Popular and up-and-coming social media platforms - West Virginia University

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

POPULAR AND UP-AND-COMING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS


WHO ARE WE?

• Tony Dobies, senior writer for University Relations/News– @DOBIEST on social media

• Candace Nelson, senior writer for University Relations/News– @Candace07 on social media


WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPORTANT?• People spend time on social media sites.• It’s not going away anytime soon.• It’s a great way to stay connected.• Constantly changes. Keep up!


YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE QUESTIONS HUH?


FACEBOOK

• 1.23 billion monthly users (757 million visit each day)

• The age of the average user continues to go up.

• The “older” social media network


FACEBOOK

• Fan pages • Likes


FACEBOOK

• News feed


FACEBOOK

• Shares• Likes• Comments


FACEBOOK

• Personal, in-depth stories• Photos/videos/graphics• Posts that allow for commenting• Share content• No character limit


FACEBOOK


FACEBOOK


FACEBOOK


FACEBOOK QUESTIONS?


TWITTER

• 241 million monthly users (100 million daily)• Younger audience than Facebook• The “immediate” social media network


TWITTER

• Timeline


TWITTER

• 140-character limit


TWITTER

• Replies• Favorites• Retweets


TWITTER

• Hashtags


TWITTER• Timely, newsworthy content• Simple (140 characters only!)• Drive people to your website with links.• Photos/videos/graphics• Share content you like via retweets.• Engage with your followers.


TWITTER


TWITTER


TWITTER


FACEBOOK VS. TWITTER

• Two different platforms, two different uses• Don’t connect the two.• Remember your audience will likely be

different between the two.


QUESTIONS ABOUT TWITTER


LINKEDIN

• 187 million monthly users• Average person spends just 17 minutes per

month• Audience mainly alumni• The “professional” social network


LINKEDIN

• Make connections– Interact with colleagues/current

students/alumni

• Job searches/postings– Share relevant professional content


LINKEDIN


LINKEDIN


LINKEDIN


LINKEDIN QUESTIONS


INSTAGRAM

• 150 million monthly users (75 million daily)• 16 billion photos shared• Younger audience• The “visual” social network


INSTAGRAM

• Photos and 15-second videos• No links• Available mainly through smartphone app• Link your Facebook and Twitter accounts.


INSTAGRAM

• Post things that are visually appealing and out-of-the-ordinary

• Share others’ stunning content• Don’t over-post• Limit one post per event (collage)


INSTAGRAM


INSTAGRAM


INSTAGRAM


INSTAGRAM QUESTIONS


GOOGLE+

• 300 million monthly users • Average user spends less than seven

minutes per month on Google+• Hybrid between Facebook/LinkedIn• The “geeky” social media network


GOOGLE+

• Circles• It’s Google. You should be there. • Google Hangouts


GOOGLE+


GOOGLE+ QUESTIONS


PINTEREST

• 70 million total users • 98 minutes per month• Women make up 80 percent of the audience• Lifestyle-focused content • The “woman’s” social media network


PINTEREST

• Pins, re-pins, boards• Visual content (infographics)• Categorize your content


PINTEREST


PINTEREST QUESTIONS?


YOUTUBE

• Second-most visited website• Video content – active, visual • Also: Vimeo


BLOGGER/WORDPRESS• Where “social media” started• Creative content from the “every man”• Informal, conversational• Lighter content• Ongoing stories• It can live on your website


FOURSQUARE

• Location-based• Check ins, rewards frequent visitors,

discounts, reviews, advice


TUMBLR

• Microblogging• Visual (gifs)• Nerdy, internet-savvy audience• No news element needed


SNAPCHAT

• Photos and video that delete after viewing• Young audience• Most personal form of social media


VINE

• Six-second videos• Young audience (high school, some college)• Less relevance than in December 2013• Cult following• Funny plays well here


REDDIT

• User-based voting on content• Most popular content moves to the top• Geeky, genuine• “Ask Me Anything”• Sub-reddits


FLICKR

• Photo-based• Large photo galleries• Ability to comment, download for free• Keeps photos in high/original resolution


AND SOME YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE …• Pheed• Medium• Storify/Rebel Mouse• Gentlemint• Slideshare


FINAL THOUGHTS

• Photos/videos/graphics • Engage when you can• Share when you can


FINAL THOUGHTS

• Each platform is different. Treat them differently.

• Try everything. You don’t have to stay.• Social media can be a gamble, but the

positives outweigh the negatives.• Don’t settle for not having a strategy.


NEXT WORKSHOP

• Developing a successful social media strategy – Friday, March 21

10-11:30 a.m. -or- 1:30-3 p.m.

Education

Popular and up-and-coming social media platforms - West Virginia University