This hands on workshop covers key social media platforms, how they work and how to use them effectively. We’ll discuss building social media networks, increasing your following and increasing engagement, as well as managing multiple social media platforms and measuring and analysing impact.

In the first half we’ll cover what we’re trying to achieve as organisations on social media, and which role each platform plays in reaching different audiences. We'll cover potential exit strategies for libraries on Twitter / X, and possible alternatives to the platform including Bluesky which is gaining popularity in the sector.

In the second half we’ll touch on Facebook, sourcing and using copyright free imagery, and Instagram's increasing importance to library and information services. We’ll look at content types, picture tips, use of hashtags, the increasing importance of Stories and Reels, and of course analysing and measuring impact.

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

Use social media more strategically, in conjunction with your other marketing
Understand and learn from statistics and analytics
Make use of relevant social media tools and techniques to help your organisation increase engagement online
Discern the different roles and areas of overlap between the various social media platforms

Everything in this training is designed to be applicable right away; this is not a workshop about the technologies of tomorrow, but rather things you can do the very next day.

About Ned Potter:
Ned Potter has run over 300 workshops across four continents, so has a huge amount of experience helping libraries, cultural organisations and University departments find confidence, techniques and new ways forward. He aims to provide a comfortable, supportive atmosphere in which to learn and develop new skills, and everything in his workshops is designed to be applicable right away, as soon as you return to work.

Better Social Media for Libraries