How to build communities and make a difference!

What, where, why, and how!

What is social media? Social media refers to tools of interactive

communication empowered by Web 2.0 technology.

Social media allows users to gain and exchange information on websites, build online communities, and spread messages!

The social media landscape contains many platforms that allow for different types of communication.

Social Media Platforms Social Networking. (Facebook,TakingItGlobal)

Interact by adding friends, commenting on profiles, joining groups and having discussions.

Social News. (Digg, Reddit, TakingITGlobal) Interact by sharing and commenting on articles.

Social Image and Video Sharing. (YouTube, Flickr, TakingITGlobal) Interact by sharing images or videos and commenting on user submissions.

Wikis. (Wikipedia, Wikia, TakingITGlobal) Interact by adding articles and editing existing articles.

TakingITGlobal and Social Media The TakingITGlobal (TIG) website can be seen as a

large social networking platform, similar to Facebook. As we know, it is a space where people can build friendships through common interests and to forge online community.

TIG also contains many other social media platforms within itself, similar to those described in the last slide. These different tools allow for different functions.

TIG Social Media Platforms Social News TIG Newsletters, Toolkits,

Panorama Zine, TIG Magazine, Podcasts

http://www.tigweb.org/community/newsletters/

http://www.tigweb.org/resources/toolkits/

http://www.tigweb.org/youth-media/panorama/

http://www.tigweb.org/youth-media/magazine/

http://www.tigweb.org/community/podcasts/

TIG Social Media Platforms, cont’d Social Image & Video Sharing Global Gallery

http://www.tigweb.org/youth-media/gg/index.html

Wikis TIG Blogs, Global Issues wikis, Petitions http://www.tigweb.org/community/tigblogs/

http://www.tigblog.org/group/multilingual/

http://www.tigweb.org/global-issues/

http://petitions.tigweb.org/home/index.html

Putting tools to action!

Choosing your platform Which platform will best communicate your message?

This depends a lot on what you are trying to say, but it also depends on your preference. Think about how you communicate best. Through writing? Through art? What will be most effective for getting your message across?

Three Important TipsSheldon Levine, Community Manager at social media

strategy firm Sysomos Inc., says that using social media for social change comes down to these three key tips:

1. Create content that stirs emotion;

2. Always have a call to action;

3. Create a sense of community.

Stirring Emotion

Be:•Honest in your communication•Personal in explaining why the issue is important to you•Clear in your message

Call to Action

Encourage interaction and feedback through petitions, questions, surveys, and comment boards. Often, this can be as simple as asking the question: “What do you think about this issue?”

Sense of Community

Ways to create community:•Exchange information•Get to know your audience•Most importantly: show others you’re listening to what they have to say!

Feel free to ask any questions or email me at kelli@takingitglobal for more info!