Social Media: Friend or Foe (MPSEOC 2014)
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Social Media: Friend or Foe? A look into how social media can help advance higher education, learning and student engagement #smff14 #MPSEOC14
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A look into how social media can help advance higher education, learning and student engagement. This presentation was given at the Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council Summer Conference on August 7, 2014 in Helena, MT.
Transcript of Social Media: Friend or Foe (MPSEOC 2014)
Social Media: Friend or Foe?
A look into how social media can help advance higher education,
learning and student engagement
#smff14 #MPSEOC14
What is Social Media?Social media is an internet-based form of communication.
Social media platforms allow users to have conversations, share information and create web content.
There are many forms of social media:● Blogs● Micro-blogs● Wikis● Social networking sites● Photo-sharing sites● Instant messaging● Video-sharing sites● Podcasts● Virtual worlds ...and more!
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• A conversation with your audience• Gain customer feedback• Elevate your brand.• Provide timely information to the
masses• Engage students, staff and faculty
with your department and each other
• Communicate with friends and family
• Learn new things• Develop your interests• Be entertained
• Broaden your knowledge in a particular field
• Build your professional network by connecting with other professionals in your industry
At the departmental/university level:
Benefits of Social Media
On a personal level:
On a professional level:
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Assess your department’s needs: Why do I want to use social media?How can this help my students? Do I have time to update the accounts on a regular basis? What value can I provide to students, professors, staff and alumni?
What are other departments using?
Look at our listing of social media accounts on campus to see what other departments are using, although your needs may be different than theirs.
Which Tools Should You Use?Before you start an account, learn as much as you can about the platform!
If you don’t know how to use a certain platform, take a week or two and learn as much as you can about the platform.
Already have an account but cannot access it?
Do NOT create another account! It will confuse your audience. Instead, try to find the manager of the account and ask for access.
You have a social media account but rarely use it. Delete it!
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1. Listen 100% of the time! 2. Add links to your department’s accounts to your email signature! 3. Promote your presence via newsletters, emails and departmental
gatherings. 4. Create a ‘voice’ for your platforms. 5. Begin to share content that resonates with your audience!6. Patience. 7. Find influencers and engage with them! 8. Be accessible!
Promoting Existing Accounts
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Timely Content• As soon as you have an update, create a post with accurate information!• Try to include some sort of media - photo, infographic, video, etc. • Engage with your audience.
Promoting Existing Accounts
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Quick Tips● Create a strategy ● Schedule posts but also be aware of current news● Read, read, read ● Meet with others on-campus about social media ● Create meaningful yet concise posts● Include media (photos, videos, infographics, etc.)
Promoting Existing Accounts
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Response and Engagement
Source: Altimeter Group, based on the U.S. Air Force’s Rules of Engagement for Blogging#smff14
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The False StartAn organization sets up social media accounts and it posts loads of content for about a month. Then the presences fall silent, never to be revived.
The Auto Flow Setting up your Twitter client to automatically follow anyone who follows you or anyone who mentions your name.
The QR Code to Nowhere QR codes have a prominent place in your printed materials and link back to your website.
Social Media FailuresThe Twitter “Set It and Forget It”
Scheduling outgoing posts all at once and not logging in again until the following week...when it’s time to schedule the next round of tweets.
The “Carpet Bomb” Update
Posting the exact same update to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
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● A quick history of hashtags.
● Keep them short and simple!
● If you do not want your tweets to be rendered useless and uninformative,
do not use more than 3 hashtags.
● Hijacking tweets is also a big no as it disrupts the trend stream when
people are searching for information.
● As for using random words, no one is actively looking for #lol.
● And lastly, hashtagging #every #word #in #a #sentence is not
necessary.
Hashtag Tips
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● Unique hashtags are perfect for photo-taking contests or brands!
o Although it’s considered bad form to use a brand’s hashtag just to
receive more views on your unrelated photo.
● Don’t do an entire post consisting only of hashtags.
● If all else fails, utilize your brand!
o (e.g. #UMontana,, #MSUBillings, #CarrollCollege, etc)
Hashtag Tips
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Instagram● In an effort to streamline the hashtag system, Instagram has a
banned list of hashtags (mainly NSFW words).● Do take part in the various memes such as #throwbackthursday, it’s all in
good fun!
Facebook● Certain privacy settings can render hashtags useless unless your posts
are public.
Google+● Google will auto-tag some of your posts. If you rather not add additional
hashtags, you can change your settings to your preferences.
Hashtag Tips
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Nerds for Nature● Novel citizen science ● Trying to change, learn and improve
the environmental sciences! ● #morganfire02
o Flickr, Twitter or Instagram
The Power of the Hashtag
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