introduction to social media richard roaf ecodemia resolve
TRANSCRIPT
1. Why is Social Media Important?What is it? Why is it important for SD & academics?
How are other academics using it?
2. How could RESOLVE use it?What do you want to communicate to who?
Steps to creating a strategy
3. Next Steps
Introduction toSocial Media Agenda
What issocial media?
• Blogs
• Microblogs
• Social Networking
• Multimedia Websites
• Social Bookmarking
Popularity• Grown by 340% in 3 years in UK• Youtube videos are watched 2 billion
times per day• There are 500 million active users on
Facebook• Every week 3.5 billion pieces of content
are shared just on Facebook• 6 million new users join Twitter each
month
Demographics
The average social network user is 37 years
old.
The average Twitter user is 39 years old.
The average Facebook user is 38 years
old.
• Must engage the public with research on sustainable development
• Mainstream media is failing to do this
• Peer influence is crucial
• Social media connects positive greens to rest of population through weak ties
Social media andsustainable development
• Allows you to use creativity
• Spoonful of sugar approach
• Allows for engagement
• Creates a two way dialogue
Social media andsustainable development
• Set to become more important
• Sixth formers are very active online
• Can present the department as more exciting, interesting, relevant
• Engaging with potential students is crucial
Attractingstudents
Martyn Poliakoff
“Particularly impressive was a presentation describing online outreach including a "You Tube" video on the periodic table of the elements that has already received greater than a million "hits" worldwide. ”
Chemistry for the Next Decade and Beyond
EPSRC
BlogsRapidly increasing number of academic
blogsBuilds on academics existing competenciesBeing personalAvoid text overloadhttp://startswithabang.com/Can cross-post
How are otheracademics using it?
Youtube
Lots of lectures
Easier than ever to make videos
Important to be creative and different
RSA Animate
How are otheracademics using it?
Great way to disseminate content
Can be used to share anything
Must initially recruit followers
Stanford University
How are otheracademics using it?
Short posts used to share links and news
Increasing number of academics using it
Lots of funding councils & related bodies
Recruit followers by becoming one
How are otheracademics using it?
Best Practice
• Use an integrated approach
• Help people climb the content ladder
• Be personal
• Take part in conversations
• Be different
How are otheracademics using it?
Integrated approach
Use a content platform and a distribution
platform
e.g.
Youtube & Facebook
Blog & Twitter
How are otheracademics using it?
Getting started withsocial media
3 Stage Process• Clarify your purpose• Getting started• Participation and review
Getting started withsocial media
3 Stage Process• Clarify your purpose• Getting started• Participation and review
Getting started withsocial media
I. Clarify your purposeSharing what with who?Assess your resourcesSurvey the landscapeWhat does success look like?Establish guidelines
II. Getting StartedChoose platformsStart creating contentPromote
III. Participate & ReviewParticipateMonitorReview
Getting started withsocial media
I. Clarify your purpose
Sharing what with who?Assess your resourcesSurvey the landscapeEstablish guidelinesWhat does success look like?
I. Clarify your purposeSharing what with who?
• What research do you want to share?• What could be of value to people?
Getting started withsocial media
Who could benefit from engaging with your research?
• NGOs• Government departments• Local government• Schools• Community groups• Online groups• Members of the public (which ones)
Getting started withsocial media
Getting started withsocial mediaI. Clarify your purposeAssess your resources• Staff members• PHD students• Undergraduates• University communications team• University IT staff• People like me
How much time do they have?
How much interest do they have?
What skills do they have?
Getting started withsocial mediaI. Clarify your purposeSurvey the landscape
• What are other people saying about this?• Where are they saying it?• List the topics and sites that are relevant
to you• Where possible assess popularitye.g. number of followers
Getting started withsocial media
I. Clarify your purposeWhat does success look like?
A large number of hits?A significant engagement with a few
peopleTargeting the right people
Getting started withsocial media
I. Clarify your purposeEstablish Guidelines
• Encourages a consistent presence
• Helps those who aren’t savvy
• See Vanderbilt University Best Practice
Getting started withsocial media
I. Clarify your purposeEstablish Guidelines Vanderbilt University Best Practice
Getting started withsocial media
3 Stage Process• Clarify your purpose• Getting started• Participation and review
Getting started withsocial mediaII. Getting StartedChoose platforms• Where are your audience?• What will compliment your research• What is realistic• Think about where you will:
A) Host content
B) Share content
Getting started withsocial media
II. Getting StartedStart creating content
• Just do it
• Begin with your audience in mind
• Create a rough content timeline
• Don’t expect fireworks to begin with
Getting started withsocial media
II. Getting StartedPromoteAvoid the field of dreams fallacy:
“If you build it they will come”Use your real life social networksDepartmental mailing listsLecturesOther online sites
Getting started withsocial media
3 Stage Process• Clarify your purpose• Getting started• Participation and review
Getting started withsocial media
III. Participate & ReviewParticipate
• Interact with your community
• Be part of the conversation
• Develop relationships
Getting started withsocial mediaIII. Participate & ReviewMonitor statistics and feedback
Facebook: Number of likes, comments
Online video: Views, subscribers demographics, comments
Twitter: Number of followers, retweets
Blogs: Number of views, comments, engagement
Getting started withsocial mediaIII. Participate & ReviewReview
• What worked for the audience?
Look at comments and statistics
Encourage honest feedback from target audience
• What worked for you?
How time intensive was it?
Future ofEcodemia
Have received a lot of interest
Need to tap into budgets orfunding
Currently looking for leadingdepartments to work with
References• Time Spent on Social Media has grown by 340% in 3 years in UK
• Youtube videos are watched 2 billion times per day. Source: http://www.youtube.com/t/fact_sheet
• There are 500 million active users on Facebook. Source: Wikipedia
• Every week 3.5 billion pieces of content are shared just on Facebook Source: Facebook Factbook – visualisation produced for Facebook’s 6th birthday
• 6 million new users join Twitter each month. http://www.hubspot.com/blog/bid/5503/HubSpot-Releases-Third-State-of-the-Twittersphere-Report-SOTwitter
• Demographics http://royal.pingdom.com/2010/02/16/study-ages-of-social-network-users/
• Vanderbilt Social Media Guidelines http://www.vanderbilt.edu/publicaffairs/webcomm/vu-resources/social-media-handbook/appendix-a/