How to Use Twitter at Work

X, formerly known as Twitter, is a social media platform where users can create short posts and engage in personal, professional and news-related topics. Many businesses, both small and large, have taken advantage of X as a promotional tool. Some employees regularly tweet for their employers. Other X users may wonder when and in what capacity it is possible to use X during office hours. Although the rules of Internet etiquette are still being written, there are some general ways you can use X with your employer's permission or use your personal X account at the office. Read more to find out how to use X at work.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Approaching X at Work

1
Go to your human resources (HR) manager to ask for the company's social media policy. Proskauer recently released a global survey that showed that over 50 percent of companies have a social media policy in place, and around 70 percent of businesses blocked social media sites at work. In some cases, a social media policy is just a list of best practices, and does not block employees from using it.
- In the company's social media policy, look at how they define social media and any occasions that it can be used. Also, find out if you are allowed to identify yourself as an employee of your company on your personal X account, and what disciplinary actions are given if you use X in a way that is deemed inappropriate.
- Do not ask about a specific social media site and try not to go directly to your manager. These could be red flags to your boss that you are not getting your work done. In some cases, you may already have access to the employee rule book that states the social media policy, in which case, you should use it before speaking to HR.
- Some companies have a policy of allowing unrestricted use of the Internet as long as you complete your work. If this is the policy, and especially if you work in a small, close-knit office, then you should feel free to use X during work, as long as it does not affect your work performance.
2
Check if your company is using X for promotional reasons. After work, check for a company X account, and see if there is a case that could be made for having a company X account. If you work in customer service, marketing or as an office manager, a case could be made for creating a company-linked account and using it to help the company respond to customer service problems, communicate brand promotion and tweet about company culture, respectively.
- If you are able to use work hours to complete X tasks, you will be managing your personal and company X account separately. However, you will be able to keep the X website up on your browser, which will allow you to keep track of trending topics and check other people's X accounts individually.
A recent study by University of Melbourne's Dr. Brent Coker, said that workers who are allowed unrestricted Internet access during coffee or micro-breaks, have increased productivity of 9 percent. You may want this time to check bank accounts, check personal email or use social media accounts.
If you work as a researcher, marketer or manager, you should do regular searches of X using the company's main keywords, to make sure you are staying on top of the market. You may need to be authorized by your manager in order to use it in this capacity.
If you have never been in trouble for using work time for personal Internet tasks, you may not know that IT departments gather web usage reports each month, which chart web time, bandwidth usage and sites that are visited. It may reflect poorly on your performance review if you use X's official website during work hours, if you have not been appointed to do it for work reasons.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using X Covertly at Work

1
Download a mobile X application (app) on your smart phone. This is the easiest way to stay in touch with people, without allowing your workplace to track your usage. You have the added advantage of being able to check posts and tweet during your commute, lunch breaks and coffee breaks.
- Although most employers look down on employees receiving personal calls during work time, most employers do not have any policies against having a phone at work. As long as you check your X app covertly, you are likely not to get in trouble.
2
Sign up for an email program that allows you to receive and send tweets via email. You can either have them sent to your personal email, if you are allowed to use it during work hours, or you can take the risk of having them go to your work email. Try NutShellMail.
- You should also realize that most companies keep an eye on their employee's email. The IT department, your manager and/or your office manager may have access to your emails. If they see daily updates from NutShell, they may check into your behavior.
This is an Outlook add-in that allows you to use all the Outlook features to tweet, send X pictures and receive updates. Your X account will appear in a different section than your work email, so it would be harder for employers to track.
If instant messaging is allowed in your office, you may be able to keep in touch while you communicate with friends or colleagues during work.
This desktop application is designed to look exactly like an Excel spreadsheet, specifically like Excel 2007. When you open SpreadTweet, the columns are cleverly disguised to help you receive updates, retweet and tweet.
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Tips

If you have a public X account, you may not be aware that your company is keeping tabs of your tweets. On both company and personal accounts, many social media policies cover inappropriate conduct that reflects badly upon the company. This can include slander, cursing, leaking of company information, racism and threatening tweets.
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Warnings

Beware that X usage that is deemed as inappropriate can get you fired. Make sure you understand your company's approach to social media and the disciplinary action they can take.
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