Why you should consider blogs and social media as a way of building relationships with the people you are trying to reach.

1. Building Relationships
With Blogs & Social Media
Bob Bertsch
North Dakota State University
October 14, 2009

2. Building Relationships - In the Print Era
- Educational relationships were based on authority
- The authority of the instructor or author came from one
or many diplomas
- Diplomas were granted by institutions made up of
individuals with the authority to vouch for the original
instructor/author's authority
- Where did the authority of the diploma-granting
institution come from?

3. Building Relationships - In the EM Era
- Educational relationships are built on authority and trust
- The authority of the instructor or author comes less from
diplomas and more from demonstrated knowledge
- Authority means nothing with out trust, and today people
distrust those with authority
- You build trust by being open: giving up some of your
traditional authority, letting people see your personality
and consistently engaging in community conversations

4. Building Relationships - Using Blogs
What are blogs?
Easy-to-update web sites written in a journal style with articles
that appear sequentially based on date.
• Blogs have an archive, links,time-stamps and a
chronological listing
• Blogs are personalized, community-linked, social and
interactive
• Blog content drives much of the social media traffic in
Twitter and other tools

5. Building Relationships - Creating a Blog
NDSU Agriculture & University Extension has it's own blog
tool, called Roller.
www.ag.ndsu.edu/roller

6. Source: Overdrive Interactive – www.overdriveinteractive.com

7. Source: Overdrive Interactive – www.overdriveinteractive.com