Social media best practices: more ideas for engagement


Facebook and Twitter
Share
- Post articles, share YouTube videos or flickr pictures that would be of interest and relevant to your fans/followers
- Give a glimpse of developing projects and events
- This generates the most response and creates engagement between your department and your fans/followers
Engagement
- Update your status frequently with events, classes, thoughts, current happenings, and news.
- These updates will appear on your fans/followers home feeds
Trigger conversations
- Tag fans, followers, colleagues or other UBC units or departments in your posts to create conversation
- Tagging fans/followers helps spread the word and build engagement
Ask questions
- Asking questions encourages interaction
- Fans/followers may share valuable insights
- Create an opportunity to allow fans/followers to connect with your department
Help fans connect with you
- Include links on your profile that references back to The University of British Columbia. E.g. what else is happening on campus?
- Reference articles and links about The University of British Columbia and how it relates to your department
- Provide your campus contact information – where can your fans/follower find you?
Listen
- Regularly monitor the comments about your company, department, and services
- What are your fans/followers asking for or discussing? What is missing?
Respond
- Respond to compliments and feedback
- Show your fans/followers you are listening
- Create value and reasons to pay attention to your social media efforts
Blog or website synchronization
- Import your blog or website posts into your facebook or twitter page. This will help drive your fans/follower to your webpage

Share
- Post interesting and original photos of events, happenings on campus and in your department
- Tell a story through pictures – show off your department’s personality and culture
- Integrate your Instagram account with your department’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, Flickr account and/or any other social media platforms used by your department
- This will build loyalty between you and your fans/followers
Engagement and Conversation
- Engage thoughtfully with other Instagram members
- Conversation will spend the word about your department and The University of British Columbia
Be popular
- Take quality photos, and take the time to edit them appropriately.
- Use filters when they make the photo look good, and find interesting angles to take photos from
- Make it feel like your followers are seeing a glimpse into an interesting story
- Followers will like and share your photos if they add value to their lives
- Title photos appropriately
- Thank followers and interact with them

YouTube
Share
- Post a YouTube link to your Email, facebook, twitter, website, newsletter, etc.
- Post interesting and original videos of events, happenings on campus and in your department
Engagement and Conversation
- Encourage viewers to rate your video
- Higher ratings and more comments indicate that videos are better/more interesting
Help fans connect with you
- Use key words in your title to enable the most search results
- Fill out the “tags” with key words that relate back to your department and The University of British Columbia

Flickr
Share
- Post interesting and original photos/videos of events, happenings on campus and in your department
- Tell a story through pictures – show off the department personality and culture
- Post a Flickr link to your Email, facebook, twitter, website, newsletter, etc.
- This will build loyalty between you and your fans/followers
Engagement and Conversation
- Engage thoughtfully with other flickr members
- Conversation will spend the word about your department and The University of British Columbia
Help fans connect with you
- Join a group where you can share photos on a common theme
- Use key words in your title to enable the most search results
- Fill out the “tags” with key words that relate back to your department and The University of British Columbia