Social Media And Public Health Communications

Social Media and Social Media and Public Health Public Health

(Crisis) Communication(Crisis) CommunicationSarah Evans

Sevans Strategy@PRsarahevans

sarah@sevansstrategy.com

Online Communities & Online Communities & Social MediaSocial Media

Give people information (ASAP)Allow others to comment and participate

◦ Share photos and video◦ Link to other experts and sources

Dispel rumors and misinformationMonitor (your own news and other breaking news)

Respond Comprehensive (multiple online accounts)Compile credible sourcesStreamline information

◦ Badges◦ Widgets

What are you going to use & what What are you going to use & what already exists? (your inventory)already exists? (your inventory)

EmailTwitterFacebookNing site (create your own network)Web site and/or blogTextPhoto (Flickr)Video (YouTube, Seesmic)Applications (badges and widgets)

Who owns your content?Who owns your content?

WHO, CDC, Kane County?WHO, CDC, Kane County?

Let people know you’re thereLet people know you’re there

Build up your community (start now)◦Send an email announcement◦Reach out to people from your account(s)

Include social media sites in your email signature, print materials, Web site, etc

Let people know what you’re Let people know what you’re going to talk aboutgoing to talk about

Is this just for breaking health news?Are you going to interact with people?Is more than one person going to update the account(s)?

Will there be updates 24/7/365?What is your voice/brand?Is more than one account on each network appropriate (see upcoming example)?

TwitterTwitter

Twitter is a service for people to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.

Twitter lets users engage in conversations with other users in 140 characters or less.

Basic TermsBasic Terms

Tweet Posting a message to Twitter@ + name The command which allows tweets to be sent; proceeds username (i.e. @journchat)Retweet (RT) Sharing someone else’s information and giving them credit (RT @name message…)Following You choose to receive someone's updatesFollowers People who choose to receive your updatesDirect Message (DM) Private message sent between two peopleBlock Preventing someone from reading your updatesFavorites A public area to save your favorite tweets Fail Whale When too many people are tweeting!Hashtag The # next to a word allows for conversation tracking (#tweetup)Tweetup A face-to-face gathering of those who tweet

Profile ExampleProfile Example

People are talking about H1N1 in People are talking about H1N1 in IL!IL!

FACT: The CDC had less than FACT: The CDC had less than 1,0001,000 Twitter followers in March Twitter followers in March on May 21, they had on May 21, they had 179, 871 179, 871 and and in July in July 487,324487,324. .

CDC Emergency TweetCDC Emergency Tweet

What works in that tweet?What works in that tweet?

Gave the factsShortened URL (recommend bit.ly)Hashtag for tracking

CDC Health TweetCDC Health Tweet

World Health Organization News World Health Organization News

TIP: Encourage people to turn on TIP: Encourage people to turn on mobile alerts for your account mobile alerts for your account so they receive information so they receive information real-time. real-time.

FacebookFacebook

FacebookFacebook

Create a fan pagePost and allow others to share links, information, photos, videos

Monitor for those interacting on your page

Send messages to a targeted audienceIn an emergency you can update your status and send a message to the group

You MUST monitor this page (and think about how you want to interact)

CDC Facebook Fan PageCDC Facebook Fan Page

WHO Fan PageWHO Fan Page

Best practices to build off Best practices to build off ofof

WHO Virtual Press BriefingsWHO Virtual Press Briefings

CDC Web site – Show and TellCDC Web site – Show and Tell

CDC Web site: here is where you CDC Web site: here is where you can find informationcan find information

Widget: Promotion for you, Widget: Promotion for you, update once, message managementupdate once, message management

Other Tools for MD’sOther Tools for MD’s

SickCity.org: Real-time disease SickCity.org: Real-time disease detection by citydetection by city

To do’s for your Web siteTo do’s for your Web site

Running Twitter feeds (yours + CDC)WidgetsLinks to your online profilesEmail alertsRSS feedsShow where people can go for additional information

Link to other credible sources of information

To do’s for youTo do’s for you

Set up Google alertsMonitor http://search.twitter.com and Facebook

Identify who is in charge of your social media presence

Talk about your strategy and plan for social media use

Once you join in, you’re expected to participate

ResourcesResources

• Conserve Space and Track: Shorten your URLs• http://bit.ly• http://tiny.url• http://www.tiny.cc

• 3rd Party Applications• http://www.tweetdeck.com• http://www.twhirl.com • http://twitter.com/downloads

• Streamline updates = Ping.fm• Mobile

• Blackberry = Twitterberry• iPhone

• Tweetie• Tweetdeck• iTwitter (just launched)