You can now link your Flickr account to Twitter, allowing you to send photos in real-time to this very powerful social media application. Before you start, you might want to read the tips on getting started over on the Flickr Twitter Beta site. It’s an easy read and you’re bound to pick up some nice tips there. So, how do I link my Flickr and Twitter accounts? Here’s how you do it.

Step 1. Authorize posting to your Twitter account

Go to www.flickr.com/account/blogs/add/twitter

You’ll need to authorize your Twitter account. Flickr doesn’t ask you for your Twitter username and password, but it does need to give Flickr permission to post to your Twitter account. You can undo this as any time.

Click the ‘Head over to Twitter’ link.

This sends you to Twitter where you authorize the connection between the two apps.

If you aren’t already logged in you’ll be asked to do so. If you don’t have an account (duh!), then you need to setup one, obviously.

Step 2. Click ‘Allow’ to give Flickr access to your Twitter account

Important: This step does not allow Flickr to go in and change your account settings or anything like that. It’s just allowing them to talk to each other and send messages from one system to the other.

Click Allow.

Step 3. Twitter sends you back Flickr

Nothing for you to do here – except enjoy that nice warm feeling that something (for once) is working without a hitch.

Step 4. You’re Authorized!

You can now start Twittering from within Flickr

Actually, you have a few options here depending on how you want to do.

Flickr2Twitter From Mobile Devices

Open up the address book in your mobile device and add your unique email+Twitter address. This is just your existing upload by email address with “2twitter” added.

Flickr2Twitter From Flickr.com

Once you’ve authorized Flickr, you can Tweet photos either using the “Blog This” button, the API, or Uploaded by Email.

Screenshot shows the Twitter has been added to the list of sites I can use.

Click the ‘Blog This’ button when you see any photo you like on Flickr and then select Twitter to send it to Twitter. I’ve tested it and it works.

Flickr2Twitter Via Email

When you upload via email, the subject line becomes your Twitter tweet, and a short URL to the photo is appended (added on).

About Flickr Twitter Beta

Here’s an example from Kellan’s Twitter account of what a post looks like:

twitter.com/kellan/status/2062931580

A few other things

As they have added the Flickr URL, use 116 characters and not 140.

As it’s in Beta, they have yet to create FAQs, add this feature to your Account page and “Blog this” is available in English only (until launch).

Flickr/Twitter integration is still in BETA. They’re always looking for feedback in the Flickr Twitter Beta group. http://www.flickr.com/groups/flickrtwitterbeta/

Let me know how you get on.

Any questions, please drop me a line.

PS – If you’ve found this article useful, please consider giving us a Digg or StumbleUpon.

Regards,

Ivan

Twitter / Facebook / Flickr / Templates / Tips

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