Give a HOOT about your Tweets: HootSuite vs. TweetDeck
Someone asked me recently if I preferred HootSuite or TweetDeck, and the answer is that I use them BOTH. I keep them both open and minimized at all times.
I prefer HootSuite to post tweets that I want to schedule. For example, on Sunday mornings I try to schedule tweets for events for the coming week.This morning I scheduled tweets for upcoming Martin Luther King events and plays and community meetings – happenings that will occur during the week. Now, I can cross that off my “to do” list. There is an area where you can type in your tweet and another box that you can paste a URL in to that you wish to shorten or shrink. If you wish to schedule the tweet, you select “Send Later” and it will allow you to select a date and time for your tweet to go out!
However, I prefer TweetDeck to better see the conversations that are going on. As in HootSuite, you can add or modify columns (topics) you wish to view. You can see what all your friends are saying and easily converse with them. You can type in a tweet and select the “auto shorten” box to the right, but I don’t believe you can schedule a tweet for a later date through TweetDeck.
In the TweetDeck screen shot, you can see that I am viewing what my friends are posting in the first column; “mentions” in the 2nd column; what’s going on in Tulsa in the 3rd column; what’s going on at Active Rain in the 4th column; and direct messages in the 5th column. If I want to know what people are saying about the Google Nexus phone, I would add #nexus column. 
I’m sure I’m not using either program to its full potential, so I’d love to hear your comments about what you use and why!
And, if you’d like to follow me, I’m @LoriCainRE on Twitter!
Lori Cain is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors serving the greater Tulsa Oklahoma area, including midtown Tulsa, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Sand Springs and Jenks. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.
