Microsoft 365 provides several applications that facilitate personal as well as professional social networking. This article will explore how Yammer, Skype, and Teams are currently used by individuals to connect with others who work in their organization, as well as those around the globe.
Social Networking with Yammer
Microsoft Yammer is a platform for social networking that was created for organizations to use for their internal collaboration and communication needs. This app facilitates enterprise social networking, a kind of social networking in which those who work for a company or organization can connect to one another using a common platform. This application is often referred to as Facebook for business because it has many of the same features as this popular social network:
- Yammer groups allow employees to follow pertinent company topics, post questions or comments, and receive fast responses. Those who ask questions in Yammer groups don’t even have to know exactly whom to ask for an answer; they can query the entire group to ensure that they get an answer as quickly as possible.
- A news feed contains the most recent posts from coworkers from various departments.
- An instant messaging tool provides a means for employees to send messages directly to one or more of their colleagues.
Yammer is Microsoft 365’s main app for social networking. It provides a convenient, non-invasive way for employees who may not normally collaborate to get to know one another, as well as for those in management positions to have a better sense of their employees, and vice-versa.
Here are a few of the ways those who wish to network via Yammer can do so:
- Just like other social media platforms, Yammer provides a way for an organization to deliver announcements and news to employees. In addition, they can communicate procedures and policies this way as well.
- Since it is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of applications, Yammer has integration capabilities with other tools in this family:
- Teams users can access Yammer from within Teams.
- Feeds in Yammer can be added to SharePoint pages.
- Salesforce CRM activity can be delivered to Yammer in real-time.
- Organizations that want to conduct surveys or polls can do so with Yammer.
- Those who want to share pictures or videos with their colleagues can use Yammer to exchange images.
- Yammer provides managers and other employees with a platform that can be used to celebrate achievements.
Yammer is offered as a stand-alone mobile application as well as a browser. Because it’s a closed platform, only the employees within a corporate domain can access Yammer. Currently, Yammer is only available to business users who subscribe to the Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan.
Using Microsoft Skype for Social Networking
Skype is a Microsoft platform that was designed to help those in different locations connect with one another. This app offers users the option of connecting via a one-on-one communication or a group conversation. Skype is used by millions of people around the world for voice and video exchanges. This platform can be accessed on most devices, from computers to tablets to mobile phones.
Similar to Yammer, Skype provides users with a variety of features that facilitate professional and non-professional social networking such as:
- Real-time instant messaging capability
- Group video calls
- Caller ID
- File and contact information sharing options
- Screen sharing
- HD video and clear audio connections
- Smart messaging features such as @mentions that allow Skype users to immediately react to messages
- Affordable international calling
- Real-time translation tools in dozens of languages to ensure clear communications occur, even across language barriers
- Live subtitles
Skype integrates with many of the other Microsoft 365 applications such as Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. In addition, it can also integrate with third-party apps like Slack for even more networking and communication possibilities.
Using Microsoft Teams for Social Networking
Microsoft Teams is a communication platform that was created to facilitate exchanges between individuals and groups. This application provides users with a way to connect with other Team users using voice, video, file sharing, and chat boxes. Over 250 million people currently use Teams for personal, professional, and educational exchanges.
Here are some of the features Teams provides users for social networking:
- With the help of channels, Teams users can connect with others in a variety of different ways. For example, standard Teams channels are publicly accessible to anyone who wishes to join. There are also private channels available that focus on a specific topic or activity. The owner of a private channel controls access to the channel and gets to decide who is allowed to join the conversation. These channels have many professional applications and can be used by those within a company to focus on a specific project or one component of a project.
- Those who wish to connect with just one other person can do so in a Teams Channel. In addition, those who want to meet with 10,000 others can also use Teams to connect. This makes Teams a popular collaboration and networking app for both small and large organizations.
- Teams provides users with the option to video conference with up to 250 people.
- The calling feature on Teams allows users to place outgoing phone calls.
- Teams offers two chat options: one-on-one and group chat. Similar to other social networking sites, users can incorporate emojis or priority flagging into chats.
- Teams integrates seamlessly with several other Microsoft apps. Content from PowerPoint, Word, OneNote, or Excel can be managed from within Teams channels. This application also can connect with Outlook for calendaring.
Start Learning Microsoft Office with Hands-On Classes
Proficiency in Microsoft Office can open professional doors across industries, as well as lead to upward career mobility. A great way to begin learning about Microsoft Office is to sign up for one of Noble Desktop’s Microsoft Office courses. These small group classes are offered in-person in Manhattan, as well as in the live online format. For students and professionals on the go, there are also in-person and live online Microsoft Office courses available through Noble Desktop or one of its affiliate schools. A variety of course options are offered, ranging in duration from three hours to three days and costing between $229 and $1,785. Interested learners can also browse in-person Microsoft Office classes to find nearby study options.
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