Presentation for researchers and postgraduate research students on how social media can be used for networking

1. Developing Your Networks:
Social Media at QUB
Dr Helen Dixon
Information Services
http://go.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia
@SocialMediaQUB
Facebook.com/SocialMediaQUB
Join the conversation at #QUBnetworking

2. Forget Farmville and
World of Warcraft.
Creative self-affirmation
is the most popular game
online. We play this game
whenever we select
material to share with
friends or craft messages
to frame our posts. The
name of the game is to
present oneself, via one’s
tweets, posts, likes,
comments, and shares,
in the light in which one
aspires to be viewed.
http://philosophyforchange.wordpress
.com/2012/07/26/foucault-and-social-
media-the-call-of-the-crowd/

3. Key features of Social Media
Anyone can be a publisher or a
participator
Instant communication with almost
anyone, anywhere
Access to extensive information and
resources
Emphasis on sharing and reusing
resources
Creation of new ‘virtual’ communities

4. Advantages
Easy to use and access
Most are free
Variety of tools for different purposes
Instant communication
Wide exposure
Easy to track topics
You can learn from your followers
Facilitates collaboration

5. Disadvantages
Time management difficulties/distraction
Information overload/white noise
Intellectual property, privacy and security
issues
Loss of control
Misinformation and premature publication
Blurring of personal/professional
boundaries
Risk of bullying/abuse
Lack of recognition for online efforts

6. Which social media tools are we
using?

7. Social Media tools
Interact/
Communicate
• Facebook
• Google+
• Wiki
• Blog
• Twitter
• Storify
• Audacity
Share
resources
• Scoop.it
• Instagram
• SlideShare
• YouTube
• Pinterest
• Delicious
• Prezi
Network
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Yammer
• Academia
• ResearchGate
• Cloudworks
• Mendeley
Looking for other suggestions?
http://www.andymiah.net/2012/12/30/the-a-to-z-of-social-media-for-
academics/

8. Which social media tool is most
useful for researchers?
Take our poll at:
http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_ch
oice_polls/XEFqf158kHb6x26/web
#QUBnetworking

9. Professor Jack Anderson – Sports
Law
#QUBnetworking

10. Professor Paul Connolly -
Education

11. What do you want Social Media to
do for you?
Online
profile
Expert status
Personal
brand
Network
Community
Collaboration
Research
Data
collection
Publication
Professional
development
Personal
learning
network
Career
opportunities

12. “Involvement in or
resistance to online
interaction is
largely rooted in
ideas and beliefs
about identity,
privacy, voice,
authenticity and
power. ”
http://catherinecronin.wordpress.co
m/2012/12/19/enacting-digital-
identity/
#QUBnetworking

13. Why should you use Social Media?
A positive online profile can enhance your
professional image
You have information and expertise to share
Blogging about your area of expertise can help
establish you as an expert in your field and allow
you to reach new audiences
You can promote your publications and increase
citations
You can easily network with others who have
similar interests and keep yourself informed
You can keep up-to-date with conferences and
events

14. Social Media and the academic
research process
Collaboration
Identification
of
knowledge
Creation of
knowledge
Quality
assurance of
knowledge
Dissemination
of knowledge
Social Media: A
guide for
Researchers |
Research
Information Network
rin.ac.uk

15. Putting yourself online
Create a
professional
image
Develop a
personal
brand
Establish
yourself as
an expert

16. Click to view our Social networking
Prezi
#QUBnetworking

17. Social Media and networking
Communicate and
collaborate with people
outside your personal
circle
Manage connections
efficiently
Tools will recommend
connections
Networks easily identified
Can become complex
Information overload
Harder to avoid people
Spam/sales people
Blurring of professional
and personal activities

18. Tips for social networking
Create and maintain a professional and
consistent online profile
Include qualifications, skills, research interests
Don’t forget an appropriate image!
Don’t spread yourself too thin!
Update regularly but don’t overload
Always remain courteous and professional
Exchange online profiles at conferences or
events
Don’t rule out connections outside your
research area

19. Thinking of setting up a Queen’s
affiliated social media site?
Read Social Media Policy for Staff
Obtain approval from Head of School
Need at least 2 admins
Register your site at
http://go.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia
Contact socialmedia@qub.ac.uk for
advice
#QUBnetworking

20. Useful resources
http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/socialmedia
Vitae Innovate/OU Handbook of Social Media for
Researchers and Supervisors
 http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/Vitae_Innovate_Open_U
niversity_Social_Media_Handbook_2012.pdf
Digital research tools
 http://dirt.projectbamboo.org/
RIN Social media guide for researchers
 http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/communicating-and-disseminating-
research/social-media-guide-researchers
#QUBnetworking

21. Useful resources
JISC Digital Media guides
 http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guides/a-z
Facing up to Facebook
 http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/ManageContent/ViewDetail/ID/2114/Fa
cing-up-to-Facebook-A-Guide-for-FE-and-HE-02-October-
2013.aspx
Using Twitter in university research, teaching and
impact activities
 http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/files/2011/11/Publish
ed-Twitter_Guide_Sept_2011.pdf
Social Media Support at Queen’s
 http://blogs.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia
 www.twitter.com/SocialMediaQUB
 www.facebook.com/SocialMediaQUB
 http://www.scoop.it/t/social-media-for-researchers
#QUBnetworking

22. Social Media Training
Introduction to Social Media
Facebook for Beginners
Twitter for Beginners
LinkedIn for Beginners
Using Social Media for Teaching and
Research
Managing a University Social Media Site
http://go.qub.ac.uk/smcourses
#QUBnetworking

23. Questions
socialmedia@qub.ac.uk
#QUBnetworking