I came across two great articles today about social media.
The first, from CNet, talks about the Facebook "fan box" that can be used on external sites to link back to and promote activity on Facebook. I've already spotted a few uses of this online today. I'm hoping some schools will use it -- this is an easy way to direct people to find your exact, official page on Facebook, and to catch those who visit your regular site but didn't know that anything existed on Facebook.
The second article, from The Viral Garden, talks about ignoring early adopters and "influential" social media people. The author, Mack Collier, makes a great point:
"Whenever I talk to companies about their using social media, they always ask 'well how much time do YOU spend with social media each day?' And I have to point out that that's like asking me how much time I spend with my business each day. I am an outlier, my usage is NOT the norm, and it's not what you should be trying to emulate.
Companies, take your social media cues from your customers, not your favorite blogger/Twitterer."
So if your institution isn't using as much social media as the "expert" authors and bloggers claim to be, don't worry and don't be intimidated.
It's more important that you're using social media in the same way as potential students who you want to reach.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Social Media Food for Thought
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3 comments:
Great points! We must often be reminded to place ourselves in the shoes of our audience and what they do and how they think, instead of targeting based on our own actions. Thanks for yet another helpful reminder!
...take your social media cues from your customers.
Best advice ever. Social media dorks (like me) need this sort of reality check from time to time.
"So if your institution isn't using as much social media as the "expert" authors and bloggers claim to be, don't worry and don't be intimidated.
It's more important that you're using social media in the same way as potential students who you want to reach."
Great point, D.W. And from my experience, most people know more about social media than they think they do! Why draw all your inspiration from people that are using these tools in what is often a completely different way than how you should be using them?
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