How to Use Twitter Fleets: Step-by-Step Guide for Marketers
Twitter has joined the roster of social networks offering Snapchat-like disappearing posts. Below, we'll cover everything marketers need to know about how to use Twitter Fleets - including a step-by-step, visual guide.
Remember Snapchat? The platform that launched in 2011 and pioneered disappearing social posts? After several years of rapid growth, Snapchat's growth started to fleet away (see what I did there?) once social media giants Instagram and Facebook released their Snapchat-inspired Stories feature.
source: Statista
On November 17th, 2020, Twitter officially joined the Stories party, with the release of their Twitter Fleets feature. 🥳
Here's everything you need to know about Twitter Fleets! (warning: there will be many instances of Tweet, Fleet, and Retweet rhyming 😅)
What Are Twitter Fleets?
Twitter Fleets are Twitter's response to Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, and LinkedIn Stories.
Like other social media giants, Twitter now allows you to create posts that disappear in 24 hours.
Unlike standard Tweets, Fleets can't be retweeted, embedded, or liked.
Twitter Fleets allows you to:
- Add text to your Fleets
- Customize the background
- Share public Tweets
- Record videos or take photos
- Upload existing videos or photos
When viewing someone else's Fleets, you can:
- React to Fleets with a pre-set list of emojis
- Respond to Fleets by sending a message
Here's a quick look at the Tweet Twitter used to announce Fleets:
That thing you didn’t Tweet but wanted to but didn’t but got so close but then were like nah.
We have a place for that now—Fleets!
Rolling out to everyone starting today. pic.twitter.com/auQAHXZMfH
— Twitter (@Twitter) November 17, 2020
How Long are Twitter Fleets?
By default, Twitter Fleets are six seconds long. You can upload videos that are up to 30 seconds long, however, you'll need to trim down your video length if it exceeds 30 seconds to use it in your Fleet. When uploading a lengthier video, Twitter will greet you with an in-app video trimmer.
Why Did Twitter Release Fleets?
Well, for starters... Everybody else is doing it and social media users love using stories.
That said, Twitter shared a few additional reasons for launching Fleets:
- Tweeting can be uncomfortable because it is public and permanent
- People feel pressured to get lots of Likes and Retweets
- It's an easier way to share what's on your mind
- Their test markets in Brazil, Italy, India, and South Korea felt more comfortable sharing personal and casual thoughts
How to Use Twitter Fleets
Now that we've covered the basics about what Twitter Fleets is and why it exists, let's dive into details on how you can start using it:
How to View Other Users' Fleets
As of now, Twitter's Fleets functionality is only available on the mobile app. To see other users' Fleets, all you have to do is log in to the Twitter app from your phone and you'll see a bar at the top of your screen that displays Fleets posted by users in your network.
Simply click on a Fleet and Twitter will auto play all the Fleets in your network.
Similar to other social platforms you can:
- Hold your finger down to pause a Fleet
- Click on the left side of your screen to view the previous Fleet
- Click on the right side of your screen to skip a Fleet
- Swipe right to skip multiple Fleets posted by one user
- Respond to a Fleet by sending a message (the message feature will only appear if the user permits it)
- Click the emoji icon to respond with a reaction (the reaction feature will only appear if the user permits it)
Here's an example of a Twitter Fleet posted by Semrush:
Tip: Not a fan of someone's content? You can mute Fleets by clicking the Downward Arrow Icon at the top right of your screen and selecting the Mute option.
How to Create Your Own Twitter Fleets
Creating Twitter Fleets isn't much different than creating Stories on Instagram or LinkedIn, but there are some minor differences.
Let's get started with creating your first Fleet:
- Log in to the Twitter Mobile App
- Click on the "New Fleets" button at the top left of your screen
- From here, you'll be able to share your "Fleeting thought" in the following formats that are available at the bottom of your screen:
- Text - text only
- Gallery - choose existing media from your gallery
- Capture - take a photo or video
- Video - take a video
- Select the format of your choice by holding your finger down and sliding it left or right
Let's take a look at how to use each of the four types of Twitter Fleet formats...
How to Use Text Fleets
- Click anywhere on the screen to input your text
- Stylize your text:
- Change the alignment of your text using the Paragraph icon
- Bold your text using the B icon
- Add a background to your text using the Circle + Lines icon
- Change the color of your text using the Filled Circle icon
- Reposition your text by holding your finger on the text, then dragging it to your desired location
- Resize the text by holding two fingers on the text and expanding or contracting them
- Change your background color - click the colored circle at the bottom left of your screen and Twitter Fleets will randomly generate background color varieties
- Publish your Fleet by clicking the Fleet button at the top right of your screen
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How to Use Gallery Fleets
- Select the image or video you want to use for your Fleet
- If your video is longer than 30 seconds, you'll need to trim it down using Twitter's video trimming feature
- Once you've selected your media, you can use all the same Text editing features that are available in Text Fleets
- When uploading images, you can click the ALT icon at the bottom right of your screen and add ALT Text for people who are blind or low-vision
- When uploading videos, you can trim the length directly from Fleets
- Publish your Fleet by clicking the Fleet button at the top right of your screen
How to Use Capture & Video Fleets
The Capture feature allows you to capture images and videos directly from Twitter Fleets. The Video feature allows you to capture videos.
When it comes to capturing videos, the only key difference is that the Capture feature requires you to hold down the record button, while the Video feature requires you to press the record button once to start and once more to stop.
Here's how you can record media in Twitter Fleets:
- Select which Camera you'd like to use by clicking the Camera Selector icon at the top right of your screen
- You can activate or deactivate your camera's flash by clicking on the Lightning Bolt icon at the top right of your screen
- Click the capture button at the bottom of your screen
- Hold the button to record a video when you are in Capture mode
- Click the button once to record, and once to stop when you are in Video mode
- Edit the post as you would with Gallery and Text Fleets
- Publish your Fleet by clicking the Fleet button at the top right of your screen
How to Share Tweets to Fleets
There's one more method of creating Fleets that can't be accessed directly from the editor. You can share your own Tweets or other users' Tweets to Twitter Fleets as well.
Here's how you can do it:
- Locate the Tweet you'd like to share
- Click the sharing icon located at the bottom right of the Tweet
- From the sharing options, select "Share in a Fleet"
- Edit the post like you would with any other Fleet
- Publish your Fleet by clicking the Fleet button at the top right of your screen
How to Create Better Graphics on Twitter Fleets
Twitter Fleets is a very new feature. As a result, the in-app editor does lack many of the Instagram Stories features you've come to expect when creating Stories. Things like polls, gifs, animated text, music, location, and filters.
We're almost certain that Twitter will be adding more features in the not-so-distant future, but for now here are couple things you can do to get by:
- Create a story in Instagram > stylize it to your heart's content > download it to your phone > upload it to your Fleet using the Gallery feature
- Use an editing tool like Canva, Filmora, or InVideo to stylize your media > download it to your phone > upload it to your Fleet using the Gallery Feature
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Examples of People & Brands Using Twitter Fleets
Now that you've know how to use Twitter Fleets, let's get inspired by checking out examples of brands and people that have already started using them.
SurveyMonkey
Here's an example of SurveyMonkey using Twitter Fleets to share some social proof.
Nancy Casanova
Here you can see Nancy Casanova, a digital marketing pro, sharing valuable resources that her target audience can benefit from.
Social Media 55
Social Media 55, a full service digital marketing agency, shared a series of Fleets showcasing the variety of services they offer.
Carole Lamarque
Carole Lamarque, keynote speaker and founding partner of DUVAL Union, used Fleets to promote a keynote she will be delivering.
Manna Bakery
Manna Bakery took to Fleets to share their Holiday Flash Sale promotion.
Evan Wyk
This example showcases how Brand & Business Development Coach, Evan Wyk, "Fleeted his Tweet" to expand its reach.
Creative Solutions
Lastly, take a look at this example of Creative Solutions using Fleets in its truest form; for "fleeting thoughts." This feature was designed for posts like this one and things like food pictures, pets, random thoughts, etc!
There you have it! We hope this guide helped you gain a better understanding of how to use Twitter Fleets and inspired you to create your own.
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