Have you ever wanted to slide into someone‘s DMs? Or needed to send a private message or have an off-timeline chat? Well you‘ve come to the right place! Direct messaging is a key feature on Twitter, but learning how to optimize it takes some knowledge.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll teach you everything you need to know about dominating Twitter DMs. You‘ll learn how to send and receive messages seamlessly, pin key conversations, turn on read receipts, plus understand rules and limits around messaging. Follow these 8 simple steps to level up your DM game!
Twitter DM 101: A Quick Crash Course
Before we dig into the how-to, let‘s quickly get you up to speed on the what and why around Twitter‘s private messaging.
What Are Twitter DMs?
Direct Messages, or DMs, allow you to have private conversations outside of the public tweets and conversations on your timeline. You can DM people you follow or message with anyone who follows you.
Why Use Twitter DMs?
There‘s many great reasons to send DMs!
- Continue chatting past the character limits for public tweeting
- Share private information like email addresses or phone numbers
- Provide customer service for brands and businesses
- Avoid overposting personal conversations to all of your followers
- Make new connections by messaging people you don‘t already follow
Understanding the purpose and possibilities of DMs makes maximizing them much easier.
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step specifics…
Sending DMs via Twitter Website
The Twitter site offers full functionality for messaging others. Here is how to direct message someone from your desktop:
| Step 1 | Navigate to www.twitter.com and log into your account‘s home feed page |
| Step 2 | Click the envelope "Messages" icon on the left sidebar to open your DM window |
| Step 3 | In the "To:" field, type the @handle(s) of who you want to message |
| Step 4 | In message field, type out the private text you want to send |
| Step 5 | *Optional – Attach any photos, GIFs or videos using the media icon |
| Step 6 | Review handles & message before sending |
| Step 7 | Hit the paper airplane icon or Enter to send your DM! |
And it‘s as simple as that! The Twitter website makes sliding into those DMs a breeze. Now let‘s tackle messaging through mobile…
DM Through Twitter‘s Mobile App
Twitter‘s iOS and Android apps offer the full suite of messaging capabilities right from your phone. Here is how to direct message on mobile:
| Step 1 | Open the Twitter app on your device & log into your account |
| Step 2 | Tap the envelope "Messages" icon in the bottom right toolbar |
| Step 3 | Press the pencil icon to start a new DM |
| Step 4 | Enter the recipient‘s handle, name or select from suggestions |
| Step 5 | *Optional – Add any photo/video media to attach |
| Step 6 | Review the handles, message and attachments |
| Step 7 | Hit the paper airplane to send your DM! |
As you can see, the mobile Twitter app makes messaging on-the-go a breeze!
Leverage Third-Party DM Tools
In addition to Twitter‘s first-party interfaces, there are also external tools that provide DM capabilities:
Examples
- TweetDeck – Popular Twitter dashboard
- Tweet Hunter – Send auto DMs and schedule tweets
- Social Oomph – Analyze accounts and schedule posts
However, be very cautious and do research before connecting any third-party app to your Twitter account. But if you find a reputable one, here are the basic steps:
| Step 1 | Choose a trusted external Twitter DM tool |
| Step 2 | Follow their account security processes to connect |
| Step 3 | Compose your DM message within their interface |
| Step 4 | Double check handles, message, connection |
| Step 5 | Allow the app to deliver your DM |
While third-parties provide more options, direct Twitter access is most seamless. But the choice is yours!
Pinning Vital Conversations
As your inbox starts filling up, you may want to pin key conversations to the top. Here is how to pin up to 6 message threads for easy access:
| Platform | Steps to Pin Conversations |
| Website | Open DM → Click **…** icon → Select **Pin to top** |
| Mobile App | Long press DM → Tap **Pin to top** option |
Pinned conversations will stay at the top of your messages in chronological order of when pinned. To unpin, repeat the same steps and choose Unpin conversation. Get those vital message threads pinned!
Enable Read Receipts
Similar to apps like iMessage or WhatsApp, you can enable read receipts for DMs:
| Platform | Steps to Enable Read Receipts |
| Website | Settings → Privacy & Safety → Direct Messages → Toggle **ON** Show read receipts |
| Mobile App | Settings → Privacy & Safety → Direct Messages → Toggle **ON** Send read receipts |
This allows people you message to see when you‘ve read their sent DMs. Note read receipts only notify your message status, not vice versa. Both parties have to enable read receipts for it to display two-way.
DM Limits, Guidelines & Best Practices
Here‘s some key rules, limits and pointers to keep in mind:
Limits per Twitter‘s API Docs
| Type | Limit |
| DMs Sent per Day | 1,000 |
| Characters per DM | 10,000 |
General DM Guidance
- You can message any follower as long as neither party has the other blocked
- Exceeding API limits may trigger temporary sends blockade
- Be courteous and thoughtful in DMs like any conversation
- Brands should respond to customer inquiries within the day
- Mind privacy by not leaking personal info
Remember – with great DM power comes great responsibility! 😉
Let‘s Review Twitter DM Mastery
We‘ve covered a lot of ground here – you‘re well on your way to becoming a DM pro! Here‘s a quick recap:
- What: Direct Messages are private conversations outside main Twitter feed
- Why: Continue talks, share private info, provide customer service
- How: Send DMs via Twitter site, mobile apps, and third-party tools
- Pin: Conversations to top of message queue for easy access
- Read Receipts: See if your sent DMs were read
- Limits: 1,000 DMs and 10,000 characters per day
Whew, that‘s everything you need to take your Twitter DM game to the next level!
Now I‘d love to hear from you:
What are your top DM tips and tricks? How will you use your new DM powers – share your plans in the comments!
