1. Promoting Dietitians and Evidence Based Nutrition Through Social Media
Kerri Major
Specialist Dietitian – Surgical & Critical Care
Freelance Sports Dietitian
Personal Trainer
WHERE DO YOU START?

2. Contents My Background My Choice of Social Media Platforms
Pros & Cons of Professional Use of Social Media
HCPC + BDA Guidance
Raising Our Profile
Top Tips For Getting Started
Questions

3. FITNESS INSTRUCTOR/ PERSONAL TRAINER
My Background
NHS DIETITIAN
Instagram
Facebook
BLOGGER
SPORTS DIETITIAN
Twitter
FITNESS INSTRUCTOR/ PERSONAL TRAINER

4. Social Media Platforms
Instagram
Over 1 billion users
One of the largest-engagement of followers
Photo(s)/Videos + written entry
Small Bio + link to your website/blog
Instagram Stories (Q&A)
Instagram Live (Q&A)
Highlights
Instagram TV - watching longer videos (on app and on it’s own)
Use of hashtags/tags/links to connect with others
The main one I use
I enjoy it as I feel you can be the most interactive with your followers compared to other social media platforms
Word count is higher which means it’s easier to get your message across compared to Twitter etc
People like seeing photos – attracts more people to connect with you if you have a nice page

5. Social Media Platforms
Facebook
Over 2 billion users
Status updates of what you are doing
Share links to websites, blogs etc.
Facebook Story
Facebook Live
Create photo albums
Use of hashtags
I use Facebook mainly for sharing links
Facebook page is linked to my personal page so I find I’m engaging more with people I know
Find people tend to share articles on this more than I see on Instagram
Similar tools as Instagram but from personal experience, feel more engagement on Instagram despite doing linked post updates
Instagram brought out stories etc. first, believe many are more in favour of using Instagram for this rather than Facebook
People have different preferences for what social media platform they like therefore using multiple can help reach more people

6. Social Media Platforms
Twitter
Approximately 262 million users
Online news, sport and entertainment
Tweets – now increased to 280 characters!
Brilliant platform for creating a conversation
Retweet and reach the masses
Follow conferences (get a taste for what’s on &cheaper for departments!)
Use of hashtag to connect with others
Share links and research papers
Fast paced nature allows for sharing of new developments in real time e.g. policy changes, release of new research that help clinicians stay at the forefront of their profession
No charge
Mainly use it when I’m at conferences
Otherwise, I’m not active on it
Personally find it difficult to use for what I am trying to use social media for – e.g. sharing recipes, photos, food inspo, videos
Can be very good for linking in with a trending conversation, finding research papers and connecting with other people in same field as you.

7. Pros & Cons of Professional Use of Social Media
My experience - generally all POSITIVE
Disadvantages
Time consuming
Need to keep up to date with platform updates
Trolls
Can’t take back once you have posted
Vulnerable to criticism
Patients following you
Time consuming depending on current commitments
Need to make sure you are active on it to keep engagement
Platforms update their tools often so it’s keeping up to date with them and knowing how to use them
Dealing with people in a professional manner who may troll you
Once it’s posted, it’s out there
Criticism from anyone

8. Pros & Cons of Professional Use of Social Media
BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA?
Develop and share skills and knowledge
Help the public understand what Dietitians do
Raise the profile of our profession
Accessible for so many
Can reach so many people and have a positive influence on so many. Particularly important at times when NHS is struggling. We can get more information out there to people.
Social media is forever growing.
Our title isn’t recognized half as much as a Nutritionist. Many people don’t know what we do.
People are paying attention to social media influencers/celebrities who have no qualifications and giving out harmful and incorrect, un-evidenced based advice
Network with so many people in the profession e.g. met/connected people at events/conferences/made good friends
Career opportunities – may not be exactly into sports nutrition yet but I have been contacted about doing talks, career opportunities for PTing and for those that follow me an exciting project that I am working on at present that has been one of my biggest dreams.
Making my career varied.
Professional Experience
Self Study
Training
Community
CPD
Network with professionals worldwide
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

9. HCPC Guidelines THINK BEFORE YOU POST
Assume that what you post could be shared and read by anyone. Once it’s out, it’s out.
THINK ABOUT WHO CAN SEE WHAT YOU SHARE
Manage your privacy settings accordingly. Remember that the content you post could be influencing anyone that it reaches.
COMMUNICATE APPROPRIATELY
The standards of conduct, performance and ethics say:
‘You must use all forms of communication appropriately and responsibly, including social media and networking websites’ (2.7)
THINK BEFORE YOU POST
Even if you have the highest level of privacy settings, something you share online can quickly be copied and redistributed to a much wider audience. This means a post can stay in the public domain after you delete it. Try to stay up to date with any changes to the privacy settings of the social media you use. If you are unsure whether to post something, stop and get advice first from an experienced colleague, professional body or trade union.
COMMUNICATE APPROPRIATELY
Be polite and respectful, and avoid using language that is inappropriate or offensive. Use your professional judgement in deciding whether to post or share something. Remember that comments or posts may be taken out of context, or made visible to a wider audience than originally intended. 

10. ‘You must treat information about service users as confidential’ (5.1)
HCPC Guidelines
BE HONEST & TRUSTWORTHY
Our standards of conduct, performance and ethics say:
‘You must make sure that your conduct justifies the public’s trust and confidence in you and your profession’ (9.1)
‘You must make sure that any promotional activities you are involved in are accurate and are not likely to mislead’ (9.3)
RESPECT CONFIDENTIALITY
‘You must treat information about service users as confidential’ (5.1)
MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES
‘You must keep your relationships with service users and carers professional.’ (1.7)
Honest & Trustworthy
This means you need to think about who can see what you share. Make sure you understand the privacy settings of each social media channel that you use. Even on a completely personal account, your employer, colleagues or service users may be able to see your posts or personal information.  It is best to assume that anything you post online will be visible to everyone. 
If you use social media to advertise or share information related to your professional practice, you must make sure it is fair and true, as far as you know. You may choose to include a disclaimer on your profile that your views are your own, and that they do not represent the views of your employer or anyone who contracts your services.
RESPECT CONFIDENTIALITY
When you post information about another person on social media, think about whether it is appropriate to share that information. If the information could allow a service user to be identified, you must not put it on a site without their permission.
MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES
Social media can blur the boundaries between the personal/professional. You must always communicate in a professional way. Consider setting up a separate professional account where you provide general information for service users and the public. If service users add you on a personal account, recommend that you refuse friend requests. If you want to follow up any contact you receive, consider using a more secure communication channel, such as your professional account. 

11. Making Sense of Social Media BDA Professional Guidance on Social Media
BDA Guidance
BDA developed their own guidance on using social media professionally in 2017:
Making Sense of Social Media
BDA Professional Guidance on Social Media
Gives more in depth information based on the HCPC guidelines.
Provides an explanation of types of social media platforms.
Provides practical tips and hints on professional approaches with social media for members of the BDA.
Provides more guidance on how to manage different and difficult situations (e.g. unpleasantaries etc.)
Gives hypothetical examples relevant to the diverse areas in which Dietitians and Nutritionists work and communicate about food, nutrition and health.

12. Raising Our Profile
Overshadowed by nutritionists, bloggers, influencers and celebrities.
Help people understand what we do and the value our input can have.
We are responsible for getting the evidenced based advice out there.
We are the ones who should be confident in calling people out.
Social media can help to get useful information to reach the masses.

13. Top Tips For Getting Started
Don’t be nervous about putting yourself out there.
Think about what audience you want to target (e.g. specific to your speciality).
Choose the right social media platform(s) for your purpose.
Set up a separate business page from your personal accounts.
Make sure your pictures look similar e.g. don’t use different/heavy filters.
Post regularly and stay engaged with your audience and others in the field.
Follow similar types of accounts on your business page so it makes it easier to find and share appropriate content.
Consider using apps to plan and prepare your content in advance.
Post informative but easy to understand content.
BE YOURSELF.

14. Take A Look…

15. Questions?

16. Where To Find Me…
Facebook: The Dietitian Kitchen