Last week Logan Henriquez, Chatter API PM, and I, presented  a webinar on how you can make any app social with Chatter, and the Chatter API. The webinar recording and FAQ is now available. I’ve been building apps with the Chatter API for some time now, and the first thing I usually get asked when developers are looking to build Social Enterprise apps is when does the Chatter API make sense, and more importantly, why. During the webinar, Logan spent some time answering this question with a discussion around a number of  key use cases. For me, it really comes down to two aspects: engagement, and discovery.

The first thing I try to think about when creating a Social Enterprise app is how can it be engaging for users? Why do they want to participate in the conversation? Specifically, how, and what, do they get out of the collaboration the app provides? If the app doesn’t make their jobs better, and easier, to get things done, it is doomed to failure. The Chatter API helps me make any app more collaborative, and part of the broader business process – all within the context of any app, on any device, and on any platform.

Second, for my apps to be wildly success, people need to find it. It sounds simple, but too often we forget this. The  ability for an app to be discovered in a social feed can’t be understated. How many times have you seen something appear on your Facebook feed that comes from an app you haven’t heard from? If your friend, or colleague is using it, perhaps it is going to be a good fit for me too? The Chatter API provides the ability to connect with your organization’s newsfeed to increase adoption. Any Social Enterprise app needs to be discoverable by every user in the company.

If you missed the Chatter API webinar, or even if you attended live, take a few minutes to go back and review the content with engagement and discovery in mind. Hopefully it will help you identify opportunities to build the next killer Social Enterprise app!