Social media Workshops FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: Detailed information on content, timings and tech requirements
This page is designed for organisations who want a detailed understanding of the Better Social Media workshops I run for University Departments and Professional Services. If you just want a general overview, and a list of the different versions of the social media training I offer, head to the main Training page!
There is also detailed information on both Presentation Skills and Strategic Marketing workshops. You can email me on nedpotter@ymail.com to discuss booking any workshop.
Workshop description
This workshops is aimed specifically at those working in HE, looking to make an impact with their social media at a time when the landscape is increasingly unstable. As X (Twitter) becomes less and less viable, where should Academic Departments, Careers Services, Student Support Centres, Estates Services and so on focus their social media efforts?
This hands on workshop covers key social media platforms, how they work and how to use them effectively. We’ll discuss building social media networks, increasing your following and increasing engagement, as well as managing multiple social media platforms and measuring and analysing impact.
In the first half we’ll cover what we’re trying to achieve as organisations on social media, and which role each platform plays in reaching different audiences. We’ll discuss Instagram and why it’s increasingly vital important. We’ll look at content types, picture tips, use of hashtags, the increasing importance of Stories and Reels, and of course analysing and measuring impact.
In the second half we’ll move onto X (Twitter): when and what to tweet, lists and saved searches, multimedia and images, twitter video, logistics, and analytics - how to measure the impact of your Tweets.
We’ll end with some bite-size social media covering Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
By the end of the course delegates will be able to:
Use social media more strategically, in conjunction with your other marketing
Understand and learn from statistics and analytics
Make use of relevant social media tools and techniques to help your organisation increase engagement online
Discern the different roles and areas of overlap between the various social media platforms
Everything in this training is designed to be applicable right away; this is not a workshop about the technologies of tomorrow, but rather things you can do the very next day. All the materials (slides and booklet) will be available online for delegates during and after the workshop.
[If you’re booking an in-house version of this workshop - so all the delegates are from the same organisation - it will be tailored to focus on the areas of your choosing.]
As the host organisation you would provide the webinar software (Zoom, Teams, Go-To or similar). I have a two-screen set-up (so I can always monitor the discussion and pick up on questions as they happen), high-speed internet connection and a high quality microphone. I can run the online training at a time to suit your time-zone!
Usually the online version of this course is 3 hours long, running from 10am to 1pm. Some organisations prefer to break this into two parts over two separate days.
the Online version of this workshop
The in-person version: Tech spec and room layout
This in-person runs from 10am - 4pm and requires every delegate to have a device with them. It can take place in a Computer Room, or in a seminar room if a) everyone brings devices with them, ideally laptops, although a tablet will work if need be, and b) there is strong wifi at the venue and plenty of plug sockets. These two factors are both really important, and the workshop wouldn’t work without them.
The workshop is normally capped at 25 people to make sure I can get a chance to speak to everyone individually during the tasks and exercises.
I will bring a laptop on which to present, and I’ll need a projector and screen supplied in the room. For this course the room will need to have wifi access and speakers I can plug in to the laptop.
Ned Potter is an Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of York, and a Trainer for various organisations including the Bodleian Libraries, the NHS and several Universities the UK and abroad.
His book The Library Marketing Toolkit was published by Facet in 2012. Ned can be found online at ned-potter.com and on Twitter at @ned_potter.
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Previous clients IN Higher education for whom I’ve run workshops:
UK: University of Oxford, Queen’s University Belfast, Open University, University of Westminster, University of Salford, Oxford Brookes University, University of Sussex, Newcastle University, University o the Arts London, University of York, Leeds Beckett University, University of Sheffield, Lancaster University, University of Huddersfield, Durham University, University of Kent, University of Bradford
Elsewhere: University of Oslo Norway, Massey University New Zealand, Stellenbosch University South Africa, Initiative Fortbildung Germany, Flinders University Australia, University of Queensland Australia, University of South Australia.
Trainer Bio
“Fantastic! The hands-on exercises were useful - not only did they help the learning to sink in but they encouraged us to think about real workplace-based ways in which tools could be used. The content was all very relevant because you had investigated what we already do/use. It all felt new and exciting.” Newcastle University
”Thank you for the excellent workshop last week! I’ve had great feedback and we’re already planning out how we can implement your ideas for Instagram and TikTok” Flinders University
“I greatly appreciated the effort you went to (as usual!) to tailor the session for us. Overall, the team was really pleased, ideas were being discussed and thrown around as the session progressed and everyone got something out of the session.” University of South Australia
”My thanks for your wonderful workshop – it was more than useful, it made me think very hard about some of the preconceived ideas I didn’t even realise I had about marketing! I’ve had lots of very positive feedback from academic support colleagues” University of Salford
”The session was perfect” Lancaster University
”Very well delivered and paced. Ned was really engaging and the workshop was definitely useful and thought provoking. Really enjoyable session, I left with a lot of respect for Ned’s attitude and advice on communications!” University of the Arts London
“Lots of useful information presented in a fun and clear away. I came away with my head buzzing with ideas for things I wanted to do, learn more about, or information I wanted to pass on to colleagues.” University of Oxford