YOUR Social And Digital Transformation?

10 questions about social media and digital transformation - When you don't have time to answer everything at a conference..

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At last month's Tribal SITS Conference in Wales, the digital transformation panel received more questions than it had time to answer. Receiving a plethora of queries from conference attendees via the web.

Eric Stoller joined Jayne Aldridge, Executive Director of AMOSSHE / Director of Services for Students Kingston University and Andrew Meikle, Head of Corporate Information Systems at Lancaster University, to answer a variety pack of questions pertaining to all things digital plus higher education.

As you might expect, my remarks for the digital transformation panel were focused around social media, digital capabilities/literacy, employability, and critical thinking. Whilst we divvied up the panel questions so that all three of us were able to share equally, there remained several unanswered questions that related to my presentation.

Presented in no particular order, here are some of the questions that I wasn't able to answer due to time constraints. I've provided short-form answers just like I would had I answered them during the panel Q & A: by Eric Stoller

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Any tips on getting senior management to believe that digital transformation projects are essential/important?

It's always interesting to figure out how to get senior leaders on-board (if they aren't already) a digital transformation project. I'd start with showing why the project matters.

• What will it do to help enhance the student experience? 
• How will it benefit the university?
• Also, have other universities implemented this type of project?

Use those case studies to help make the case that this digital transformation initiative is important. And, if you can get someone from a university that has successfully implemented an equivalent project, who is a peer of one of your senior leaders, to share their experience, that can be very helpful in moving things along.

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Do you think that the social apps have become an electronic version for the "garden shed"?

The garden shed reference is presumably a British expression and I'm not sure I know what that means. (Were I on the panel, this is when I would turn to my fellow panelists and ask for help.)

However, if the shed reference means that their are too many apps and things can get muddled, I'd start with asking what it is that you are trying to accomplish via social media and then pick a couple of apps that match up with your goals / expected outcomes.

Is it possible to create a truly personal digital experience for students?

There's a lot of talk these days about personalized learning via digital technologies. Whilst data sets, algorithms, machine learning, etc. can be used to feed customized information to students, I'm not yet sold on the idea that a bespoke experience can be achieved at the individual student level.

I think that Amazon does a good job of personalizing the customer experience based on user patterns, prior purchases, search history, etc. but that doesn't mean the experience is still really all that personal. It's a lot of "best guesses" using the best tech of the day.

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Why is not using Snapchat an issue about digital literacy? I think a lot of people choose not to use some of these apps as some seem rather silly.

There can be a lot of fear and resistance to using an app like Snapchat. I suppose it's more about overcoming the perception that an app can't be useful in the context of whatever someone is doing in their role at a university. Snapchat stories are used by universities all over the world to share curated, ephemeral messages about orientation/induction, graduation, study abroad experiences, athletic events, etc.

Would you agree that when it comes to using digital transformation, there should be a framework for students to educate the educators?

In one way or another, we're all learners. No one is a digital native and no one is a digital immigrant. I think in some instances, students can educate educators. However, it's vital that the digital capacity of students is not assumed to be exceptional simply by default.

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How can we police the use of social media in our institutions and ensure usage is not damaging?

I guess I'd ask how we police the use of telephones, email, etc. Social media can be used in a variety of educationally relevant ways...and it can also be used in extremely hyperbolic and damaging ways.

I don't think there's a way to "police" social media, nor would I advocate for such a thing. Teachable moments happen online and in-person. How is your university leading the way in terms of teaching digital citizenship and role modeling community, empathy, listening, and care via digital channels?

If you created an app for HE, what would it look like?

That's a great question. I honestly have no idea because I've never thought about making an app for higher education. Maybe I'd do something around the curation of ideas / thought leadership for anyone who's interested in digital transformation and using social media for engagement.

How do you join all the interactions up? We might be good at talking to students but if we can't measure or share the impact what's the point?

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Some of the best measurement/analytics work pertaining to all things digital plus engagement happens within university communications, marketing, and recruitment.

I would talk to those areas within your institution to see what types of tools and measures they are using and see if you can join up with their efforts. Also, sometimes digital engagement mirrors in-person interactions...and most of those brick-and-mortar conversations aren't necessarily measured.

Do you think there is a fear that the use of social media could negatively impact on university reputation?

The benefits of using social media far outweigh the perceived risks. "Fear is the mind-killer." Universities use social media for admissions/recruitment, teaching/learning, marketing/communications, alumni relations, etc. Don't let fear impede your creative tendencies.

Guest Authored By Eric Stoller. Eric is a higher education thought-leader, consultant, writer, and speaker. He frequently gives keynotes on how educators can use social media strategically and is a proponent for teaching students about digital identity development. With a background in student affairs, academic advising, wellness, technology, and communications, Eric focuses his energies on educating clients and captivating audiences. As the Student Affairs and Technology blogger for Inside Higher Ed, he generates conversations, answers questions, and provides insight about a variety of "tech topics."  He has given presentations on social media and technology at multiple Student Affairs events (AACRAO, ACPA, ACUI, ACUHO-I, NACADA, NACAS, NACCU, NACS, and NASPA) and is a former regional chair of the NASPA Technology Knowledge Community. Follow Eric on Twitter.

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The benefits of using social media far outweigh the perceived risks. "Fear is the mind-killer."

Universities use social media for admissions/recruitment, teaching/learning, marketing/communications, alumni relations, etc.

Don't let fear impede your creative tendencies..

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  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Social Media Marketing Best Practices?

Zoe Cairns, internationally acclaimed social media consultant, conducts a special workshop at IDMA, (Indian Digital Media Awards), and shares five best practices that brands should follow to make the most of their social media strategy:

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Build Trust in Your Brand

According to Zoe, most people are looking for brand recommendations and social media allows this easily through user generated content. Since people can share their thoughts about any brand on social media, it makes it easier for them to trust a brand if it gets a positive reaction on the platform.

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Look Closely At User Generated Content

Zoe also believes that it's more challenging for brands to promote on social media because the brand is not in total control of the content that gets generated. However, in her view, the user generated content can provide crucial insights to brand owners and help them approach their audience in a more targeted way.

It's All About The Right Strategy

Social media marketing success is the outcome of well planned strategy, says Cairns. She believes that it is important for marketers to know what they want to achieve, to be able to differentiate between brand awareness and engagement, and above all, to know how to choose the right social media platform to target their audience.

Don't Hard Sell

According to Zoe, it is important for brands and marketers to convert social media conversations to potential leads. However, making a hard sell is never an option. It is important for brands to realize what additional value they can give back to consumers to keep them engaged. In her view, the mistake that brands often make is to bombard potential customers with communication which often leads to a situation where brands tend to get ignored. In order to avoid it, the art of subtle engagement is the right way forward.

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Be Guided by Algorithms

Zoe is a strong believer in the power of algorithms, especially when it comes to making content strategy for social media marketing. "The best practice is to look at algorithms and guide the content strategy accordingly. I would say algorithms are controlling social media communication in a major way.

Zoe Cairns is a highly respected and proficient International Social Media Speaker, TV Expert, Trainer and Consultant. 

Specializing in many areas but focusing on one of the many areas people do not cover when they first set out in Social Media, their Social Media Strategy. She works with many companies, brands and Fortune 500 companies to make sure that they have a strategy and know how to implement high profile campaigns to get the maximum from their Social Media activities. Her passion is also sharing the message about Social Media and how it can be used in business.

Zoe has traveled to many places to speak at many events including Poland (She was commissioned by Seldia EU to attend a Roundtable Conference to speak to European Parliament and Government), Amsterdam (The Social Media Strategies Summit), India (Socialathon 2014 for Digital Market Asia), Ireland, Madrid training a 1.2 billion company and Montenegro to speak at a conference for NATO. Follow Zoe on X.

Guest Authored By Ruhail Amin. Ruhail is a Journalist at Exchange 4 Media. Formerly Hindustan Times, and Times of India. Follow Ruhail on Twitter.

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Social media itself is not the answer to having a great marketing strategy.

It has to be done with other media platforms for effective reach.

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  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Social Media And YOUR Better Half?

We've all heard of the 'should you be friends with your ex on social media' debate. It's a risky decision -- there might be photos of a new flame, posts about single life or the dreaded relationship status change..

But what we don't hear that much about is whether or not it's a good idea to befriend your current other half in the digital world.

You might think -- why not? Afterall, social media is a part of everyday life. But it turns out there's a split debate and it may be worth thinking twice before accepting a friend request from your significant other.

According to Dr Nikki Goldstein, sexologist, relationship expert and author of Single But Dating, it takes time for a sense of security to develop, which means if you're new into a relationship, avoid merging your virtual worlds.

"If it's a new relationship, you need to get to know the person, not the perception of what they project online," Goldstein said.

"In a new relationship you'll start prodding instead of actually asking the question and you might come out with a bit more jealousy, so the risk is that you'll see things and you won't be sure how to digest it so you'll sweep it underneath the rug and you'll let the jealousy consume you."

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Goldstein suggests if you're looking at past photos, following up on their comments or wondering about their newest Instagram follower, it's time to 'unfriend' and have a conversation with your partner to break down communication barriers.

"Maybe they're not replying to your text message but they've just 'checked in' somewhere, and you're thinking, 'hang on a minute, you've got time to check in but you don't have time to call me back' -- these are all things in a new relationship that can really send you crazy," Goldstein said.

"It's when you get a sense of security, when you feel there are those clear communication channels, that you can express concerns in a way that's not aggressive or not accusing them. At that point, add them on social media because then whatever comes up you'll be able to address it easily and quickly and it won't become a problem, it'll be a conversation."

Goldstein also suggests not jumping to conclusions about your partner's decision to keep your relationship off social media, keeping in mind respect and privacy.

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"Some people want to protect their relationship and that's where you have to think more on the optimistic side -- think that maybe they don't want comments from everybody, or everybody giving their opinion on what's going on in the relationship," Goldstein said.

"Make sure you actually live your relationship for you not for the validation of the people around you."

While you may see things on your partner's social media that might invoke a sense of paranoia, keeping your digital lives separate can also cause conflict within the relationship.

As psychologist and dating expert, Melanie Schilling reveals, excluding your partner is like never taking them as your plus one to events.

"Just think about what it means to include your partner in your digital world, and more importantly, what it means to exclude them -- it can signal 'I don't trust you' or 'you are not worthy of being in my inner circle'," Schilling said.

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"Remember, what we do online is simply a version of what we do in the real world -- would you openly tell your partner they are not invited to a party with you?"

If you do choose to keep your relationship sans social media, Schilling suggests staying connected on messaging apps or platforms like email, or choosing a new platform to explore and experiment with together.

Alternatively, remember the way we used to tell people what we were up to before Facebook was invented?

Talk to each other! (Ringing any bells?) Don't send your partner the filtered, angled photos we splash on social media sites, call them and talk about your day.

Guest Authored By Kirstie Fitzpatrick. Kirstie is a Digital Communications and Blog Writer for HuffPostAU. Follow Kirstie on Twitter.

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Remember the way we used to tell people what we were up to before Facebook was invented?

Talk to each other! (Ringing any bells?) Don't send your partner the filtered, angled photos we splash on social media sites, call them and talk about your day..

• 

  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

YOUR Small Business Communication Strategies?

It's not all about social media: Why you need a more wholesome communications strategy to grow your business..

The over reliance on just social media needs to stop. It's one part of your arsenal, but it shouldn't be your only focus point.

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Social media has done a great job of creating disruption to what was once a money-hungry and egotistical industry: media and public relations.

But the dust is finally settling. We're starting to peel back the layers on the tweets, the engagement, the clicks, and the views, and it's not the holy grail that many have been touting it as. As someone who's worked in media for over a decade, I've seen the peaks and troughs of countless campaigns, and the resounding success that can come from people talking about your brand and business- if you use communications effectively.

Notice how I used the word communications, and not media? For too long, we've relied on this outward approach to connecting with stakeholders through a one-way form of communication, and along the way, we've forgotten, especially as entrepreneurs, how much coverage can mean to one individual business. It's one thing if we tell you we're great; it's another if 10 other people validate that on their platform. Entrepreneurs should be great communicators on every platform to get their message and call to action out to their customers - so, where are we missing the mark?

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Firstly, the over reliance on just social media needs to stop.

It's one part of your arsenal, but it shouldn't be your only focus point. Crafting captivating images, witty captions, and cohesive feeds may suit certain brands, but for many startups, it may not be the right choice for you.

By now, you should have done your homework to know where your customers are most engaging, and how they want you to be a part of that. If not, go back to square one, and narrow down your customers habits. This should be the beginning of your communications strategy- knowing how to get in front of your customers.

If you've spent the time and effort to create a product or service you know people want and need, you should have a fairly good idea of their day-to-day habits, their likes and dislikes, and where they stand demographically, socially, and geographically.

Communications strategies take all of these factors into account, and create messages, pieces of information if you will, that specifically speak to your target customer to get them to engage with your product or service. Without these, you have no clear direction to go in, or a way of effectively targeting potential customers for sales.

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Secondly, don't overlook traditional media platforms like print, radio, or television.

Established networks allow you to piggyback on their exposure if you have a great story to tell, or a news hook. Your starting up of a company isn't going to be a headline unless you've already exited a previous startup, and your name has already had coverage. However, if the angle or hook is that you've just received another round of funding, or that your product has now been used by 1000 people, and you release data to show that your industry trends are changing, that's something to talk about. Having a good communications strategy in place will allow you to create these types of talking points based on your specific industry.

It's also worth noting that traditional media outlets have embraced the digital age. You now have print magazines with online editions, radio shows that are recorded and placed online as podcasts, TV shows, etc. on social media platforms. It's a kill-two birds- with-one-stone strategy: create a convincing hook to attract attention from producers or editors, get coverage in print or on a live broadcasting show, and you'll automatically appear on their digital channels. Not only that, but a new study by YouGov shows that "local newspapers are the most trusted source for local news and information, and more than three times more trusted than social media sites."

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Third, it's important to know that you as a founder are the very first ambassador for your brand, and your employees should be too.

It's a theme emerging from Silicon Valley whereby employees are invested and engaged in the overcall company mission, and by getting that by in from day one, you create loyal brand ambassadors for life. That is well before you even take your product to market.

Think of the likes of Uber, Google, or Bumble.

These companies have all showcased their employees at tech conferences, industry events, and panel discussions to represent the brand in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and that type of coverage stamps your market on the world stage.

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At the end of the day, we're in the business of making money, and having a return on our investments.

Would you rather have 10,000 likes, or $10,000 in the bank? If the latter is the case, then it's worthwhile investing in a communications strategy to be able to effectively connect with your customers.

If your focus is solely on creating a captivating Instagram feed, then you're just creating a captivating billboard for your business. It's time to start thinking about investing your time gaining coverage in other media channels that have a captive audience, and then converting those fans into customers.

Guest Authored By Anna Roberts. Anna is a radio and TV presenter in Dubai, & founder of Nudge, a communications advisory specializing in public speaking and media training. Anna has interviewed the worlds most high profile sports stars and corporate leaders and believes that business success stems from authentic and effective communication. Her belief is that everyone should have the tools and confidence to give their ideas a voice, from entrepreneurs pitching for investment through to keynote presentations. See her work across print regional publications and online on her website where she discusses everything from how to handle a media scrum through to elevating your confidence on stage. Follow Anna on Twitter.

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The over reliance on just social media needs to stop.

It's one part of your arsenal, but it shouldn't be your only focus point..

• 

  Post Crafted By:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO. where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)