The amount of people that don’t have twitter access from work never ceases to amaze me. Others have already written why you should have twitter access so I don’t want to bore you by repeating what others have eloquently expressed already. Suffice it to say, I am assuming you know what twitter is and why you need it (if not, check out the links at the end of this post).
However there are still friends and acquaintances out there that don’t have access when they are at work. Their IT manager has locked them out and that’s that – or so they thought. Here are 6 steps that will get you that all – important access.
Step 1 – Know why you need twitter (and better be sure)
Think very carefully about your job description and the role you play within the company. Do you need information? Should you have an outward facing presence on the web? Should you be building relationships? Should you be keeping up to date with important updates? Make a list of all the reasons why twitter is essential to your function within the company (catching up with drinking buddies probably doesn’t count).
Step 2 – Know when to use twitter
You can have too much of a good thing. If you are operating a complicated piece of heavy machinery all day, getting distracted by twitter is probably not a very good idea. You know this, I know this, your IT manager knows this. However, that does not mean that you should not have access when you do your catching – up on industry news for example.
Step 3 – Find examples relevant to your work
Do your twitter research beforehand and find twitter users that are relevant to what you do. If your industry is not big on the medium maybe you should wait? Unless, you can make a case for leading the industry into the new medium (which is always worth a shot). Make sure you know how the existing participants will help you in your work and how the relationships you will build will add value to the company.
Step 4 – Get over your guilt
We all tend to feel a little bit guilty when we request access to social media. I am guessing this is a throwback for way back when we used the web to find humorous pictures and porn (you know you have). Not to mention that sometimes we think that using twitter or reading the newspaper online is a ‘waste of time’. Get over this mindset. Our time is all about information and without it you cannot do your job. You are not asking for an opportunity to get out of work. You are asking for an opportunity to add value to your work output.
Step 5 – Make your case like a professional
I know sometimes IT managers (not to mention line managers) are scary. I also know that some companies have complicated rules about what the process is to take a website out of the blacklist. Civil service departments for example are notorious for the rigidity of their structure with things like that. But you still have to make your case. If you know that you need this and how it will help you and the company you can make a case – one professional to another. So you are not asking for a favour. Think about it like this: It’s like asking for an essential tool, like a new mouse when your old one is broken.
Step 6 – Follow it up
If twitter is really useful then no doubt you are learning things, getting access to information and connecting to people. You need to exhibit this. When you talk about a news report or a new development mention that you found out about it when using twitter (I am assuming you’re not going to lie about it). Show people that they did not make a mistake by giving you access. This will make it easier when you try to get access for the next big thing in the future.
Please add any tips you have if you’ve fought for twitter access in your workplace.
Useful video:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o&hl=en&fs=1]
Read on:
What is Twitter, and is there any reason I should care? by Bobbie Johnson of the Guardian.
Looking for Mr. Goodtweet: How to Pick Up Followers on Twitter by How to Change the World
Why Do I Need Twitter and How Do I Use It? by Getting Social Media Savvy
You Can Do Your Job Without Twitter by Chris Brogan’s Community and Social Media (check out the comments in particular)
Get Into Twitter or Get Outta Public Relations?by PRSquared
Why you need to be looking at twitter by Six Panels of Separation
