Getting to grips with social media

Getting to Grips with Social Media

Janet Murray Jennifer Begg

Order of the day...

Where have you come from and where do you want to go?

• SM for external communicationso Twittero YouTubeo Facebook Pageso Blogso LinkedIno Flickr & Pinterest

• SM for internal communications & curriculumo Facebook Groupso YouTubeo GooglePlus

• Brand reach and strategy

1. Get into pairs

2. Pick up a flip camera

3. Record an interview with each other

Tips:

- Have a mini rehearsal

- Think about what is behind your

subject

- What is the light like?

Interview time!

And for your next trick...

Write a tweet that summarises your partner

(140 characters)

Share the love

What did you find out?

Are you here for the same reasons?

Did you find out anything that surprised you?

Reputation management

What exists online right now?

How can you get ahead of a crisis?

Where should you be?

Different ways of using SM:

• External

• Internal

• Teaching & Learning

External Communications

Tips for using Twitter

- Automate: schedule daily tweets using an app like Buffer

- Create lists (or follow other peoples’) to identify the most influential voices in your sector

- Don’t just broadcast information about your organisation – there’s a reason why it’s called social media!

- Make use of #hashtags to follow particular topics/conversations – or create your own!

Video for marketing

• What are your video style options?

• Who are you trying to reach?

• Content generation – who’s in charge?

Upload and edit

What can we do with your interview footage?

Facebook pages

• Managing the conversation

• Who’s in charge?

• What do you want to share?

Tips for effective blogging

- Use a content management system (e.g. Wordpress) so you can do your own updates

- Update content regularly- Make sure content is shareable- Use keywords in blog posts (what would you type

into Google to find your post? Google adwords can help)

- Create compelling headlines - Use images wherever possible- Keep it short and to the point- Link to other content where possible- Comment on other peoples’ blogs

Picture sharing

• Promotion

• Shareable

• Driving traffic

• Cut down on email

• Enhance staff skills

• Cut costs

Internal

Curriculum

• Engage difficult students

• Stretch and support

• Connect with students on their terms

Developing a strategy for your school/organisation

• Criticism happens: being part of the conversation helps you stay ahead of the game

• Cyberbullying is a concern and will happen. A policy helps you create solutions

• Confidence is key

Tips for planning/implementing a social media strategy

• Create a steering group of enthusiasts• Don’t be afraid to bring on board the most resistant

staff – their concerns are legitimate• Check your infrastructure• Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t understand• Expect negativity – but have a plan to deal with it• Just because a platform is built for one purpose

doesn’t mean it can’t be used for another• You don’t have to be everywhere: whatever meets

your aims and objectives• Ask questions, experiment and have fun

About Last Word

We offer training and consultancy to people working in press communications roles, primarily in the education, voluntary/not-for- profit and social care sectors. We offer open courses and bespoke training and consultancy in the following areas:

• Social media strategy/blogging• Writing for the web• Writing press releases, newsletters and magazines• Media interview skills• Crisis management• Pitching stories to journalists/editors

**We also offer copywriting, print and web design**Tel: 01474 330830Email: jemma@lastwordgroup.com