Social Media Strategies for Military Spouses and

Dependents

What IS social media?

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Why social media?

• Keeping families connected is mission essential.

• Facebook, blogs and other social networking sites are great ways to keep military families and Family Readiness Groups connected.

The glossary

Social Networking:– Facebook– MySpace– Friendster

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Content sharing: -You Tube -Flickr -Vimeo -Photobucket

Collaborating/ knowledge sharing: -Wikis -Message boards -Forums-Podcasts

Blogging: -Blogger -Wordpress -Tumblr -Twitter (micro-blogging)

What’s in a NUMBER?

Over 80 percent of Americans use social media tools and Web sites monthly

Social networking is now the #1 activity on the web

• Twitter: 54 Million users• Facebook: 500 million users• You Tube: 924 million unique visitors each year 04/07/2023

• American teens sent an average of 3,146 texts a month in 2009

• That’s 10 text messages per hour they are not in school or sleeping, according to research by The Nielsen Company.

DTM 09-026

• The Department of Defense Policy on social networking:– NIPRNET configured to allow access to social

media– Restrictions should be temporary and

commensurate with risk– Agencies outside of public affairs may use social

media in an official capacity, but must coordinate with public affairs/operations security staff

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Operations Security

• Social networking presents opportunities – and risks.– EDUCATION is considered the key requirement

that will keep family members and Soldiers safe on-line.

– Train your friends, spouses and FRG groups on basic operations security – what can and can’t be posted.

– Always ask permission before posting personally identifiable information on-line

Facebookwww.facebook.com

Benefits:• Connect to a large public audience or smaller

private audience

• Discussion boards

• Photo-sharing

• Direct messaging

Family Readiness Groups on Facebook

Benefits

• With over 500 million users, there’s a good chance most of your community is already on

• Easy to tailor the site to your needs.• Easy to use and update• Multiple administrators eliminate burden• Allows family members who don’t have AKO

access to participate.

So what’s the difference?

Pages are better for brands, businesses, bands, movies, or celebrities who want to interact with their fans or customers without having them connected to a personal account, and have a need to exceed Facebook’s 5,000 friend cap.

Pages vs. Groups

Groups are great for organizing on a personal level and for smaller scale interaction around a cause.

Post information about

events/activities

In an open group, anyone

can join and see information

Choose the amount of information you want to be viewable to non-members.

options for sharing content/format your page

Discussion Boards

Discussion boards allow you the opportunity to post information and begin conversation on a variety of topics.

Members of your group can also start their own discussions.

Photos keep fans/members engaged

Posting photos

Posting flyers for events

Example of Fan Page for FRSA

Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, is on Facebook.

Facebook- as a Command Information Tool

Virtual FRG

• www.armyFRG.org• Interface includes topics and focus areas of interest

to Soldiers and their families.• Benefits: secure platform behind AKO.• Negatives: family members outside of AKO can’t

participate.• Some consider the platform too complex to update.

Blogginghttp://armylive.dodlive.mil

• A blog is a conversational web site, typically offering news or opinion on a certain topic.

• Companies or individuals may blog

• Blogs should be written conversationally, and should be short – think op-ed length and e-mail tone.

• Determine how your organization is currently being talked about in the blogosphere, and see how your blog can help you join the conversation.

Blogs

Benefits:• Caters to niche audiences

•Easily accessible and readable

•Provides the opportunity to screen comments prior to posting

TWITTERwww.twitter.com

-a micro-blogging tool that updates in 140 characters or less.

-updates are referred to as “Tweets”

Interaction & FeedbackUsers can easily share their Feedback using Twitter.

• YouTube is the #1 most popular video-sharing Web site

• Watch, comment and share video clips

• You Tube is the 2nd largest search engine, next to Google.

YouTube - video sharingwww.youtube.com

Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. George Casey spends a few minutes in an informal video chat with Soldiers. Gen. Casey has done nearly two dozen episodes, labeled, “Chief Cams.”

Don’t be afraid to use information from other

sites

Map out a clear objectiveKeep your audience in mind- The way your social media site is set up will determine who will use itFocus on creating a comfortable communication medium- Establish an inviting site for your specified audience and regulate only when necessaryKeep operations security paramount- Never post sensitive information in a public forum, even if it’s password protected.

Helpful Hints

Helpful HintsRemember it’s a relationship tool, not an advertising toolBe wary of social media overload- You may not need to use all sites out there – be selective!Link identities together- Use the same image for all accounts

Handling a negative conversation

suggests:

Be clear about your comment policy• OK to screen for profanity, abusive language & spam• Don’t delete simply because it’s negative

Identify the type of comment• Straight problems• Constructive criticism• Merited attack• Spam

Decide how to react• Stay positive! • Decide whether a response is necessary• For spam, remove ASAP!

Remember: visitors are entitled to their own opinions!

Take aways:

• Determine which platform fits your mission: and have a plan before you begin

• Don’t be afraid to adjust fire• Don’t focus on the negatives• Create team - involve as many people as possible• Get your FRSA/spouse/kids engaged• Have a comments policy

ContentConversationCommunity

Creating a Facebook fan page

Select this one.

Name your page. Ex: Fort Bliss Family Readiness Group

Creating a Facebook fan page

1. Just like with the group, you can upload a photo and enter information.

2. Click here to edit your page’s information.

3. Once finished, you can share the page by posting it on your profile.

Creating a Facebook fan page

Here are some of the settings and applications you can enable for your page.

Creating a Facebook fan page

Here are more of the settings and applications you can enable for your page.

Creating a Facebook fan page

Once you’ve finished editing the page, click “publish this page” so people will know it’s out there!

Creating a Facebook group

1. Click on the “Groups” button in the bottom left hand corner of your screen

2. At the top right hand corner there will be a button that says “Create a New Group”. 

This is where you will name your group. Ex: Fort Bliss family readiness group

Here you choose what network you want your group to be available to… Suggest you chose Global – which allow people in all Facebook networks to find your group.

Here you will write a brief description of what the purpose of your group is. This will be shown at the top of your group’s page when guests view your page.

Under Group Type you will decide how you want your group categorized.

What is the name of your office? Ex: Family Readiness Group, FMWR

If you would like to list a POC’s e-mail you can, but it is not required.

Where is your office or where are your meetings located?

EX: Fort Bliss, Tx

Does your organization have a website?

You will then hit “save changes” and your group will be created!

Creating a Facebook group

Even if you made your group “Closed”, people who search for your group and visit your page will see the description you wrote for your group

Creating a Facebook group

Here you will have the option to browse your computer for a photo to include with your group. If you have a logo or a group photo you can use that here. This photo will be seen when people do a search for your group/similar groups.

Now, to customize your page…

Make sure you click this box!

Creating a Facebook group

Creating a Facebook group

Once you have completed filling out

the information on this page, click Save

Changes.

A box will appear that asks you if you want to publish the page, click “publish”.

You now have a Facebook Group!

Who should I let join my group?

Creating a Facebook group

Now it is time to invite people to your group.

1. Invite people to XXX (name of your group).2. If you know the e-mail address of the people you

would like to join your group you have the option of inviting them this way. This will be the second option you will see on the page. To enter multiple e-mail addresses separate each with a coma.

(If you created under a “dummy” account)-

(If you created under your own account or after you make yourself an admin)- 1. When you click “publish” you will have the option to invite

people who you are already friends with on Facebook. 2. If you made yourself an Admin on the group, go to the groups

page and choose the option “Invite people to join.”

Talk to your family

Educate your spouse and family members on OPSEC, and PII.

Basic tips for social media include:

-Don’t friend anyone you don’t know on Facebook or social networking platforms

-Don’t post deployment information, when you’re going on vacation or when your spouse/parent will be away.

-Know how to set your privacy settings, and use them.

Resources

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• U.S. Army on slide share: www.slideshare.net/USArmySocialMedia

• OPSEC family portal on AKO:https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/594109

• CGSC social media 101 video series: http://www.youtube.com/user/USArmyCGSC

Got questions?

MAJ Juanita ChangJuanita.chang@us.army.mil 703.697.1849

SSG Dale SweetnamDale.sweetnam@us.army.mil703.614.0371