Communicating STEM 2010 Fiachra O Marcaigh-amas

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New media, new challenges. Fiachra Ó Marcaigh of AMAS describes trends driving internet communications, the mega-trend of social networking, what these mean for for communicating science, technology engineering and maths (STEM) and what STEM communicators need to do - and watch out for - in using these new media channels.

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Communicating STEM 2010

May 2010

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Presentation content

• Background• Online trends• The social media mega-trend• What it means for you• What to do

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Background

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A brief introduction…. Past• Online since 1989• Journalist and editor, The Irish Times• Digital media start-up:

Online.ie, IrishAbroad.com

Present• Director, online consultancy AMAS• Extensive work with DSE• Non-profit roles

- Project Management Institute- User Experience Working Group of IIA- Interaction Design Association

• Ideas Campaign (2009)

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Best practices for communicating STEM

1. Collaboration: Work with others. 2. Empowerment: Create opportunities for teachers to excite

students about science.3. Enthusiasm: Be an enthusiastic advocate for science in your

community.4. Planning: Be aware of other science communication programmes.5. Context: Be aware that those least interested in science often

have great influence.6. Community Engagement: Encourage volunteering.7. Gender Awareness: Disarm social and gender biases.8. Evaluate: Assess the behavioural change being achieved. 9. Technology: Use SMS, blogging, webcasting and social networking

sites. 10. Change Behaviours.

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Best practices for communicating STEM

1. Collaboration: Work with others. 2. Empowerment: Create opportunities for teachers to excite

students about science.3. Enthusiasm: Be an enthusiastic advocate for science in your

community.4. Planning: Be aware of other science communication programmes.5. Context: Be aware that those least interested in science often

have great influence.6. Community Engagement: Encourage volunteering.7. Gender Awareness: Disarm social and gender biases.8. Evaluate: Assess the behavioural change being achieved. 9. Technology: Use SMS, blogging, webcasting and social networking

sites. 10. Change Behaviours.

Online channels can directly support

best practices

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Key internet trends and statistics

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State of the Net: the publicationAMAS blog

www.amas.ie/blog

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Trends

Broadband growth

Smart phones

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Marketing moves online

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Young people online

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Web 1.0

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Web 2.0 - digital portfolio

Social networks

Content sharing

Syndication

Your website(s)

Email newsletters

Social bookmarks

Blogs

User-generated content

Search engine profile

Multiple channels to build awareness andcommunicate STEM

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Online audiences“I don’t have to go out and find news, products or services. I expect them to find me.”

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Social media

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Social Media Revolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPgUcjGQAw

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Facebook

Primary global social network for individuals

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Facebook• 430 million users worldwide, half use

it each day• 1.5 million users in Ireland, 700,000

use it each day• Third of users 35+

Relevance?• Communications• Events• Interaction• User-generated content

Number of Irish Facebook accounts

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LinkedIn

Primary social network for businesses, professionals

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LinkedIn

• 60 million users worldwide• B2B focus

Relevance?• Networking• Knowledge sharing• Brand builder• Events

Source: 2009 Irish Online Marketing Sentiment Survey, Marketing Institute of Ireland/AMAS

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Twitter

World’s leading micro blog

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Twitter

• 100 million users worldwide

• Informal focus

Relevance?• Brand / awareness builder• News channel• Events• Creating a buzz online

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What it means for you

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Benefits to STEM communicators

Used well, it can:

• Be a flexible, cost-effective way to create awareness• Become a powerful new communications channel• Enable your organisation to punch above its weight• Support and enhance other communication channels• Build and deepen relationships with audiences

The Internet is:

• The lowest-cost channel• The quickest way to establish or lose

credibility

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Greenpeace: uses social media for advocacy and to build awareness

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Hairy Baby clothing

• Established in 2004 in a shed in Cork

• Today have over 5,500 fans on Facebook

• Fans post pictures of themselves wearing Hairy Baby clothing and give suggestions for new products

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Pilot Training College

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Ideas Campaign

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The issues…

• How to make sense of the digital landscape?

• How to manage multiple channels?• How to run effective online

communication campaigns with tangible returns?

• How to do more with less?• How not to side-tracked by the latest

online fad?Not every organisation needs to use every

new media channel - prioritise

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More issues…

• How to manage expectations?• Where does the Internet and social

media fit into overall communication plans?

• What are the best channels?• How to use the Internet to support

events and offline campaigns?• How to stop (or avoid) being a busy

fool?

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Reputation management and other risk

• Cannot control what is said about you

• Need for great care on privacy, data protection

• Governance, guidelines and training

Bill Gates

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What you need to do

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Know your audiences

• Who are your primary audience?

• Who are your secondary audiences?

• What are the specific goals of each audience?

• What will draw and hold their interest online?

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Online projects- structured approach

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Use free tools

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Write for the Web

• Conclusion first• Then supporting

material• Finally – background

Conclusion

Supporting material

Background

Write to be read

• Help people to scan• Break content into chunks• Label and signpost

Write to be found• Search engines are vital

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Search is key

• 80% of new traffic starts with search

• Sites that are not search-friendly are almost invisible

• It is much more expensive to promote offline

• Search requires work, but it is not magic

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What to do?

• Take a strategic approach• Invest in online communications• Start with the basics

• Identify your online audiences • Set out your branding and key messages for audiences• See where online can add value to current activity• Listen and learn to prepare to join in • Adopt proven communication techniques• Put your self in the mindset of the new channels

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The future...

...and there for you to use

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