basics of social media for association leaders

Basics of Social MediaBasics of Social Media

April 21, 2009April 21, 2009From the New York State Bar From the New York State Bar

AssociationAssociationPresented by Barbara BeauchampPresented by Barbara Beauchamp

What is Social Media?What is Social Media?

•• Social Media is defined as Social Media is defined as ……

"The technologies that enable people to share their experiences and opinions directly with one another and without the help of traditional media, public relations or advertising."

In other words In other words ……

•• Social media is a way of selfSocial media is a way of self--publishingpublishing

•• Normal filters and procedures are not Normal filters and procedures are not in placein place

•• Traditional media models (newspapers, Traditional media models (newspapers, magazines, books) are forced to adaptmagazines, books) are forced to adapt

•• NYSBA is adapting, tooNYSBA is adapting, too

Basic CommunicationsBasic Communications

•• ListservesListserves –– a means of ea means of e--mailing from mailing from one member of a group to the entire one member of a group to the entire group; the entire group receives all group; the entire group receives all responses in most casesresponses in most cases•• Very early type of social mediaVery early type of social media•• Considered oldConsidered old--school in todayschool in today’’s s

environmentenvironment•• Group communications happen via Group communications happen via ee--

vitevite, , FacebookFacebook, text messaging, etc., text messaging, etc.

The New WorldThe New World

•• Blogs Blogs –– selfself--published opinion columns published opinion columns with an element of interactivity through with an element of interactivity through the comments featurethe comments feature

•• Comments can be signed or Comments can be signed or anonymousanonymous

•• Can be for business or personal useCan be for business or personal use

WhatWhat’’s a Wiki?s a Wiki?

•• Wiki is a format that allows for Wiki is a format that allows for collaborative creation of materials in collaborative creation of materials in HTML formatHTML format•• Wikipedia is the best known exampleWikipedia is the best known example•• Usually a wide open format Usually a wide open format –– anyone anyone

can editcan edit•• Useful for group editing of large Useful for group editing of large

publicationspublications

Social Networking vs. Social MediaSocial Networking vs. Social Media

•• Social Networking Social Networking –– connecting connecting digitally with your contacts and the digitally with your contacts and the contacts of your contacts contacts of your contacts

•• LinkedIn LinkedIn www.linkedin.comwww.linkedin.com

•• Legally Minded Legally Minded www.legallyminded.comwww.legallyminded.com

•• Can have legitimate business usesCan have legitimate business uses

LinkedIn.comLinkedIn.com

•• Go to Go to www.linkedin.comwww.linkedin.com and sign upand sign up•• Create your profile Create your profile –– be as specific as be as specific as

you feel comfortableyou feel comfortable•• Remember that your information is out Remember that your information is out

there on the Internet for all to seethere on the Internet for all to see•• Start inviting your contacts (from your Start inviting your contacts (from your

ee--mail address book) to connect with mail address book) to connect with you (become your LinkedIn buddy)you (become your LinkedIn buddy)

FacebookFacebook! MySpace! Oh My!! MySpace! Oh My!

•• Some social networking sites are for Some social networking sites are for personal use/entertainment purposespersonal use/entertainment purposes

•• Perception: sites are for kids, online Perception: sites are for kids, online dating, bands, dating, bands, raucusraucus party picturesparty pictures

•• Considered the communication tool of Considered the communication tool of choice for ages 18choice for ages 18--2424

•• < 10% over age 35 use these sites< 10% over age 35 use these sites

Using Networking SitesUsing Networking Sites

•• Choose the right product Choose the right product –– FacebookFacebookfor Young Lawyers and Law Studentsfor Young Lawyers and Law Students•• Create a protected networking site for Create a protected networking site for

Senior Lawyers Senior Lawyers ((www.nysbaseniorlawyers.ning.comwww.nysbaseniorlawyers.ning.com) )

•• Also Also http://www.mypracticelaw.org/http://www.mypracticelaw.org/•• Sometimes a directory and Sometimes a directory and listservelistserve will will

meet the member needsmeet the member needs

Twitter.comTwitter.com

•• MicrobloggingMicroblogging sitesite

•• Posts limited to 140 charactersPosts limited to 140 characters

•• Originally just a social/chat toolOriginally just a social/chat tool

•• Used by businesses to spread messageUsed by businesses to spread message

•• NYSBA twitters news release headlinesNYSBA twitters news release headlines

•• Gather Gather ““followersfollowers”” as audienceas audience

PodcastingPodcasting

•• Digital audio or video presentationsDigital audio or video presentations

•• Easily Easily archivablearchivable –– available at the available at the users convenienceusers convenience

•• Portable (with MP3 player, various Portable (with MP3 player, various phones)phones)

•• Way of easily adding audio or video Way of easily adding audio or video messages to Web sitesmessages to Web sites

Interactive Digital AudioInteractive Digital Audio

•• Host your own Internet talk showHost your own Internet talk show

•• Blog Talk RadioBlog Talk Radio

•• Allows listeners to interact by calling Allows listeners to interact by calling 800 number800 number

•• Should be managed by trained Should be managed by trained communicatorscommunicators

Digital Video Digital Video –– the Upsidethe Upside

•• Create your own online TV channelCreate your own online TV channel

•• Messages reach a different audience Messages reach a different audience than traditional print channelsthan traditional print channels

•• Allows you to record and post short adsAllows you to record and post short ads

•• Very important to keep it short and Very important to keep it short and simplesimple

How Can We Use This Stuff?How Can We Use This Stuff?

•• Connect with Section membersConnect with Section members

•• Create online idea storms to generate Create online idea storms to generate feedbackfeedback

•• Connect with the mediaConnect with the media

•• Use new technologies to excite, Use new technologies to excite, entertain, enchant your membershipentertain, enchant your membership

•• ReRe--energize existing content with energize existing content with interactivityinteractivity

What is REALLY Important?What is REALLY Important?

•• ItIt’’s all about contents all about content

•• CONTENT!!!CONTENT!!!

•• Each vehicle is a way to connect with Each vehicle is a way to connect with members, present content, encourage members, present content, encourage interactivityinteractivity

•• Goal: Make your Section a relevant and Goal: Make your Section a relevant and expected source of news, information, expected source of news, information, connection for Section membersconnection for Section members

Who to call for help:Who to call for help:

•• Contact Barbara Beauchamp at the Contact Barbara Beauchamp at the NYSBA at (518) 487 5644 or NYSBA at (518) 487 5644 or [email protected]@nysba.org with with questions or if you need assistancequestions or if you need assistance

•• For CLEFor CLE--related questions, contact related questions, contact CLE Senior Director Terry Brooks at CLE Senior Director Terry Brooks at [email protected]@nysba.org