Introduction

Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, and its direct messaging (DM) feature is an essential tool that allows users to communicate privately. However, sending a DM on Twitter might not be as intuitive as it seems. In this article, we will teach you everything you need to know to perfect the art of Twitter DMs, from the basics to lesser-known features, useful tips, and proper etiquette.

Begin with the basics

Before we dive into the more advanced features of Twitter DMs, it’s essential to start with the basics. So, what are DMs on Twitter?

A direct message, commonly referred to as a DM, is a private message sent from one Twitter user to another. DMs do not appear publicly on Twitter and can only be seen by the sender and the recipient of the message.

Accessing DMs on Twitter is easy:

1. Sign in to Twitter
2. Click the envelope icon on the top-right corner of the page

That’s it! You’re now in your DM inbox.

Keep it concise

Twitter is all about brevity and getting your message across in as few characters as possible. The same rule applies to DMs. When sending a DM on Twitter, you want to keep it brief and to the point. Here are the essential steps to send a DM on Twitter:

1. Open your DM inbox
2. Click “New Message”
3. Type in the recipient’s name or Twitter handle (if you’re not already following them, you’ll need to request to follow them first)
4. Type your message (280 characters or less)
5. Click “Send Message”

It’s that simple! Once you’ve sent your DM, you can wait for a response from the recipient on your DM page. The DM’s character limit has increased from 140 to 280 characters over the years to allow Twitter users a bit more room to express themselves. Remember to keep it short and sweet, though!

Emphasize privacy

Privacy is an essential consideration when it comes to sending DMs on Twitter. The last thing you want is for your private message to end up in the wrong hands or be seen by anyone other than the intended recipient. To ensure that your DMs remain private, here are a few tips:

• Use a secure connection
• Avoid public Wi-Fi
• Ensure that your device is password-protected
• Don’t share sensitive information in your DMs

Use visuals

Visual aids can be a great way to help your messages stand out, and Twitter DMs allow you to send various types of visuals to your recipients. From memes to GIFs, photos and videos, Twitter DMs offer practical ways to add some flavor to the conversation.

Here’s how to send visuals via DM on Twitter:

1. Open your DM inbox
2. Click “New Message”
3. Type in the recipient’s name or Twitter handle
4. Click on the “media” icon on the left side of the message box
5. Select the visual of your choice from your device library or Twitter media gallery
6. Click “Send Message”

Not only do visuals make DMs more engaging, but they can also help convey messages that words may fall short of expressing.

Discuss etiquette

It’s crucial to observe proper etiquette when sending Twitter DMs. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always be respectful.
• Avoid being spammy.
• Keep your messages concise and to the point.

In addition, be careful not to make the following common mistakes when sending DMs on Twitter:

• Don’t send the same message to multiple people (unless it’s a group DM).
• Don’t use DMs as a way to vent or rant publicly. Keep it private.
• Don’t harass or bully other Twitter users via DMs.

Remember, your DMs are private, but that doesn’t excuse any inappropriate behavior.

Highlight useful features

Twitter DMs have some lesser-known features that can be useful depending on your use case. Here are a few you may want to try:

• Group DMs: Allows up to 50 people to be included in a private group chat
• Message requests: In cases where you receive a message from someone who isn’t following you, the message will go into your “Message Requests” queue instead of your main DMs inbox
• Sharing tweets via DMs: Allows you to send any tweet to a recipient privately

The above three features can be significant for anyone looking to have private discussions with multiple Twitter users simultaneously, keep their message requests separate from their main DMs inbox, and share exciting tweets with their followers privately.

Troubleshooting

Twitter DMs may not always work as intended. Here are some common issues you may encounter and ways to troubleshoot them:

• If you’re unable to send a DM, ensure that you’re following the recipient and that they haven’t blocked you.
• If you can’t see a DM in your inbox, ensure that you haven’t archived it by mistake.
• If DM notifications aren’t working, check your Twitter settings and ensure that notifications are turned on.

If you still can’t troubleshoot the issue, reach out to Twitter support for help.

Conclusion

Twitter DMs are an essential tool for communication and networking on the platform. With this guide, you now have all the necessary information to master the art of sending DMs on Twitter. Remember to keep your messages brief, respect others’ privacy, observe proper DM etiquette, and explore the platform’s many helpful features.