What I learned about tweeting from watching Grey’s Anatomy

I never need an excuse to watch a Grey’s Anatomy episode. It is one of my favorite TV shows. So when the lecture was learning how to use Twitter, all I kept thinking was about one thing: Grey’s Anatomy did it before most of class even knew what a Tweetchat even was.

That’s right, back in 2011 ABC aired an episode where the doctors were live tweeting during surgeries. The episode showcased younger doctors showing off new techniques and technologies. It was all about innovating and sharing what they were learning.

By the end, when a doctor didn’t know what to do during surgery a tweet came in from other hospitals that helped save the patient. And so even the older doctors were on board with using Twitter.

It taught the viewers to never to dismiss any tool just because you don’t know how to use because done right it can lead to great results. Back then I didn’t think any social media could impact media the way it has. And now, we are learning these tools in structured environments. If they can do it, so why can’t we.

Communication tools will continue to change. And how we adapt to them and use them to benefit our organizations and stakeholders will change.

Non-profits are using social media to their advantage. According to this article, in 2012 98 percent of non-profits were on Facebook, 74 percent on Twitter and 66 percent on YouTube. Fundraising was most common on Facebook. And when an organization used Twitter, they generated 10 times more donations.

Not only did I learn that Twitter and other social can help promote a cause or a place to share ideas, it’s also great way to connect to other bits of information like links to articles I wouldn’t necessary read or what not do in the public relations field.