This document discusses how social networking tools can be used to connect with students. It notes that traditional advertising reaches only a few students, while social media use has massively grown. The authors explain how their university student development department created a Facebook page to help them reach more students in a less invasive way. They discuss how posting meaningful content retains followers, while automated news and event feeds provide a base. Interacting in conversations on the social media platforms helps increase the department's followers and results in more students using their services.

1. Engaging without invading:using social networking tools to connect with students Stuart Johnson, University of Leicester Becka Currant, University of Bradford

2. We’re on the fringes StudentDevelopment

3. Needy students will seek us out StudentDevelopment

4. Traditional advertising reaches a few more StudentDevelopment

5. There has been massive growth in social media Numbers represent unique visitors. Data from www.compete.com

6. If Facebook were a country Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population

7. So we’re using social media… * StudentDevelopment *NB. Facebook pagenot group

8. …to help us reach many more StudentDevelopment

9. And they can communicate with us… StudentDevelopment

10. And they can communicate with us… StudentDevelopment

11. And they can communicate with us… StudentDevelopment

12. …and they tell their friends about us StudentDevelopment

13. …and they tell their friends about us “I think that the Facebook page is a great idea and I have since spread the word to mates and got them to join” StudentDevelopment

14. …who then follow our social media StudentDevelopment

15. And the number of followers increases…

16. …and so does the number using our services StudentDevelopment

17. But rather than them coming to us… …they give us permission to go to them

18. Our website traffic has gone up

19. *Facebook fan dashboard But, meaningful content is vital “Page admins who post meaningful content will retain fans, while admins who post spammy or low-quality material will lose fans and subscribers”*

20. News and events feeds we automate

21. But most of what we say is proactive (proactive/responsive) (proactive/responsive) (automated)

22. Tone of voice is important too Advice from Helpdesk Hollie: http://developingstuff.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/advice-from-helpdesk-hollie/

23. And it’s having an impact here This happens a lot This never happens This sometimes happens

24. And here…

25. What we’ve learnt We're definitely reaching more students this way A base of RSS news and events feeds is a good start But you've got to invest in conversations Our helpdesk staff do a great job Distance learners like it too