Introduction to Social Media Richard Roaf Ecodemia RESOLVE

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 to Social Media Agenda

Background

What is social 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 and sustainable development

Allows you to use creativity Spoonful of sugar approach Allows for engagement Creates a two way dialogue Social media and sustainable development

Social media & Results of Pilot Study published last week “Reach and Significance”

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 Attracting students

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

Blogs Rapidly increasing number of academic blogs Builds on academics existing competencies Being personal Avoid text overload Can cross-post How are other academics using it?

Youtube Lots of lectures Easier than ever to make videos Important to be creative and different RSA Animate How are other academics using it?

Facebook Great way to disseminate content Can be used to share anything Must initially recruit followers Stanford University How are other academics using it?

Twitter 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 other academics using it?

Best Practice Use an integrated approach Help people climb the content ladder Be personal Take part in conversations Be different How are other academics using it?

Integrated approach Use a content platform and a distribution platform e.g. Youtube & Facebook Blog & Twitter How are other academics using it?

Social Media concerns

Getting started with social media 3 Stage Process Clarify your purpose Getting started Participation and review

Getting started with social media 3 Stage Process Clarify your purpose Getting started Participation and review

Getting started with social media I. Clarify your purpose Sharing what with who? Assess your resources Survey the landscape What does success look like? Establish guidelines II. Getting Started Choose platforms Start creating content Promote III. Participate & Review Participate Monitor Review

Getting started with social media I. Clarify your purpose Sharing what with who? Assess your resources Survey the landscape Establish guidelines What does success look like?

I.Clarify your purpose Sharing what with who? What research do you want to share? What could be of value to people? Getting started with social 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 with social media

Getting started with social media I.Clarify your purpose Assess 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 with social media I.Clarify your purpose Survey 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 popularity e.g. number of followers

Getting started with social media I. Clarify your purpose What does success look like? A large number of hits? A significant engagement with a few people Targeting the right people

Getting started with social media I.Clarify your purpose Establish Guidelines Encourages a consistent presence Helps those who aren’t savvy See Vanderbilt University Best Practice

Getting started with social media I. Clarify your purpose Establish Guidelines Vanderbilt University Best Practice

Getting started with social media 3 Stage Process Clarify your purpose Getting started Participation and review

Getting started with social media II. Getting Started Choose platforms Start creating content Promote

Getting started with social media II. Getting Started Choose platforms Where are your audience? What will compliment your research What is realistic Think about where you will: A) Host content B) Share content

Choose platforms Blogs Microblogs Social Networking Multimedia Websites

Getting started with social media II. Getting Started Start 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 with social media II. Getting Started Promote Avoid the field of dreams fallacy: “If you build it they will come” Use your real life social networks Departmental mailing lists Lectures Other online sites

Getting started with social media 3 Stage Process Clarify your purpose Getting started Participation and review

Getting started with social media III. Participate & Review Participate Interact with your community Be part of the conversation Develop relationships

Getting started with social media III. Participate & Review Monitor 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 with social media III. Participate & Review Review 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 of Ecodemia Have received a lot of interest Need to tap into budgets or funding Currently looking for leading departments to work with

What are the next steps? What will you do next?

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: 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. Releases-Third-State-of-the-Twittersphere-Report-SOTwitterhttp:// Releases-Third-State-of-the-Twittersphere-Report-SOTwitter Demographics Vanderbilt Social Media Guidelines resources/social-media-handbook/appendix-a/ resources/social-media-handbook/appendix-a/