Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. The office of communication and marketing manages the main Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube accounts.
Social media is about conversations, community, connection with the audience, and building relationships. It is not just a broadcast channel or a sales and marketing tool. Authenticity, honesty, and open dialogue are key. Social media not only allows you to hear what people say about you, but also enables you to respond.
- Blogs: A platform for casual dialogue and discussions on a specific topic or opinion
- Facebook is the world's largest social network, with more than 1.55 billion monthly active users as of the third quarter of 2015. Users create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and exchange messages, including status updates. Brands create pages, and Facebook users can like those pages.
- Twitter is a social networking microblogging platform that allows groups and individuals to stay connected through the exchange of short status messages with a 140-character limit.
- YouTube: Video hosting and watching websites
- Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app that allows users to apply digital filters, frames, and special effects to their photos and then share them on a variety of social networking sites.
- LinkedIn is a place where groups of professionals with similar areas of interest can share information and participate in conversations.
Social networks and other online media are great tools for engagement and two-way communication, but given the nature of this two-way, real-time communication, there is the potential for significant risks associated with inappropriate use. While the tools of social media are easily accessible, the rules of the road are not necessarily intuitive. It's a new communications landscape, with tremendous opportunities but, also a lot to learn.
We developed these guidelines to provide everyone at the university, from communications professionals to department administrators, with basic guidance on how to best use social media toward communications goals, both as the owner of an account and as a user or contributor.
The suggestions and best practices outlined here can help you use these channels effectively, protect your personal and professional reputation, and follow university guidelines. Spark conversations among social media practitioners on campus to learn from each other as we explore these emerging platforms.
Social media helps people keep in touch with friends and extended family and expand their personal networks to include people with similar interests. Some people use social media for professional networking and finding career opportunities. Many use it to connect with people who have similar interests and to share their own thoughts, personal updates, and insights.
Social media marketing is the use of social networks as a sales and marketing tool. Companies with products to promote can go beyond display advertising to build an online presence and engage directly with their customers. For local businesses to reach out to their customers without spending a fortune on placement.
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