Power of Social Networks

The Power of

Social Networking To Reach, Engage and Influence

Julie SwansonWisconsin Clearinghouse, University of Wisconsin- Madison

How you communicate matters

Julie SwansonSenior Outreach Specialist

Meet Harriet

flickr.com/photos/grantneufeld

Flickr: jonathangaskin

Flickr: Ario

Flickr: bensheldon

Flickr: pablobastidas

Imagine!

Social NetworksReach, Engage, Influence

3 Powerful Reasons

1. Content

2. Connections

3. Credibility

Flickr: Choconancy1

Content

Information = power

How content is shared

Traditional Media

Few

Social Media

Anyone

Whoo

Radio, TV

BlogPodcastYoutube

Peer reviewed journal Blog/RSS

Long timeImmediate

When

Where

flickr: yourdonflickr: dippy_duck

Limiteddanywhere

How content is created

WhoCrowd Sourcing

Wisdom of Crowds

User Generated Content

Experts

“The People Formerly Known as

the Audience”

Involve audience in creating content

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gwUdmPl0bU

Why Use Examples How it WorksVideo Sharing

Content

• Anyone can create

• Anyone can publish

BlogsBlogs

How many of you?

• Read

• Comment

• Author

Why Use Examples How it WorksBlogs

As a Newsletter

As a support group

Why Use Examples How it WorksBlogs

Marathon County Blog

Influence Policy Change

Three great reasons to blog

Short, one topic posts

Search by month

…or topic!

Online Archive

Why Use Examples How it WorksBlogs

Comments = conversation

Why Use Examples How it WorksBlogs

Why?

• Publish

• Read

Adding Value

• New information

• Tailored information

• Application ideas and examples

• Collect/Summarize

• Lessons learned

RSS m

Why Use Examples How it WorksRSS

Why Use Examples How it WorksRSS

Why Use Examples How it WorksRSS

Your RSS Reader

Why Use Examples How it WorksRSS

Tips for getting started

• Find blogs to read

• Comment on other blogs

• Pilot a blog

• Be a guest blogger

Discussion

• What are your top take aways?

• How are you or could you use a blog to add value?

• Do you know of other examples of how blogs are being used?

• What questions do you still have?

Blog

Questions and Sharing

3 Powerful Reasons

• Content

• Connections

• Credibility

Flickr: Choconancy1

The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years

New England Journal of Medicine July 2007

Why Use Examples How it WorksFacebook

socialmarketing.blogs.com/r_craiig_lefebvres

Social Capital =

Power

We can organize in new ways

Power to the Edges

“Large numbers of people can be mobilized within hours—even minutes—… at little or no cost.”

…barriers to group action have collapsed..

..without those barriers,

we are free to explore new ways of gathering together and getting things done.

In 11 weeks

• 480 bone marrow drives

• 24,611 new people registered

• 3,500 volunteers recruited

• 150,000 visitors to websites

Connections

Relationships = Power

Facebook

My Facebook confession

That all changed

Feedback

Julie- You've become my go to source for information on the protests in Madison and the news interpretations about them. It's been really valuable. Thanks.

How is Facebook being used?

Share information

Why Use Examples How it WorksFacebook

Why Use Examples How it WorksFacebook

Build Relationships

“At their core, social networks are about relationships and are built on trust.”

From Working Wikily

Discussion

• What are your top takeaways?

• What are you doing now or what could you do to build connections on Facebook ( or other social network?)

• If you are on Facebook, what are your top tips or lessons learned?

• If you are not on Facebook, what questions do you have?

FacebookQuestions

3 Powerful Reasons

• Content

• Connections

• Credibility

Flickr: Choconancy1

Working wikily

“expanding our ability to access

new perspectives by tapping into the ideas and expertise of many individuals, rather than relying only on an elite few”

The Power of Authenticity

Examples

The Power of Authentic Voices

Share Stories

Build Bridges

Build Bridges

Social networkOn Facebook, powered by Touchgraph Flickr: yhancik

Discussion

• What are your take aways?

• How are you or could you: build bridges and share stories?

• Are there other ways you are ( or could) give voice to the “unheard voices.”

3 Powerful Reasons

• Content

• Connections

• Credibility

Flickr: Choconancy1

Getting Stared

• Listen

• Try at home

• Pilot

Resources

Bethkantor.org

Summary and Resources at: bit.ly/socialnet4h

The Power of Social Networks

• link with any number of people,

• access greater diversity of perspectives,

• accelerate the sharing of information,

• reduce the cost of participation and coordination.