There are so many people who don’t understand Twitter. I know a few myself. In fact, they’re even in the advertising and PR industries. They see it, but they just don’t get it. When I came back from SXSW that first year that it took off, I tried to explain it to my wife. She didn’t understand. “Why do people care what you or anyone has to say? So what if you like the ribs you’re eating at the Iron Works!”
I responded by explaining that it’s kind of like legalized eavesdropping. You could put your ear up to the pulse of the world and make your own decision as to what’s going on.
These days, she gets it, as do millions of others. That’s why it’s funny that some people turn a disapproving eye my way when they see me with TweetDeck open, perusing the day’s latest tweets. So, if your boss or a nosy but uneducated coworker comes by and calls you a slacker, here are a few responses you can use…and they’ll even be true.
- I’m checking out the public response to our company. Granted, this will inevitably be followed with a “Really, What are people saying?” followed by your obligation to provide an hour-long Twitter education session, but it’s a lot better than your coworker telling your boss you were frivolously surfing the Web and not explaining why. Plus, you’ll have an ally instead of an enemy.
- I’m looking at industry news. Once Twitter reached critical mass, it became a lot more than just a place to take society’s temperature. It became a news source, albeit an unsubstantiated one, at times. You can find the latest news as soon as it’s posted on the web…or sooner. You could even catch stories as they happen if you are connected with a few trusted tweeters.
- I’m creating a buzz about our company. Now, this one’s tricky if you’re not in advertising, PR, or corporate communications. The reason I say that is that uncontrolled tweets can be very dangerous. So many celebrities and politicians have shown us what not to tweet that we all should have learned our lesson. And I’m not going to waste your time reminding you that social media is more than just for the few seconds you enter your post. It can be forever. Still, having your company’s name out there, just in the conversation, is much better than not being mentioned at all.
- I’m resolving customer complaints. Much like #5, which is entirely research, this one is even more crucial. Not only does it put your company into the conversation, but it does so responsibly. Plus, other people will see it and think you’re a nice person.
- I’m posting a tweet for that new programmer we need. This is an area of Twitter that’s grown under the radar. People are directly tweeting about their open job opportunities. The respondents are likely to be web-savvy users who understand the nuances of today’s business world. Or, they could be teenagers. Either way, the posting is free.
There are plenty of other good excuses that will help you cover the fact that you’re reading Lindsay Lohan’s last tweet from rehab or a friend’s thoughts about American Idol last night. These will get you started, though. Either way, if you’re not on Twitter, you really are missing out.