popular on Twitter right now.
Column headers and settings
At the top of each column, you will see there is a header section, which displays further information as well as more column options. For example, you can move the column if you click and hold the three vertical lines and then drag the column to the left or right.
To display more column settings click the filter which is located to the far right of the column header. The options will change depending on which column you select, below is an example of the Mentions column once the Filter has been clicked.
Here you can edit to suit your needs. Additionally, you can clear all the current content of the column or remove the column completely by clicking Remove.
How to change the size of Columns
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Settings which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word accounts you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the two people symbol.
- A new menu will open. Click Settings again.
- A new window will open. Under COLUMN select Narrow, Medium or Wide, as shown below.
- The column size will change.
Change TweetDeck from light to dark theme
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Settings which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word accounts you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the two people symbol.
- A new menu will open. Click Settings again.
- A new window will open. Under THEME select Dark, as shown below.
- The theme will change.
Multiple accounts on TweetDeck
You can view and manage multiple Twitter accounts at the same time on TweetDeck or even add a team of accounts. We will be adding more information on how to create a corporate team of accounts soon. However, below are instructions on to add all of your Twitter accounts to Tweetdeck.
How to add a second Twitter account to TweetDeck
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Accounts which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word accounts you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the two people symbol.
- A new window will open. Click Link another account your own, as shown below.
- A message will advise that you are creating a relationship between the two accounts, read and if you are happy, click Continue.
- A new window will open. Enter the Twitter username and password and then click Authorize
- The second account will be added to TweetDeck.
Default accounts on TweetDeck
As you now have more than one account linked to Tweetdeck you should select the account you primarily want to send out tweets from as the default account.
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Accounts which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word accounts you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the two people symbol.
- A new window will open.
- Under the name of the Account you wish to make default, you will see the words Default account. Click the toggle button as circled above.
- There will be confirmation under the words default account.
Selecting an account to send an individual tweet from
Your default account will have the primary role of sending Tweets. However, if you wish to send a tweet from any of the accounts you have added, you can still do this.
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Tweet which is located at the top.
- A new window will open for you to compose your tweet.
- Below the word From, are images of the available accounts.
- Click the Account image you wish to send the tweet from
- A Green Tick will confirm the account sending the tweet.
You can also Like or Follow from multiple Twitter accounts
To send a Like from the default account you can click the heart symbol in the normal way. However, if you want to select a different account to send a Like from, you can.
- Click the three dots to the right of the heart symbol.
- A new menu will open.
- Click Like from accounts…
- A pop-up box with account names will appear.
- Select the account you wish to send the like from
Please note the same applies to Following except, you should select Follow from accounts… from the menu
Removing an account from TweetDeck
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Accounts which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word accounts you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the two people symbol.
- A new window will open. Click Leave team, as circled below.
- You will then be asked to confirm you want to leave, by clicking the Leave button.
- The account will be removed.
What are TweetDeck keyboard shortcuts?
There are an array of keyboard shortcuts that you can use within the dashboard. A Tweetdeck keyboard shortcut is a quick and simple way to navigate or perform tasks using the keyboard. For instance, if you have the dashboard open and you press N, you will notice the new tweet box opens and the cursor is ready for you to start typing your new tweet.
To view the above list of Keyboard shortcuts with the dashboard
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Settings which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word Settings you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the cog symbol.
- Select Keyboard shortcuts.
Using keyboard shortcuts
Some of the shortcuts will work everywhere and others only in certain places within the dash board.
Will work throughout the dashboard.
-
- S: Open the search Twitter box
- A: Add a column
- N: Starts a new Tweet
- CTRL+ENTER: Sends new Tweet
- ESC: Closes pop-up/cancel a search
- X: Expands/collapse navigation menu
Use to navigate through Tweets
-
- Left arrow key: Move selection left
- Right arrow key: Move selection right
- Up arrow key: Move selection up
- Down arrow key: Move selection down
- 1-9: Moves through the columns
- 0: Moves to the last column
Shortcuts for within a specific Tweet
-
- Backspace/ Delete: moves to the main column
- Return/Enter: Opens selected Tweet
- R: Reply to Tweet from a column
- T: Retweet a Tweet from a column
- F: Like a Tweet
- D: Send direct Message to the Tweet author
- P: show profile of the Tweet author
Search tips
There are lots of ways to use Tweetdeck columns to search for specific criteria. You do not have to limit your searching to one word, you can filter the search results to show multiple words, locations, questions, etc. Below we outline some of our favourites, enter the words in orage into a search box.
- Any 2 words: Search for all tweets containing both words.
- “In quotation marks”: Containing the exact phrase
- Hot OR cold: Containing either word
- Vodka -lemonade: Containing ‘vodka’ but not ‘lemonade’
- #Techsnail: Displays all tweets with the hashtag ‘Techsnail’
- Traffic ?: Containing ‘traffic and asking a question
- near:London within:1mi: Geotagged in a place, within a radius of (either km or mi)
- Sad min_retweets:5: Containing ‘sad’ with a minimum of 5 retweets.
- Sad min_faves:5: Containing ‘sad’ with a minimum of 5 likes.
- Kitten filter:images: Containing ‘kitten’ with links to photos
- To:techsnail: Replies to @techsnail
For a full list of search tips
- Go to the TweetDeck Platform
- On the far left of the screen is the Navigation bar.
- Click Settings which is located towards the bottom. If you cannot see the word Settings you may need to expand by clicking the two arrows or click the cog symbol.
- Select Search tips
- A full list of tips will be displayed.
Additional information
You will need to have a Twitter account to use Tweetdeck. If you would like to create a Twitter account please you this link. Please also browse our other content for help with any computer or technology related problems by clicking here.
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