Developing outreach tools and targeting the message using social media and other approaches
From Coastal Sarasota Watersheds Wiki
Title: Developing outreach tools and targeting the message using social media and other approaches
Discussion Group Leader: Melissa Nell
The Educators Toolkit: Reaching audiences through social media and new technologies
- 2/3 of Americans on-line are involved with social media
- Social media helps to build community
- Tracking statistics are made easy through social media
- A variety of educational methods are supported
Tips:
- Start small with a web page
- Create content that is of interest to your viewers (audience)
- Be wary of over posting
- Consider using challenges, trivia, and contests to keep readers active
- The goal is to develop
Tools:
- QR codes—very useful for parks and signs
- Pod casts
- Challenges and geocashes
- Project Noah
- Blogs
- Traveling trunks
Tools for Teachers:
- Wikis
- Use the internet
Final Thoughts:
- Be willing to be a little crazy
- Be willing to put yourself out there (social media)
- Be willing to collaborate and learn from others in the field
- Be open to new possibilities, and the new audiences you may attract
Discussion:
- Most people have worked with social media for their organizations or business.
- Worries about being “out- there” and wanting a private life
- Puts the organization out there not specifically the individual workers
- Do I have to check all the time in order for this to work?
- No—there are emails to your inbox so you do not have to check the physical social network
- Also, can have multiple administrators
- Make sure you do not post all the time, it can loose following
- Start with your personal network—first friends and family taking interest and then following can take place.
- Make an address and then people can check in to “place”
WORDPRESS—shares social networks connect to each other so you only have to post once The different types of media are available to different audience—which one do you want to catch? Youtube is less personal and the watchers are not specifically following you, where Facebook and blogging are more of a commitment.