Direct Messaging

The next thing I want to cover about Twitter is Direct Messaging.  This is a feature that allows users that are following each other to send a 140 character message that only those two individuals see.  Ok folks, it's an email.  

Here are some uses for DM that I have experienced:

• I participated in a tweetchat and someone wanted to contact me offline to discuss a new idea they had.  I DM'd them my phone number.  Obviously, I didn't want the entire Twitterverse to have my cell phone number (and sorry, you're not getting it here either).

• A friend of mine saw that I checked in on foursquare very late at night at a local hospital.  She DM'd me to see if there was anything she could do to help.

• Another friend of mine, DM'd me to make sure it was OK to feature me on their blog. Of course I said yes!

Direct Messages are short and sweet.  Not intended to be a lengthly email.  Here is one last reminder about DMs.  Both users have to be following each other or else you can't DM them. 

OK, Twitter pros.  What else should our new friends to Twitter know about DMs?

Twitter Speak

I have met (HNMIRL) so many new folks to Twitter over the past few months.  If they are anything like me, Twitter can be overwhelming.  There are so many acronyms to figure out.  I spent the first few months of my Twitter life "lurking."  I followed a few folks on Twitter and then watched what they did.  So, here are a few Twitter terms to get you started. 
                                                                                                                                 

•  Your Twitter handle is your user name.  All handles start with an @ symbol.  My name on Twitter is @nicoleoch. 

• The # symbol is for searching/trending on Twitter.  It's called a hash tag.  For instance, if I wanted to see all the Tweets surrounding our upcoming Ohio State SHRM Conference I would do a search for #OHSHRM. 

• RT means re-tweeted.  If someone on Twitter likes something you said, they will re-tweet it to their followers.

• MT means Modified Tweet.  If someone on Twitter wants to add some commentary  to a tweet you wrote, but their commentary exceeds the 140 characters allowed, then they have to modify the Tweet.

• #FF - This one took me a little while to understand.  It stands for Follow Friday.  If you wanted to let your followers know about someone they should be following you would tweet, "#FF to these awesome #HR pros @davethehrczar @jrkuhns @sbrownehr @trishmcfarlane"

• DM - This stands for direct message.  Twitter has a feature called direct messaging.  I'll get deeper into this on a future post.  Just understand what the definition is for now.

• HNMIRL - My friend @davethehrczar created this one.  It means "have not met in real life."

For my Twitter Friends, leave a comment with some of the "Twitter Speak" that new to Twitter users should know!

To Tweet or Not To Tweet...

That is the question!

So many HR Professionals don't see any value in using Twitter for Business Use.  Most follks think it's nothing more than sharing your Four Square location, discussing what you had for dinner, or posting pictures of your dog.  I, on the other hand, have seen firsthand the usefulness that is Twitter.


I have received breaking NLRB news about the recent overturn of the expediting of the union campaign process.  I have received information on HR job openings in our area (and around the US) and have sent the info on to collegues that were looking for a position.  I have received updates from the SHRM foundation on scholarship opportunities.  I have met a native Ohioian that's on a mission to help folks get help with their resumes.  I have received info on new product launches by my favorite companies.

So, who do I follow on Twitter?

• I follow news - Business (@TLNT), National (@CNN), and Local (@13ABC). 
• I follow other HR Professionals - Local (@karlinn2cool), State (@sbrownehr), and Regional (@davethehrczar) and National (@jrkuhns)
• I follow SHRM and their associated - @SHRM, @SHRMFoundation, @SHRMFdnBeth
• I follow Job Boards - @HRJobs
• I follow Leaders - @SimonTBailey, @ChinaGorman, @Lolly Daskal, @beckyrbsn
• I follow awesome folks that just want to make a difference in our Profession - like @new_resource.  If you don't know who Chris Fields is, you should check out his blog here.

If you are not on Twitter, I suggest you check out this link.  It's Twitter 101 for HR Professionals by Mark Stelzer (another great resource if you are in HR).  He does an outstanding job helping us get acquainted with this Social Media Tool.

We are going to take the next few weeks to cover some topics that I wish I had known more about when I started Tweeting.  Things like, Terminology, Blocking Spammers, How to use the search tools, Tweetchats, and Lists.  If there is something additional you would like to see a post about, please let me know. 

So...Who do you follow?