Engagement

Public

Discussion:

Amy,

This question is important both for those who are already using social media and for those who are researching how they want to use it within the online social community they are building and/or joining. Part of the research that is helpful to conduct is to learn how the people you are trying to reach use social media and what types of things engage them. This can be done through observation (Researching students on social media), informal focus groups, surveys, or even a demographic profile which you can research with the Social Technographics profile tool included in the "Getting Your Career Center Started with Facebook" document in the resource section of this course - that tool is here: http://bit.ly/TeLUYO. Some schools have very large ground and online populations so they may find this type of tool more useful but I find it helpful for gaining insight no matter population size.

For instance, when you use this tool, you learn that those between the ages of 25-34 living in the U.S. and male tend to fall into two groups indicated in the Social Technographics Ladder (Referenced in the same handout). They are typically what are known as "Spectators" or "Joiners." If you look at the social technographic profile of each which is in the handout, you see what types of behaviors these groups tend to demonstrate on social media. This insight helps you with your strategy and tactics. If I were a one-man show, I would definitely try to have a social media strategy to build community and get my students to help each other since you lack another staff member. I would definitely consider building audience, partnering with some influential students who want to help build the social community, and see if you can start creating some "rituals" like I stated before where, on certain occasions or days, the community helps each other by sharing opportunities with their classmates on the Career Services page. That's merely one example but I encourage you to focus on what your priorities are and how you can leverage all that you are learning to help optimize your ability to achieve your goals through social media. Social media will always simply be one component of your overall strategy.

Robert Starks Jr.

Amy, This question is important both for those who are already using social media and for those who are researching how they want to use it within the online social community they are building and/or joining. Part of the research that is helpful to conduct is to learn how the people you are trying to reach use social media and what types of things engage them. This can be done through observation (Researching students on social media), informal focus groups, surveys, or even a demographic profile which you can research with the Social Technographics profile tool included in the "Getting Your Career Center Started with Facebook" document in the resource section of this course - that tool is here: http://bit.ly/TeLUYO. Some schools have very large ground and online populations so they may find this type of tool more useful but I find it helpful for gaining insight no matter population size. For instance, when you use this tool, you learn that those between the ages of 25-34 living in the U.S. and male tend to fall into two groups indicated in the Social Technographics Ladder (Referenced in the same handout). They are typically what are known as "Spectators" or "Joiners." If you look at the social technographic profile of each which is in the handout, you see what types of behaviors these groups tend to demonstrate on social media. This insight helps you with your strategy and tactics. If I were a one-man show, I would definitely try to have a social media strategy to build community and get my students to help each other since you lack another staff member. I would definitely consider building audience, partnering with some influential students who want to help build the social community, and see if you can start creating some "rituals" like I stated before where, on certain occasions or days, the community helps each other by sharing opportunities with their classmates on the Career Services page. That's merely one example but I encourage you to focus on what your priorities are and how you can leverage all that you are learning to help optimize your ability to achieve your goals through social media. Social media will always simply be one component of your overall strategy. Robert Starks Jr.