Twitter Tools: What Rocks & Shocks? (#SWChat)

Thanks to everyone who took part in this weeks Social Workplace Twitter Chat event (#SWChat).

Twitter Tools: What Rocks & Shocks?

With so many different Twitter tools available, this event discussed what people prefer to use and why, and which ones should be avoided! 

Event Statistics

• No. of Tweets = 861
• No. of Contributors = 98
• Reach = 301,000
• No. of impressions = 3,000,000

Summary

Full Transcript Report via @hashtracking

Questions Asked

Q1) For #Twitter chats (like #SWChat ), what user interface do you use and why ?
Q2) What other 3rd party #Twitter tools do you think Rocks (i.e. like) ?
Q3) Are there any 3rd party #Twitter tools you wouldn't use ?
Q4) For the mobile, what is your preferred #Twitter app of choice ?
Q5) Are you for or against #Twitter tools that provide automation (i.e. auto-follow, auto DM etc...) ?
Q6) If you were to design a #Twitter Tool, what key feature(s) would you include ?
Q7) In 140 characters or less, which #Twitter tool could you not do without and why ? 

Shared Reference Material

• List of all Twitter tools referenced during the event

Useful #SWChat Links

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Social Media for Small Businesses - Getting Started

I was recently asked for some advice on how to get started with social media to engage with customers for a small business. I thought I would share that advice with you...

Build a Knowledge Base

It's important you have a point of entry for your customers and with the size of it's user base Facebook is a social platform you cannot ignore. If just starting out, I would use this as your knowledge base where all other forms of social media point to.

Create a buzz about your business

There is no greater tool to create a buzz than Twitter but you need to use it smartly.

Here is what I advise:

• Start with the basic Twitter web interface to build up that trust and following
• Identify a hashtag associated with your business that you can use in all your tweets
• Once you are comfortable with the Twitter concept then I would start to look at third party tools to help organise information, schedule tweets, search on key topics, and engage in conversations. I would recommend Hootsuite as your user interface and something like a Tweepi to help build up a following fast
• Once you are using a third-party tool like HootSuite, use this to integrate your key messages across all social platforms (there are many many other tools that claim that they can integrate your messages across all social platforms but many hinder rather than help. My advice is keep it simple initially)

Some general social media hints and tips:

• Use the same avatar across all social platforms
• Regular tweets are better than a lot of tweets over a short period
• The general rule of thumb is that if someone follows you on Twitter they will follow back so build up your following by following others. If this was a personal account then I would dissuade you from this approach but as it is a business account you are looking at then I would encourage it
• Engage in conversation with other people - don't just post / tweet out your own content
• To build up a following will take time – be patient
• If people ReTweet your message it is good to thank them (I tend to wait til the end of the week to do this and thank 5 / 6 people in one go). They are likely to retweet it again in the future if you do

Checkout some of my other posts on using Twitter effectively:

 How NOT to Get Twitter Followers
 How NOT to Get Twitter Followers (The Sequel)
 Twitter: Learn to Listen and Stand out from the Crowd

Other Social Platforms to Consider

Once you are more established with the above then there are other social platforms that you should consider:

1. YouTube – If you have some videos, create a YouTube account and upload them there. You can also use your Facebook and Twitter platforms to raise awareness
2. SlideShare – This is also a very powerful medium for sharing messages. If you have powerpoints that you would like to share, then SlideShare is a must. Slideshare also has its own social network as well as integrating with Facebook (i.e. people can Like your slideshares)
3. LinkedIn – This is much more than just a job resource tool now. With 100,000,000 professional people it is now a valuable and resourceful knowledge sharing community. Join communities that relate to your business and start engaging in conversations and building up trust. Once you have done that you can start “advertising” in these communities. It's useful to try and build up a good relationship with the Community Manager as it is the Community Manager that will kick you out if you just "advertise" your own products

There are literally hundreds of different social tools / platforms out there but don't panic!  Start off small, build up that following and most importantly, engage in conversation with people. Afterall, it is people you do business with not tools.

Line Between Social Work & Social Play (#SWChat)

Thanks to everyone who took part in this weeks Social Workplace Twitter Chat event (#SWChat).

Line Between Social Work & Social Play?

With employees beginning to use social media at work, the line between work and play has become a little blurred. This event discussed the risks associated with the use of social media in the workplace.

Event Statistics

• No. of Tweets = 897
• No. of Contributors = 100
• Reach = 341,000
• No. of impressions = 4,500,000

Summary

Full Transcript Report via @hashtracking

Questions Asked

Q1: Is the line between social work and social play becoming more blurred, and what are the consequences ?
Q2: Who determines what is to much info to share ?

Shared Reference Material

• IBM Social Computing Guidelines via @CHopeMurray
• Social Media Policies Slowly Catch on Around the World via @1SHRMScribe
• 10 Tips for Creating a Social Media Policy for your Business via  Social Media Examiner
• Want People to Return your Emails? Avoid these words [INFOGRAPHIC] via @mashable

Useful #SWChat Links

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Twitter Etiquette: Tips & Tricks (#SWChat)

Thanks to everyone who took part in this weeks Social Workplace Twitter Chat event (#SWChat).

Twitter Etiquette: Tips & Tricks

There are many different approaches to using Twitter, some work and some don't. This event was to share tips & tricks of using Twitter the right way to get the best out of it. 

Event Statistics

• No. of Tweets = 1400
• No. of Contributors = 157
• Reach = 501,000
• No. of impressions = 6,000,000

Summary

Full Transcript Report via @hashtracking

Questions Asked

Q1) What does good #Twitter Etiquette really mean ?
Q2) What criteria do you use to follow someone on #Twitter ?
Q3) What's your opinion of the #Twitter auto-follow back feature supplied by many 3rd party products ?
Q4) Are #Twitter auto-DM's useful or a pain and what content should go in them ?
Q5) Should SME's type businesses have a face or a company logo as their #Twitter avatar ?
Q6) <skipped>
Q7) What are your truly really annoying pet hates in the way some people use #Twitter ?
Q8) In 140 characters or less, what key advice do you wish someone had told you when first starting to use #Twitter ?

Shared Reference Material

• Twitter: Learn To Listen & Stand Out From The Crowd via @davidchris
• How NOT To Get Twitter Followers via @davidchris
• How NOT To Get Twitter Followers (The Sequel) via davidchris
• Can I Be Your Friend (video) via englishnationalopera
• Only About a Third of Tweets Are Worth Reading via @mashable
• Stop Following Me, Please via @Josepf
• muuter: Mute Twitter Users by Keywords
• 10 Reasons Why I AM Not following You On Twitter... via @huffingtonpost
• Organisations Don't Tweet, People Do via @euan
• Top 5 Twitter Tips To Get In The Twitter Pool Without Drowning via @j_barrick
• 12 Most Stupid Twitter Behaviours via 12most.com

Useful #SWChat Links

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Social Intranet & Enterprise Social Media (#SWChat)

Thanks to everyone who took part in this weeks Social Workplace Twitter Chat event (#SWChat).

Social Intranet & Enterprise Social Media

Andy Jankowski of EnterpriseStrategies.com was today's Guest Host.

Andy is an Enterprise Social Media researcher, advisor and public speaker. During the last 16 years he has served as a trusted advisor for several industry leading organizations including Andersen, Ernst & Young, JP Morgan Chase and Oracle. He is a career long student of enterprise communication and collaboration and loves sharing what he has learned. Andy is a frequent conference speaker and an avid road cyclist. He enjoys connecting people and dots.

What is The Social Intranet ?

"I define intranet as, 'an internal website that helps employees get things done'. What makes an intranet social is the addition of two very important elements; Authorship (the ability for everyone to create content) and Connections (the ability to see the people behind the content and connect with them in some meaningful way). These definitions were originally developed by ThoughtFarmer and I think they are spot on. " - Andy Jankowski

What is Enterprise Social Media ?

"Enterprise Social Media I define as social media being used holistically by employees, both for internal and external communications and collaboration, to engage with both other employees and with customers. A social intranet is by definition limited to employee to employee communication behind the firewall. Enterprise Social Media spans both internal and external and breaks down the barrier between employee and customer --- enabling social business" - Andy Jankowski

Event Statistics

• No. of Tweets = 667
• No. of Contributors = 84
• Reach = 217,000
• No. of impressions = 2,000,000

Summary

Full Transcript Report via @hashtracking

Questions Asked

Q1) How does The Social Intranet differ from a traditional styled Intranet ?
Q2) What are the business benefits and challenges of implementing a Social Intranet ?
Q3) With the recent explosion of social technologies, can the Intranet (Social or otherwise) survive ?
Q4) What is it that is now making companies embrace the idea of Enterprise Social Media ?
Q5) How do you sell Enterprise Social Media to those leaders whom still show scepticism ?
Q6) How is Enterprise Social Media improving employee engagement ?
Q7) How do you see Enterprise Social Media impacting the general use of email ?
Q8) In 140 words or less, why is Enterprise Social Media the future of business ?

Shared Reference Material

• Science linking Intranets to Happiness via @AndyJankowski
• Message Wikis Send via @AndyJankowski
• Player Please: Gamification & Social Engagement via @weknownext
• Just The Facts About Workplace Social Media via @weknownext
• Social Media in the Workplace - Survey Findings via SHRM
• Yammer: Professional Learning Community via @TimGanoSmith
• Email is not Dead! [infographic] via @TimGanoSmith
• Atos CEO Bans Email via Forbes

Useful #SWChat Links

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