social media 101 for journalists: tips and tactics for beginners

Social Media 101Tactics, tips for beginners

Reynolds Center for Business Journalism

Twitter:@BizJournalism

facebook.com/BizJournalism

Robin J. Phillips@RobinJP

What you will learn

How to create a strong Bio statement

Sites to follow to learn more

Followers and Following = what’s the difference

@reply or @DM or #Hashtag = what are these things?

How to get started

Whatever you need to know => No stupid questions

Ways to “join the conversation” - etiquette

Tricks for creating short links, adding articles, photos

Five generations

Tool for reporters

Signing up, setting up • Sign up• Photo• Bio• Background• Start

following• Tweet!

Sign up, remember your username, password .. really, remember them

Username = Use Your Name

Checkusernames.com

Think ahead

Can you grab Usernames for all the sites you may want to use eventually?

If yes, do it.

Where to write bio, etc.

Facebook bios

What to put in your bio

First person, Journalists and SM

Followers / Following

Whoa! Whoa!

Begin Tweeting• Creating a persona• Letting followers know what

to expect• Sharing your work• Engaging in a conversation• Injecting personality• Using first person• Setting a tone• Having fun

No, it’s not that bad

Announce yourself

Announce yourself

• Twitter lists:• Twellow• WeFollow• LoadedWeb• JustTweetIt• TweetFind• MrTweet

• Twitter lists for Journalists:• MuckRack• MediaonTwitter• JournalistTweets

Start following people

• People on your beat• Other journalists• Friends• Family• Readers, viewers

Best practices – Twitter or Facebook

Make every word count. Keep it simple. Provide context. Lead with the good stuff. Write killer headlines. Graphics expand the story. People make things interesting. It’s OK to use first-person. Consider your audience. Be polite.

@reply, RTs, and more…

Conversations

Mix personal / professional and speak directly to your followers

Direct plea to Facebook friends

Hashtags were developed to create groupings on Twitter.

Official #hashtags

http://businessjournalism.org/2011/01/25/from-resource-efficiency-to-innovation-inside-the-business-of-sustainability/

Signing up, setting up • Sign up• Photo• Bio• Background• Start

following• Tweet!

Learn more