By Mick Bullock

It's 11 p.m. and there is a debate going on the floor. What makes this particular bill interesting is that it is the last bill of the session.

The debate is heated and your colleague at the well is discussing how it will affect his district. About that time, the Senate president bangs the gavel and says “the gentlemen’s time has expired. Is there a motion to extend.”

At that moment everyone looks at each other and votes nay. The debate is ended and next is an immediate vote for sine die. And just like that, the fun-filled 90-day legislative session has come to an end.

Now you may be scratching your head trying to figure out where in the world this is going. But it’s simple: Have you tweeted yet?

While all of that debate was going on did you take a picture and post to Twitter? What about a simple posting as in “last bill of the 2015 legislative session being debated?” Did you take a picture of you working on your constituents' behalf at 11 p.m.? If the answer is no, then you may need to reconsider.

Now more than ever, social media plays an integral part in the legislative process. In fact, did you know that nearly every state legislature has some sort of social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Blog and YouTube)?

With all of this nonstop information out there now you’re thinking, “But how do I get noticed? I am an elected official from a small district, how do I hang with the big guys? They want to just hear from the legislative leadership or the governor and not me.”

Glad you asked.

While they are important people and have a lot going on, you are up to your hips in “making the sausage.” It may not be pretty, but it is the process, and people want to know.

Based on that premise, I have come up with some helpful hints for elevating your social media brand.

• Social media accounts must be active. Post at least a few times a week, if not more.
• Find your local reporters and connect with them on social media.
• Share and retweet content.
• Post press releases.
• Send out your status updates, when appropriate—sometimes it is better than a press release.
• Post your take on big stories.
• You like images. So do your constituents – “Where Am I?”
• Embed videos.
• Provide information on relevant trends and news.
• Mention activities that occurred that day.
• Ask followers to answer a question.
• Share a daily fact.
• Capitalize on real-time events. Use official event hashtags or other relevant hashtags.

What may work for others may not work for you but I can tell you from firsthand experience if you just try a couple of these ideas you may be well on your way to being the next Twitter sensation.

Mick Bullock, who runs NCSL's social media feeds, serves as director of public affairs in NCSL’s Washington, D.C., office. Before joining NCSL, Bullock served as spokesman for Mississippi’s Phil Bryant as state auditor, lieutenant governor and as governor.

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