How many of us have created a Facebook Page or a Twitter account for our office, only to let it die out a few weeks later? To successfully use social networking sites, we need to stay engaged and have "friends," "fans" and "followers" who interact with us. This presentation demonstrates social networking best practices used by a professional in UW–Milwaukee University Housing and allows participants to explore how social networking can contribute to their own professional development.

1. Successfully Using Online Social Networking to Engage Students & Colleagues Presented at the WCPA Fall Conference October 22, 2009 Liz Van Lysal, UW–Milwaukee

2. Presentation Outline This presentation will cover: Twitter & Facebook Page basics How UWM University Housing uses Facebook & Twitter Building your Facebook & Twitter presence Assessing your efforts Using Twitter for professional development This presentation will not cover: How to create a Twitter account or Facebook Page Fool-proof way to get hundreds of Facebook fans Your personal Twitter professional development plan

3. Why should your organization use a Facebook Page or Twitter account? Increase awareness of services and current events Promote positive engagement with online social networks Connect with students in a cost-effective matter

4. Twitter Basics Twitter users answer the question “What Are You Doing” in 140 characters or less You may choose to follow people/organizations, which will allow you to see all of their updates in your Twitter feed. Twitter language primer: @ DM RT #

5. Facebook Page Basics Pages are different from profiles or groups Official information source Managed by one or more personal profiles Must represent a real organization, celebrity, etc Allow personal/professional distinction Source: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=904

6. How UWM University Housing uses its Facebook Page Basic profile information Photo albums Video Status updates, multiple times per week Respond to inquiries from fans Areas to explore in the future: Discussions Posting a facebook widget on our website Notes (for extended updates)

7. How to Build your Facebook Fan Base Find well-connected colleagues to be admins Suggest page to student employees Favorite pages of other campus offices, and ask them to suggest your page to their fans Post a Facebook ad Link to your page from your department’s website. Be aware of Facebook promotion guidelines Be patient!

8. How UWM University Housing Uses Twitter Copy tweets from Facebook Page updates Don’t do twice the work! Responds to @’s from others

9. How to Build Your Twitter Presence (Get Followers) Search for key terms and follow people with relevant tweets Bookmark the RSS feed of useful search terms Limit searches by location Current search terms UWM University Housing uses: UWM, dorm(s), UW–Milwaukee Search terms that haven’t worked for us: Specific building names Department name Follow the people you find in your searches Use your campus name in your tweets so you show up in relevant searches

10. How to Build Your Twitter Presence (Get Followers) Add a link to your Twitter profile on your department’s website Consider joining some Twitter directories Twibe Wefollow Be aware of the words you use in your profile – this can help people find your account in a search

11. Using Facebook Insights to Assess Your Efforts What is Facebook Insights? Measures exposure, actions and behavior related to your Page Data is updated approximately 12 hours after the end of each day Currently going through an update, so new features will continue to become available during the coming months Source: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=915

12. Using Facebook Insights to Assess Your Efforts What data is available? Geographic and demographic data from your fan base Interactions (comments, wall posts, “likes”) Fan Dashboard Total fans & new fans Unsubscribed fans Post quality

16. Why Should you Use Twitter for Your Personal Professional Development? It’s free Network with colleagues around the country Spend time on it only when you want to

17. How to Use Twitter For Your Personal Professional Development Connect with other student affairs professionals Search #sachat. Next chat is tonight at 6PM! Network with colleagues at conferences (backchannel) Use #WCPA09 to talk about this conference Search for key terms that apply to your job function and interests. Some suggestions: #studentaffairs #highered #lgbt #socialjustice

18. How to Use Twitter For Your Personal Professional Development Join a twitter directory Wefollow.com I’m under #studentaffairs, #highered, #baseball, #foodie Twibes.com Follow other staff members on your campus

19. How to Use Twitter For Your Personal Professional Development Some student affairs professionals I follow: @ericstoller Academic Advisor at Oregon State University @acpaprez ACPA President @reyjunco Associate Professor of Academic Development and Counseling at Lock Haven University with an interest in student engagement with technology @edcabellon Director of Rondileau Campus Center at Bridgewater State College @justcameo Career Services staff member at Duke University

20. Professional Skills/Experiences I’ve Gotten From Twitter Campus collaboration opportunities University Information & Technology Services Academic Advising Conference sessions…from conferences I didn’t attend! Help with my capstone project Referrals to relevant news stories More people to bounce ideas off of

21. How Will You Use Social Networking Productively? Some questions to ask yourself: Does your supervisor support the use of Facebook/Twitter at work? Can you multi-task enough to use these technologies throughout the day? Should you set aside a specific time each day or week to focus on social networking? Can you learn from others at your institution?

22. Useful Links Facebook Page Promotion Guidelines http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/promo_guidelines.php UWM Social Networking Resources and Pages www.socialnetworking.uwm.edu The SA Blog (sponsors of #sachat) www.thesablogger.org

23. Liz Van Lysal, Program outreach CoordinatorUniversity Housing, UW–Milwaukee Personal Facebook: www.facebook.com/lizUWM Personal Twitter: lvanlysal Email: vanlysal@uwm.edu Department Facebook: www.facebook.com/UWMUniversityHousing Department Twitter: uwmreshalls