IPM (Integrated Participatory Management): Using Social Media to Cultivate and Engage a Network of Those Who Care and Share.

Extension faculty have a unique opportunity to share and facilitate dialogue about the wonder, awe, challenges and benefits of the science we see, hear, and touch through Extension programs.

Social media provides an avenue for sharing relevant ideas, information and knowledge with people who share a common interest. Yet, the social media landscape is constantly evolving. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter demand our commitment and creativity to stay competitive in an information rich landscape. Social media algorithms prioritize those that can pull in engagement versus disseminate information. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to compete for views and engagement in the social media landscape and still find time for research and deep thinking!

The good news is that there are many examples of educators and organizations succeeding at ways to use social media to grow their networks, cultivate better engagement, and harvest social insights to enhance their work.

In this presentation, we’ll look at ways to:

1. Integrate your social media strategy with your program needs.
2. Harness the power of creativity to target and engage your community.
3. Evaluate your efforts to carve out new and innovative program pathways.