Overview of using Facebook and Twitter to connect with students for University Support Staff

1. Using Facebook & Twitter to
connect with students
Guidance for University Support Services

2. What is Facebook?
• A free online social networking service
• Users register, create a personal profile and add other users as friends
• Friends share messages, photos, videos and web links
• Users can also join common-interest groups
• …and create pages to promote a local business, an organisation, a product,
artist or cause
• Users connect to pages and receive notifications of new posts through
‘liking’ them
• See ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Facebook’ from Mashable.com

6. What is Twitter?
• A free online social networking service. See Twitter in Plain English
• Users register, create a short personal bio/ profile and follow like-minded
users
• ‘Tweets’ are shared updates which are only 140 characters in length
• They can include links to webpages and pictures
• …and can be great for getting breaking news, sharing tips, solving
problems and discussing issues
• See ‘The Twitter Guide Book’ by Mashable.com

8. Plymouth University Guidelines
• Social Media Strategy and Guidelines (University log-in required)
• Advice on using Social Networks (University log-in required)
– Facebook Pages for Educators
– Twitter Basics Glossary
– Twitter Guidance
for help and support email
tel@plymouth.ac.uk