36 use cases for an enterprise microblog (1-12)

An internal microblog can become a useful channel of communication within an enterprise. Similar to having lunch or coffee together, or chatting in the hallway, employees exchange information, news, ideas or project details in a microblog. Sometimes the posts are time sensitive and important, sometimes they are just about exchanging ideas with colleagues and getting their input. Enterprises can benefit from that.

What are specific use cases, and how can the internal tweeting gain strength? We have collected 36 use cases. Here are the first dozen.

1. Enterprise news for the employees

The internal microblog can be used as an enterprise ticker to feed relevant news. Employees are always up to date.

2. Easily communicate reports, results, and resolutions in the enterprise

A summary as a microblog entry with a link to a wiki document can be a practical solution for communicating information that is important to many employees.

3. Replace irrelevant emails "to all" by microblog feeds

Emails that are sent to all, rarely are of interest to all employees. On the contrary. Most of the time, @all messages are irrelevant to part of or even most of the recipients and thus not only annoying, but also time consuming and adding to the email stress. Moving messages from email to the microblog is a relief for all employees.

4. See which news were internally sent to all employees

A microblog makes internal communication of news more transparent. It can easily be reviewed, which news have already been communicated and which ones have not.

5. Inform teams about current changes in the project

A team needs to be informed quickly about project changes. These definitely need to be documented in detail in the wiki, however, a microblog entry assures quick information with the option for direct feedback. Project work can thus be synchronized without exchanging emails. Short information that is relevant to the project, such as notes from a call, bugs, etc., are noted in the microblog and appear in the wiki through integration of the microblog group.

6. Discussion about current challenges of customers

A microblog can make meetings more efficient and even reduce meetings. It allows to discuss and digitally record current challenges in a project. Questions can be answered, without having to meet in person.

7. Show secured or department specific communication half public

A mature microblogging software such as Status.net or Communote offer the option to have closed groups. Discussions can be limited to a certain group of people and can be led half public. By using groups, important news are distinguished from less important news and communicated to specific target groups.

8. Public discussion of internal decisions

Businesses, that want their employees to participate, will ask their colleagues for their opinion. A microblog offers a basis for a quick and structured discussion, during which users can also be addressed personally.

9. Digitalize personal smalltalk and make it available

At first sight, the small talk in the hallway or the lunch together appears to be unproductive time. When taking a closer look, it becomes clear, that such conversations are an important part of their work: They communicate, vent, and analyze questions from projects, discuss their daily work and give each other hints and feedback. A microblog is the digital counterpart to the hallway discussion, and in addition it conserves information that can be made available to anybody who is interested.

10. Wish colleagues a happy birthday

Even private messages with comparatively little importance in the business context are classical microblog entries. Those can be birthday wishes to a colleague, a post, that a birthday cake is waiting for everybody in the kitchen, or news such as "Peter was born this morning at 4:10 a.m. Mother and child are well, father is exhausted. ;)"

11. Celebrate project success together

Celebrations after successful completion of projects are important for the team to review the project, and toast to the achievements. A microblog is the perfect venue for digital versions of such celebrations, to show appreciation for each other, exchange stories, and to show other teams that a project was successfully finished.

12. Make correct use of emails

An enterprise microblog helps differentiate channels of communication and to use the existing media for what they are intended to use. A microblog fills a gap for messages, whose content will still be relevant at some point down the road. Emails to groups or "to all" will be reduced significantly.

Do you have questions about microblogging in a business? Are you interested in launching an enterprise microblog? We are experts in enterprise communication and gladly consult you regarding suitable microblogging software, necessary and possible adjustments, as well as organizational aspects of a launch. Please contact us without any commitment.

Read this post in German.

Further information

36 use cases for an enterprise microblog (13 – 24)
36 use cases for an enterprise microblog (25 – 36)
New on the Atlassian Marketplace: Microblogging for Confluence
Microblogging for Confluence: An overview of its features
Microblogging for Confluence 1.1: Infos on pricing, overview of new features

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