How to use social media in your job

How to use social media in your job - in 30 days
By Jane Hart

Are you confused with all the talk about social media and want to find out how it can help you? Social media is not something you just read about; it's something you do, so this 30d-day online programme provides a practical introduction to social media for use in your own job. By demonstrating the value of social media in your own professional practice, you will then be able to help others benefit from it too.

What is social media?

Social media are a new breed of technologies that provide a range of services and applications that let individuals (co-)create content in a variety of formats, share information and knowledge with others in networks and communities, and support a new collaborative approach to working.

In the workplace, individuals are making increasing use of social media tools to support their own as well as their team's performance and productivity. The free availability of a huge number of online tools means that it is now very quick and easy to set up and use them for your specific needs.

Who is this 30-day programme for?

This programme is intended for those new to social media who want to get up and running fairly quickly in their own job or professional practice.

Using social media in your organisation

Your organisation may already have a number of social media tools or platforms in place - in which case use this programme a way of identifying the right tool for the job. But if this is not the case in your organisation, here you will find some suggestions for free tools that you can quickly and easily make use of. You will need to make your own judgement about how private or secure they are for your own particular use, and whether you should set up separate professional accounts (if you are already using them in a personal capacity). If any of the highlighted tools are banned in your organisation, then take a look at some of the alternatives in the More tools links provided on each page. Your organisation may also have some guidelines in place on the use of public social media; if not take a look at Thomson Reuters new social media guidelines for some guidance.

Overview of the 30-day programme

The programme is divided in 7 main sections:

Finding things out on the Web
Keeping up to date with new Web content
Building a trusted network of colleagues
Communicating with your colleagues
Sharing resources, ideas and experiences with your colleagues
Collaborating with your colleagues
Improving your personal productivity

This presentation provides more detail of what it contains

You can find the full contents list here

How to access and use the programme

Sign up for the FREE 30-day open programme
The programme starts monthly on 1st of each month. Every day we will send you an email with a link to the day's materials where we discuss a different tool. There will also be an activity to work on and you are encouraged to share your experiences and thoughts with others working on the programme. Sign up by leaving your email here. Next programme starts 1 October 2010
Have a private 30-day programme run for your team or organisation
Please contact Jane Hart to discuss this further.
Purchase a personal copy of the 30-programme
The 3-day programme is available as PDF to download to download, The Practical Guide to Using Social Media in your Job. You can purchase the PDF for Ł10. Purchase it here
Set up a onsite workshop for you and your team
We offer bespoke workshops based on the content of this programme. The cost of the Workshop will be determined by number of participants, venue, length of workshop, etc. Please contact Jane Hart to discuss this further.

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