It’s a well-known fact that the landscape of the education sector is growing ever more digital, with the recent Further Education Learning Technology Action Group (FELTAG) report advocating the use of technology in education, and the credibility and viability of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Vocational Open Online Courses (VOOCs) growing.
Alongside this, social media is gaining ground across all areas and professions. No longer just a channel for personal updates and anecdotes, large brands and corporations such as Tesco, politicians including the leaders of the three major parties in the UK, and a plethora of educational institutions are taking to platforms such as Twitter to reach their audience, both current and new, in a different and engaging fashion.
It’s understandable that social media can be daunting for those new to it. However, it’s an ideal method of reaching out to a younger generation born into using sites such as Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis; 90% of 18-29 year olds have a social media presence. It’s not only the younger generation who can be reached through social media though, as the same report shows 78% of 30-49 year olds and 56% of the 50+ age group also use social media.
Twitter can be used in a number of ways; due to its real-time nature, breaking news can quickly reach a wide audience. Additionally, it can be used to initiative conversation on pretty much any topic. The use of hashtags can then help enclose the debate and ensure all contributions can be seen and linked to the subject.
Social media also gives you the opportunity to interact directly with your audience, from telling them about a brand new qualification you’re delivering, to answering queries and solving problems. There is a fear that negative feedback or comments on social media can be a detriment to your organisation, but a presence on social media gives you the opportunity to take control over these comments and even right some wrongs. Research has shown that if brands and organisations respond to a negative comment and fix the problem, customers are likely to tell more people than they would have if the brand had impressed them, or if the error wasn’t rectified.
Interaction and communication with your audience is vital to building trust and loyalty, and social media is one of the most prominent, and importantly free, platforms on which to do this. What do you think? Is social media currently part of your strategy, or is it something you’re looking to utilise in the future? If you don’t use it, what are the reasons for this?
If you need any further advice on social media, whether you’re just beginning or if you want tips on how to use it effectively, you can check out our social media guides:
A Twitter guide for Schools
A Guide to Twitter
