This was a presentation on social media management and institutional visibility given to newly-inducted public information officers of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
2. What is Social Media?
An umbrella term used to
describe web-based and
mobile technologies that
support the creation and
exchange of user-generated
content. They facilitate
interaction, information-
sharing, and relationship-
building amongst users.
Source: http://www-304.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/swg_com_sfw_social_media
Interaction
Content
Generation
Graphic from Pascale Communications via http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/08/14/increase-
traffic-to-my-website
3. Why go into Social Media?
• 44,200,540 out of 107,668,231
Filipinos are online
• Filipinos spend 21.5 hours
online every week
• 29,890,900 Facebook users
• Almost 10 million Twitter users
• 10th country with the most
Twitter users
• Smartphone sales in the
Philippines grew by 326% in
2013
Photo from: http://blogs.wsj.com/indonesiarealtime/2014/04/22/missed-connection-filipino-social-media-gurus-
and-speedy-internet/
References:
http://www.internetworldstats.com/asia.htm#ph
http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2011/surging-internet-usage-in-southeast-asia-reshaping-the-media-
landscape.html
http://www.gfk.com/news-and-events/press-room/press-releases/Pages/GfK%20Asia%20-%20Southeast%20Asias
%20mobile%20phones%20market%20grew%20by%2024%20percent%20in%20volume%20over%20the%20last
%2012%20months.aspx
4. Internet and social media use among Filipinos
21.5 hours are spent online
every week
• Only 13.3 hours are spent
watching TV
• Only 6.3 hours on radio
• Only 3.6 hours on printed
newspapers
What do Filipinos do online?
• 81% spend their time on
Facebook
• 51% maintain an account
on Youtube
Sources:
Study: Filipinos spend more time surfing web than watching TV , Sunstar.com, http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/07/study-
filipinos-spend-more-time-surfing-web-watching-tv-189174
5. Developing a strategy for Social Media
Determine your objectives
• What do you want to use social media for?
• What do you want to achieve?
Identify your target audience
• Who are they? What do they look for?
• What are they saying?
Develop an internal approach
• What social media platforms do you use?
• Who will be responsible for maintenance?
• Who will be responsible in an emergency
situation?
Source: Smart Tips for Category 1 Responders in Using Social Media in Emergency Situations
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85946/Using-social-media-in-emergencies-smart-
tips.pdf
6. Developing a strategy for Social Media
Establish a presence
• Develop a strategy on how and where you
will publicize you social media presence
Sustain your presence
• Think of ways to maintain interest in your
website and social media accounts
• Strive to interact and engage rather than
broadcast
Evaluate and learn
• Try – there is no “one size fits all” approach
• Measure – how well are you meeting your
objectives?
• Iterate – always feed information and
update approach
Source: Smart Tips for Category 1 Responders in Using Social Media in Emergency Situations
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85946/Using-social-media-in-emergencies-smart-
tips.pdf
7. 6 Ways to Build Trust Through Social Media
• Communicating Thought Leadership – communicate
expertise and provide content others will share
• Transparency – people will talk about issues involving
you; get involved and guide the conversations
• Quick and Responsive Communication – Don’t be
afraid of complaints via social media; address them
head on.
• Ensures Accountability – If open and interactive
engagement in social media is desired, a level of
accountability must be exhibited
• Fun and simple engagement – Encourage
entertaining engagement by sharing videos, apps
and other materials; Don’t always make it about you
and your services
• Social responsibility – Show the audience that you
care more about the community than yourself
Source: 6 Ways Brands Build Trust Through Social Media
http://www.forbes.com/sites/brentgleeson/2012/10/31/6-ways-brands-build-trust-through-social-media/
8. Institutional visibility through social media
Can lead or take part
in online discussions on:
•Agricultural issues
•Biotechnology issues
•Education issues
•Scientific research
breakthroughs
•Notable faculty, staff
or student
achievement
9. Social media can also be used
to disseminate information on:
•Suspension of classes
•Emergencies
•Events of the college or unit
•Academic programs of the
college or unit
•Contact information of the unit
or its personnel
Institutional visibility through social media
10. OVPPA Levels of Communication
Level 1: Public Safety Announcements
• Urgent security matters (health, safety, online security, etc.)
• Bad weather and suspension of classes
• Campus-wide policy changes that are time-critical
Level 2: University Policies and Policy Changes
• High importance announcements which will affect the community
• Includes regulations, memoranda, academic and non-academic
policies
Level 3: Events
• Announcements on academic and non-academic activities which are
planned in advance
Level 4: News
• Content relating to news, both office-generated and those produced
by news organizations
11. How to measure impact on Social Media?
Analytics
The study of the impact of a website or social media
account on its users
Web analytics services track the following:
•How many people visit your website or social
media account?
•How many are unique visitors?
•How did they arrive at your website or social
media account?
•What keywords led them to your website or
social media account?
•How long did they stay on your website or
social media account?
Source: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_analytics.html
12. Why learn analytics?
Analytics allows you to:
• Know the age, gender and
location of your audience
• Observe the visiting behavior of
your audience
• Study audience reception of
the content that you
disseminate
• Prepare better and more
responsive content
• Enhance interaction with your
community
25. How does all these relate to UP?
Under Republic Act 9500 (UP Charter of 2008), the national university is
mandated to:
•Fulfill its distinctive leadership role in education, research and public service
(Section 3, Purpose of the University)
•Relate its activities to the needs of the Filipino people and their aspirations for
social progress and transformation (Section 8, Social Responsibility)
Institutional visibility, by way of social media, enables access to relevant
information from the university, fulfilling aspects of these public service duties
26. We don’t have a choice
on whether
we do social media,
the question is
how well we do it.
Erik Qualman
Author, motivational speaker, educator