OCLC Online Computer Library Center 1 Social Media and Advocacy

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 2 In this session, you will learn how to use common social media platforms in advocacy to raise the profile of your library, engage the community, and reach key stakeholders. Session Purpose

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 3 Session Agenda In this session, you will: 1.Discuss social media and how it can be used to support library advocacy. 2.Discuss best practices for using social media, including content development. 3.Learn practical steps for building a social media presence. 4.Learn how to develop a social media strategy to reach your target audiences.

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 4 What is Social Media? Social media describes the online tools that people use to share content, opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives, and helps facilitate online conversations between groups of people.

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 5 Social Media Examples Facebook is a popular social networking tool with more than 1.2 billion users worldwide. On Facebook, it is important to keep content fresh, interesting, and engaging to encourage fan engagement and sharing Twitter is a microblog that enables users to post frequent but brief (up to 140 characters) messages called “tweets.” Twitter is best used for sharing news and quick updates about your organization, including photos and video YouTube is a great way to share videos that relate to your library. By setting up a library page on YouTube, you can post and tag videos that are relevant to your advocacy audience

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 6 Social Media Examples (cont.) LinkedIn is a business-oriented social network that aims to connect the world’s business professionals around jobs and professional topics Instagram is a photo-sharing platform made for social sharing through imagery and video that can be easily integrated and shared on other social media platforms Blogging is a way to inject your voice and foster a community around conversations that are already happening across the Internet

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 7 Discussion: Social Media vs. Traditional Media How is social media similar to traditional/print media? Q: How is social media different from traditional/print media? How might social media be used as a part of your advocacy action plan?

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 8 Social Media and Advocacy Social media can help you: 1.Extend of your library’s voice and advocacy story with a broad audience 2.Engage with the community directly, joining discussions with key audiences and stakeholders 3.Track, understand and respond to your audiences’ perceptions of the library 4.Gather support on key issues 5.Generate new ideas through your followers – or get quick feedback on your ideas

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 9 Discussion: Knowing Your Audience What is your audience doing on social media? Q: Why are they doing it? Why should they follow you and share your content? Why do you want to engage them? How can you best do this and how does this impact your advocacy goals?

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 10 Social Media Reminders & Tips Speak their language Be personable Use visuals Keep it short Ask yourself: Would I share this? Have a plan and provide a call to action Make a commitment

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 11 Activity: Turning Your Library Story into Social Content

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 12 Franco has been publicizing the library’s Facebook page and Twitter handle for the past year. Their Facebook page and Twitter handle is promoted through library staff, all communications materials, and signatures. Franco tries to post something to Facebook and tweet once a day about the library and the value it brings to the community. This month, the new computer lab will be opening, so the staff is planning a press event. In addition to traditional media outreach, he tweets and posts about the event for the two weeks leading up to it. The day of the event, the room is full. Discussion: Social Media in Action

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 13 Developing Your Social Media Strategy 1.Set Goals and Objectives 2.Determine Your Metrics 3.Determine your Audience 4.Discover the right platforms 5.Create Content

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 14 Advocacy Action Plan Workbook

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 15 Activity: Developing Your Social Media Strategy

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 16 Closing Reviewing our agenda: 1.Discuss social media and how it can be used to support library advocacy. 2.Discuss best practices for using social media, including content development. 3.Learn practical steps for building a social media presence. 4.Learn how to develop a social media strategy to reach your target audiences.

OCLC Online Computer Library Center 17 Please fill out your Session Feedback Form. Evaluation