HTML Preview Social Media Communications Plan page number 1.
Social media communications plan
Outline of technologies and methods used by Organizational Advancement.
Scope of plan
This document is intended to be a “living document” — it evolves and changes as the technologies and
methods of social media do. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach utilizes a variety of
channels and platforms of social media and monitors new technologies, adopting those that fit our
communications needs best. While there are numerous social media platforms available, this plan only
addresses those actively in use.
Overview
Social media continues to be a major focus and growing
component of the Web, with more users signing up every day for
websites and applications as new platforms are developed.
Social media presents an opportunity for additional channels
through which ISU Extension and Outreach can reach
stakeholders with promotion of news, publications, programs
and other resources. In addition to disseminating information,
social media offers the opportunity to engage with stakeholders
and form online communities around ISU Extension and
Outreach. However, social media is not all-inclusive and needs
to be part of a larger communications effort.
Extension and Outreach currently uses several social media
channels as means to spread ISU Extension and Outreach news, as well as post unique content, reinforce
the brand and engage with stakeholders. Content is chosen based on audience and relevance, using each
channel’s unique strengths to best present the information.
Guiding principles
To ensure that our stakeholders get the most out of their social media experience with ISU Extension and
Outreach, Organizational Advancement staff is constantly monitoring best practices of social media use
and experimenting with content types that work best with each channel.
In general, activity by ISU Extension and Outreach on all its social media platforms is focused on:
being authentic and positive
being used to listen to fans/followers
responding to comments and questions
conversing naturally with fans/followers
providing content that is focused on quality over quantity
The ISU Extension and Outreach accounts already have a solid group of followers and continue to
increase in followers and gain new audiences with increases in activity and changes in tactics.