Face to Facebook: Exploring
Best Practices in Social
Networking
Eric Sheninger
Brian Hazlett
Cheryl Fabrizi
Show of Hands
What is Social Networking?
What is social media?
A category of sites that is based on user participation
and user-generated content (searchenginewatch.com/define)
Software tools that allow groups to generate content
and engage in peer-to-peer conversations and
exchange of content (www.bottlepr.co.uk/glossary.html)
Multi-Dimensional Involve
Create
Discuss
Promote
Measure
http://www.commoncraft.com/socialmedia
Social Networking Applications
WebEx
Ning
YouTube
Undergraduate
Admissions Site:
Home Page
Undergraduate
Admissions Site:
Contact Us Page
New Student Micro
Site
Microblogging
Short messages known as “tweets”
Link to cell phone
http://www.commoncraft.com/twitter
Why Educators Should Use
Improve instruction
- Global collaboration
- Sharing of resources
- Discussion/Knowledge acquisition
- Professional growth (PLN)
http://twitter.com/NMHS_Principal
Why Schools/Universities Should
Use Twitter
Communication Events
Meetings
School closings
Student honors
Live scores/updates
Campus weather
News/RSS feeds
Emergency information
Marketing
Student recruitment
Monitoring conversations referencing your school
Create a channel just for your school
Share school accomplishments
Showcase student work, events, athletics
http://www.youtube.com/NMHSPrincipal
For videos larger than 10 minutes, use Vimeo (also
free)
Communicate with students, alumni, parents
Recruitment
Group tools (i.e. schools/universities can include many offices
Fan pages (video, wall posts, analytics)
Showcase student/faculty work
Connecting current to incoming students
Facebook Office Hours
Platform for creating your own social network
Very easy to use
Can add videos, photos, news, forums, events, groups,
etc.
Customizable site
Each member that joins has a customizable profile
page
Can be made private or public
Nings for Learning
Nings for Higher Education
Nings for High Schools
Photo Gallery: Picasa Web Album
It’s not just about what you want to
market or communicate …
It’s also about how to connect
and what you want to share
with your audiences.
Creating Awareness About
How To Connect With Social
Media
Class of 2014 Facebook
• 289 discussion threads to date
• 2,200+ members; still posting to wall
• Connect with student ambassadors
and orientation advisors
Student Blog
•Started March 2008
• Nearly 1,000 Posts
• 13 Student
Bloggers
•1.1 million + Views
Share Connections In CommunicationsProspective Student Communications Stream
Namebuy
Campaign
Applied Student
Communications
Stream
Accepted Student
Communications
Stream
World’s largest professional network (over 55 million
strong)
Build a network of trusted contacts to share ideas,
exchange knowledge, and create opportunities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzT3JVUGUzM
http://www.linkedin.com/in/esheninger
Best Practices for
Educators/Schools
Keep it professional
Remember your role within the school community
Think before you post to the internet
Digital footprint
Why You Should Use Social
Media Communication
Public Relations
Professional Growth
Branding
Opportunity