Using social media: tips and tricks for archivistsKiara King, Ballast Trust Archivist

The Ballast Trust

Scottish Business History Network

Social Media

websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking

For Archives:• Promote your archive and its collections to a wider audience

• An audience that is engaged with you

• Link back to your archives' website or online catalogue

• Get feedback from others about your services

For Archivists:• Build and maintain a professional profile

• Connect and learn from other information professionals

• Keep up to date with news, articles, conferences

Social media benefits

Twitter: NLS Archives

Twitter: RBS Remembers WW1 project

Twitter - #tbt #throwbackthursday

Twitter - #otd #onthisday

Flickr: Dundee City Archives

Blogging: Stirling Council Archives

Facebook: Edinburgh City Archives

Instagram: Glasgow School of Art Archives

Pinterest: British Postal Museum & Archive

Opportunities for archives

• Tell the unique stories in your collections• Connect to a global audience• Build an engaged community around your archive• Provide your organisation with authentic original content• Raise your profile internally and externally• Link up your efforts and platforms• Make the most of hashtags to join conversations• Showcase your images

Pitfalls

• Ignoring comments – interact with your public• Spamming – create tailored content for different platforms• Not proofreading your content• Finding a consistent voice• Not allocating time - can you sustain content and activity?• Will it create unrealistic expectations of access?• Measure your activity and decide on important metrics for

you (likes, retweets, follows, comments, shares??)

How to??

• “Just jump in” vs developing a strategy• Identify company aims/messages/objectives – how can the

archive support them?• Decide on whether to support your corporate accounts or

create an archive account – or have both!• Content calendar• Audience Engagement

Audience Engagement

Case Study: University of Glasgow Archive Services

UofG Archives: #OnThisDay tweets using our Uni Story resource

UofG Archives: connect with live businesses

UofG Archives: connect with new businesses

Glasgow Uni: organisation use of our content

Glasgow Uni: organisation use of heritage to engage students for marketing #worldchangerswelcome

There are loads of resources online to help with social media

•http://rebeccahopman.com/socialmedia/ - a great starting point

•http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/blog/social-media-make-it-work-for-you

•http://weareculture24.org.uk/digitalchange/

•http://digitalfutures.rcahms.gov.uk/

•https://uk.pinterest.com/ballasttrust/social-media/

•https://scottishheritagesocialmediagroup.wordpress.com/

•http://www.slideshare.net/MuseumNext/digital-engagement-in-culture-heritage-and-the-arts

• http://www.getambition.com/learning-journey/social-media/ lots of detailed guidance

Resources

DISCUSSION