Types of Twitter widgets (WCMS 2)

Owned by Sarah Cooper
Last updated: Nov 02, 2023
10 min read

How to create different types of Twitter widgets

For instructions on adding a Twitter widget to your site see: How to add a Twitter widget.

Widget types

Twitter supports seven different types of widgets, each filtering information using different metrics.

Note: Twitter has discontinued the Search feature that was previously available in the WCMS.

Profile

A Profile widget is the default widget type used on WCMS sites. This widget pulls all tweets from a specific chosen account. 

Back to top

Likes (formerly known as Favourites)

The Likes widget type displays Tweets that were "liked" by a specific Twitter account. Similar to the Profile widget, website maintainers simply need to provide the Twitter username when embedding.

Back to top

List

A List is a set of Twitter accounts, compiled by the owner of an account. The list of accounts does not have to include the account that compiles the list, however this account will be displayed in the widget under "Tweets from a list by (username)".

Notes:

  • This List must be made outside of the widget tool

  • The List will belong to the account that created it

Creating a List

  1. Open Firefox (compatible browser), log in to your Twitter account, and then in the top navigation bar select your Profile picture icon.

  2. In the drop-down menu, select Lists. This will display all current Lists, including Lists you are subscribed to or are a member of.

  3. Click on the Create new list button.

  4. In the dialogue box, provide a name and description for your List.

  5. Set the Privacy of the List to Public or Private.

  6. You can add accounts to the List by searching in the find users by name field.

  7. Click on the gear icon beside the accounts that you want to add to the List and select Add or remove from lists ...

  8. In the dialogue box, check the List that you want to add the account to.

  9. Now you are ready to embed this List into the Body or Sidebar of your content.

Embedding a List

  1. Navigate to the piece of content you are wanting your List to appear on.

  2. Place your cursor where you would like the List to appear, and select the Twitter icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar.

  3. A Twitter Properties window will appear. From the Twitter widget type drop-down, select List.

  4. Provide the Twitter user name and List name. Click OK.

  5. Save.

  6. Publish.

Back to top 

Embedded Tweet

The Embedded Tweet widget allows website maintainers to embed a specific Tweet on almost any piece of content within the WCMS.

Back to top

Collection timeline (formerly known as Custom timeline)

The Collection timeline widget displays a list of tweets compiled by a user into a collection. Only specific Tweets can be added to a Collection timeline.

Creating a Collection timeline

  1. Navigate and log into TweetDeck.

  2. On the left-hand side, select + Add column.

  3. Select Collection.

  4. In the Add a Collection column window, select + Create Collection.

  5. In the Create a new Collection window, provide a name (required) and description (optional), and then click Save. Your new column will now appear in Tweetdeck.

  6. To add Tweets to your collection, you have two options:

    • Clicking, holding, and dragging a Tweet from your Home column, to your new collection column:

    • In the Enter Tweet URL field, pasting in the URL for an individual Tweet, and then clicking the Chevron button.

       

  7. Repeat step 6 to add more Tweets, and build your Collection timeline.

Embedding a Collection timeline

  1. Navigate and log into TweetDeck.

  2. Locate the column for your Collection, and then select the Settings icon.

  3. Select Share, a drop-down menu will appear. Select Embed Collection.

  4. A new tab titled Twitter Publish will open in your web browser. Select Embedded Timeline.

  5. The page will present the embed code for your new collection. Select Copy Code.

  6. Open a new Microsoft Word document, and paste in your embed code from step 5.

  7. Select and copy only the text between https://twitter.com and ?ref_src. This is your URL fragment.

  8. Navigate to the piece of content you are wanting your Collection timeline to appear on.

  9. Place your cursor where you would like the Collection timeline to appear, and select the Twitter icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar.

  10. A Twitter Properties window will appear. From the Twitter widget type drop-down, select Collection timeline.

  11. In the Twitter URL fragment field, paste in the URL fragment from step 7, and in the Timeline name field, provide the name of your collection from Creating a collection timeline, step 5. Click OK.

  12. Save.

  13. Publish.

Back to top 

Collection grid

The Collection grid widget displays a list of tweets compiled by a user into a collection grid. Only specific Tweets can be added to a Collection grid.

Creating a Collection grid

  1. Navigate and log into TweetDeck.

  2. On the left-hand side, select + Add column.

  3. Select Collection.

  4. In the Add a Collection column window, select + Create Collection.

  5. In the Create a new Collection window, provide a name (required) and description (optional), and then click Save. Your new column will now appear in Tweetdeck.

  6. To add Tweets to your collection, you have two options:

    • Clicking, holding, and dragging the crossarrow for a Tweet from your Home (or any other) column, to your new collection column:

    • In the Enter Tweet URL field, pasting in the URL for an individual Tweet, and then clicking the Chevron button.

       

  7. Repeat step 6 to add more Tweets, and build your Collection grid.

Embedding a Collection grid

  1. Navigate and log into TweetDeck.

  2. Locate the column for your Collection, and then select the Settings icon.

  3. Select Share, a drop-down menu will appear. Select Embed Collection.

  4. A new tab titled Twitter Publish will open in your web browser. Select Embedded Grid.

  5. The page will present the embed code for your new collection. Select Copy Code.

  6. Open a new Microsoft Word document, and paste in your embed code from step 5.

  7. Select and copy only the text between https://twitter.com and ?ref_src. This is your URL fragment.

  8. Navigate to the piece of content you are wanting your Collection grid to appear on.

  9. Place your cursor where you would like the Collection grid to appear, and select the Twitter icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar.

  10. A Twitter Properties window will appear. From the Twitter widget type drop-down, select Collection grid.

  11. In the Twitter URL fragment field, paste in the URL fragment from step 7, and in the Timeline name field, provide the name of your collection from Creating a collection grid, step 5. Click OK.

  12. Save.

  13. Publish.

Back to top 

Moment

The Moment widget is a way to tell stories on Twitter through a collection of Tweets. This feature allows you to curate slideshows (called “Moments”) using tweets from different users (including yourself), which can be easily scrolled through.

Creating a Moment

  1. Open Firefox (compatible browser), log in to your Twitter account, and then at the top of your page, navigate to the Moments tab.

  2. Select Create new Moment.

  3. Click inside the text that reads Title your Moment, and provide a name for your Moment (required).

  4. Click inside the text that reads Add a description, and provide a description for your Moment (required).

  5. Set a Cover for your Moment (required).

    Note: If you select Tweets that have images attached, you will be able to select one as your Cover before publishing your Moment.

  6. Add Tweets to your Moment by using any of the four options provided. To add a Tweet to your Moment, select the checkmark icon located to the right of each Tweet.

    • Tweets I've liked - add Tweets you have liked in the past

    • Tweets by account - add Tweets from a specific account

    • Tweet search - search for Tweets using keywords, and add them to your Moment

    • Tweet link - add Tweets by pasting in their URLs

       

  7. In the top-right hand corner of your screen, select Publish. Note: If the Tweets you selected include images, to improve user experience
    on mobile devices, Twitter will ask if you would like to Publish anyway, or Crop images.

  8. Twitter will confirm you would like to publish this Moment. Select Publish.

  9. A Share this Moment window will appear. Select Tweet if you would like to share this with your followers, or close the window if you would not like to.

Embedding a Moment

  1. Open Firefox (compatible browser), log in to your Twitter account, and then in the top navigation bar select your Profile picture icon.

  2. A drop-down menu will appear. Select Moments.

  3. Locate your new Moment, and select the Chevron symbol.

  4. A drop-down menu will appear. Select Copy link to Moment.

  5. A Copy link to Moment window will appear. Copy the link.

  6. Navigate to the piece of content you are wanting your Moment to appear on.

  7. Place your cursor where you would like the Moment to appear, and select the Twitter icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar.

  8. A Twitter Properties window will appear. From the Twitter widget type drop-down, select Moment.

  9. In the Twitter URL fragment field, paste in the URL fragment from step 5. Delete https://twitter.com/, and then click OK.

  10. Save.

  11. Publish.