Social media has become an immensely useful and instrumental tool for interpersonal communication, business, networking and the like. Social media and its platforms are unique in their own way and across them all, serve different purposes and have unique functions for its users. For example, Facebook is best known for its personal connectivity, ability to connect and keep up with loved ones and old friends and allows for people to speak their mind on a topic at any given time. Visual-driven platforms like Instagram and Snapchat provide momentary shots into people’s lives, showcasing quick bites of their day-to-day lives or life’s most enjoyable—and aesthetically pleasing—moments. Twitter as a social media platform that is conversation driven and fast-natured. The ephemerality and reality of quick moving conversation makes connection seem nearly impossible, but this is not the case. Millions of conversations happen at all times of the day on Twitter. People are sharing their likes, dislikes, interests and more and finding a community of people who may or may not feel the same way. Twitter is a ubiquitous space where people of all kinds have opted-in to continuous conversation (Corbet 2011).
While social media is thought of as recreational and even a waste of time, it has great capabilities for business both at the individual and organizational levels. Twitter is about conversation and the ability to talk and connect with others is a free-for-all. Using relevant hashtags and keywords, no one has to wait for a conversation to start; they can start it themselves. If one is the more silent, spectator type, they can watch conversations being carried out and glean important information from them. Twitter is not just gifs, memes and hashtags. It is a place for meaningful observation, networking, conversation and connection between professionals, experts and thought leaders. It is more than the site conversational format that allows people to network in ways different than icebreakers and awkward conversations. Twitter removes that discomfort by allowing direct access to important industry players who are conversing with others and putting their own thoughts onto the timeline. By identifying the person or brand someone wants to get in touch with, he or she can then begin to devise a plan of engagement and connection, starting with following the person and slowly, but strategically showing interest in connecting. A positive tweet, repost of an article or even an affirmative emoji can go a long way with authenticity and support. In the flurry of millions of digital thoughts, people can stand out and make meaningful connections at the virtual watercooler with intentional action.
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Despite the ease with which people can and do become combative and argumentative on social media, networks like Twitter are also places to collaborate and find common ground. Through specified chats and discussions that many brands and businesses hold, professionals can benefit by learning from people who work and share the same types of jobs, stressors and lifestyle factors they do. Twitter allows for constant consumption of information and learning, which is important in being current. Without this, professionals risk becoming stagnant and complacent in their work.
The use of Twitter and other platforms to forge professional connections does not erase the importance of face-to-face communication; both types of relationships take work and must happen organically. Tracking hashtags and users on its list feature, which allows for people to curate content from those in whom they are interested, makes for compartmentalizing the information most important to users. Curation, collaboration and conversation are key to networking on Twitter. Knowing people and becoming known is about more than retweets and follower counts, but instead about having your own meaningful tweets, relationships with others and a strong knowledge of your industry through one of the most impactful technological developments in history.
- Corbet, Damien. “Why Twitter Is One Of The Most Powerful Communication Tools Available.” Business 2 Community, 23 Nov. 2011, www.business2community.com/
