Best Practices for Social Media

Engage

Use social media to engage clients and the general public. Determine who needs to hear from you. Remember your messages on social media reflect on the organization just as your messages given via more traditional do. If you are new to social media, you may find it easier to master one social media tool at a time.

Monitor

Monitor traditional media and social media outlets to identify specific needs and emerging issues.

Converse

Respond to others and acknowledge others’ opinions and ideas. Social media is more effective if viewed as a conversation rather than as means to simply broadcast information.

Listen

Helps you gain respect and followers. Rebroadcasting good content with appropriate attribution shows others you are an active listener.

Identify

Let people know who you are, what your credentials are and for whom your work. This is key to building strong relationships. But also be yourself. People want to talk with a real person.

Think

Consider your message before you post it via social media. Is it accurate? Are you being professional, non-judgmental and respectful of others?

Interact

Participate on a regular basis. Visibility is crucial element in expanding your network of contacts via social media.

Connect

Use social media to connect people with each other. Also use links to connect people to AAES resources and other research- or academic-based information sources.

Contribute

Be an active participant in the development of new knowledge resources either in the College of Ag, AAES or other appropriate outlets. Share your resources in such a way that they can be used and enhanced by others.

Evaluate

Review your social media practices on a regular basis. Are they working? Are you focused and using your time wisely?

Last Updated: November 01, 2011