As an Extension Agent, you may already have an excellent network of people in your community. But how do you reach others who may not know you’re available as a resource?
You can try adding social media as another point of contact! You don’t have to invest very much time to put yourself and your expertise out there for the public.
How do you get started, you may ask? I highly recommend testing the social media waters by setting up a Twitter account.
You can start by going to twitter.com and signing up for an account. You’ll be walked through steps to set things up, and you’ll be given suggestions to find people and organizations to follow. Be sure to follow @VCE_news, @VAExtensionPubs, and @VTAgLifeSci!
Once you’re set up, spend some time browsing through others’ tweets to see what people are posting and who their followers are. You can start building your networking by following other people and groups and sharing their posts. Many users use the practice of following their followers, which in turn increases your visibility online.
After you’re comfortable with how Twitter works, you can start promoting your account! The best way to gain followers is to tell people how to find you — word of mouth, business cards, website links, etc.
The Office of Communications and Marketing is here to help promote your social media account, too! We have more than 2,000 followers on both Twitter and Facebook, and we have a growing number of followers on Pinterest. We’d be happy to share your information with the masses to get the word out.
Once you start gaining followers, be sure to keep dialogue open. More social media accounts fail because there’s no two-way communication. If someone sends you a note, respond! Even if you don’t know the answer, a prompt response increases your reputation in customer service. One thing we do with the Extension accounts is direct people to contact their local Unit Offices if they have a specific question, and we provide the URL link to the offices’ website.
With your helpfulness, you’ll be seen as someone who has the answers or knows where to get them. You’ll see your online followers grow without much effort, and people will know to look to you as the expert!
If you have specific questions about how to get started, please contact Brandi Evans (bmdilday@vt.edu) in the Office of Communications and Marketing.
More Tips:
- Dos and Don’ts of Social Media
- Your Twitter Marketing Cheat Sheet
- Facebooking Your Parents: What adults are doing on social media
- Social Media Statistics (Huffington Post)
Susan Gill
I have had excellent results using social media. Facebook was very popular with 4-H age youth for several years but mist of them are on Instagram and Twitter these days. However, they are not as inclined to share their Twitter addresses with me as they are with Facebook and Instagram. Twitter has been an avenue to communicate and share ideas with Extension in other states and with the VCE community on the state level.
Social media sharing also provides me with an inside view so to speak, of youth issues and needs and also a bit of info about their character and personality.
I do see it as something we need to do because I’ve found that in many circles, you don’t exist unless your on social media sites.
Great to hear you’ve had success! It’s wonderful to find your audience, no matter where they prefer to be online. Keep up the great work!