Social media tools include Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube. Facebook allows users to connect with friends and share updates. It has over 300 million active users, many outside the US. LinkedIn is a professional networking site with over 50 million users that allows users to create resume-like profiles. Twitter allows users to share short messages and see updates from followed accounts. Flickr is a photo sharing site hosted photos. YouTube is a video sharing site where users can view, comment on and share videos. These tools can help organizations engage audiences and monitor discussions.

1. Social Media Tools

2. Types of Social Media2Purely SocialContent-sharingMicroblogging

3. FacebookMost visited social network worldwideOver 300 million active usersAbout 70 percent of Facebook users are outside the United States Fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older Purpose: Users add friends and send them public or private messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

4. The Facebook Fan PageFree profile for an organization, product or public figureEngage target audience with announcements, photos, videos, event invitations, links, surveysFans can leave messages and comment on postingsChallenge: Keeping fans engaged

5. Benefits of FacebookPotential to reach millions and gain instant feedbackFan page postings appear in all fans’ personal feedsMultiple fan pages can showcase several components of an organizationTarget a specific or broad audienceFacebook ads: advertise fan pages and more5

6. UPMC on Facebook6Patient comments:

7. LinkedInSimple, career-focused social networkMore than 50 million registered users, spanning about 200 countriesUsers create profiles similar to resumes and connect with current and former colleagues Popular for job seekers and recruiters

8. Benefits of LinkedInProfiles are public and searchable in GoogleEmployers can list jobs and search for candidatesUsers can upload documents and post information about upcoming meetings and eventsA company executive can create a searchable online presence with little risk

9. TwitterUsers send and read short messages

10. 55 Million monthly visits

11. Each user has a personal timeline, or a live feed of posts from other accounts they subscribe to

12. The public timeline includes messages sent by all users

13. A list of trending topics reveals the site’s most popular discussionsTwitter TerminologyTweet: To post a messageRT or Re-Tweet: To re-post a tweet sent by another userFollow: To add a user to your personal timeline@Reply: To reply to or comment on another user’s tweetHashtag: The pound sign (#). Used in front of key words, allowing users to follow a series of tweets

14. TwitterviewTwitterview: An interview that takes place publicly on Twitter, allowing users to follow the conversation in real time and post questionsHashtag: #kidsflu

15. Benefits of TwitterTraditional media tells us what happened. Twitter tells us what’s happening right now.

16. Trending topics provide story ideas for journalists

17. Media outlets post links to stories

18. All tweets are public, searchable