5 Social Media Programs that Make You More Productive

It’s pretty hard to imagine that social media is more commonly being recognized as an ally in the office. The obvious candidates for this change in thought are also its most infamous opponents. Facebook and Twitter help promote your business on the web, but they can prove extremely distracting when there is work to be done. StumbleUpon and Reddit are great for getting random tidbits of industry-specific news, and yet anyone who has used these knows how easy it is to get lost in them. Social media is a diversion that affects productivity. The trick to make it affect productivity positively is picking the right apps for your office.

Hootsuite makes the social media you already use work for you
You’ve been keeping up with Twitter and Facebook for years now, so no one needs to tell you how to use these platforms. How about a program that brings them and others together for you? Manage all of your social media applications in one place, including multiple accounts of each. Set up effective folders that separate your work Twitter from your weekend Twitter. If you work in social media marketing for your organization, this is a dream come true. If Hootsuite doesn’t suit your needs, try Social Office Suite, or the Chicago-based startup Sprout Social.

Now that we’ve taken the fun out of social media, Yammer brings it back
You could connect with co-workers over Google+ or LinkedIn, but then you’d have the rest of your contacts to share space with. Yammer gives companies the ability to create their very own private social network, complete with profiles, posts, and groups. All of the most useful features of sites like Facebook are condensed down for this program into a simpler form, so you can get work done without getting lost in the social media jungle. The best thing about Yammer? It levels the playing field. So, CEOs, coders, and salespeople are all sharing ideas in the same network.

Blue Jeans Network is transforming the video call
Say you need to video conference with your boss. They have an iPad, you have a Nexus tablet, and your coworker has Skype on their computer. With Blue Jeans, you can join the conversation on a computer, tablet, or phone, with any browser or video application. The user interface is uniform across all platforms too, so you don’t have to worry about learning a new control scheme every time you link with colleagues. If Yammer is your new way to share ideas, Blues Jeans is the best way to fine tune them.

Keep track of assignments, projects, and group work in Asana
Calendars are for deadlines that need assignments. How about a place for assignments that you can add deadlines to? Asana is a browser-based hub for all your latest drafts, research, and task-related discussions. Like Yammer, groups can be created and molded through the application. Anyone can create a new task and assign it to colleagues or employees. Set due dates, create sub-tasks, and categorize your work as you upload it from Contentverse. Asana brings document management and task management together.

Take your social media to conferences with Bizzabo
Meet-ups, conferences, and conventions are some of your best tools for networking with possible clients, employees, or business partners. Whether you’re planning a conference or planning on attending, everyone can connect through Bizzabo. Keep track of events on the schedule so that you never miss that seminar or luncheon you’ve had your eye on. Find out which companies are attending when, and connect with whomever you meet while mingling. Need a place to save those business cards? Now, you can upload the contact info straight to your LinkedIn with Evernote.

The tech world is powered by great business, so it’s no wonder there are hundreds of apps and programs designed to make business easier. Social media doesn’t have to be about wasting time or killing your productivity. Like any powerful technology, it depends on how you use it.

About the Author:

Kelsey Joza is the Marketing Coordinator at Computhink. She may be new to the professional world, but that doesn’t stop her from creating some ridiculously awesome social media campaigns. She is enamored with all aspects of marketing, whether it be research, growth hacks, or brainstorming the next big thing. She thrives when she’s able to be loud and not wear shoes, and in her spare time she loves to write about herself in third person. She can be reached at kjoza@computhink.com or on any Contentverse social media platform.