Preconference Workshop: Social Media 101

April 18, 2012
Sax Chicago Hotel
Chicago, Ill., United States
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Central

New to social media? Don’t know a tweet from a text? This optional preconference workshop will get you up to speed on the latest tools.

Presenter Patrick Powers will guide you through many of the popular social media websites, their uses, terminology and practical applications. This workshop will give you the fundamentals and fully prepare you for the full conference sessions.

A separate registration fee is required. See Registration page for details.

Preconference Presenter

Patrick Powers
Director of Digital Marketing and Communications
Webster University

(See faculty page for Patrick's bio.)

Workshop Program

8:00-8:30 AM
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30-8:45
Welcome and Introductions

8:45-9:45
Social Media 101
It’s no longer enough for advancement, alumni relations and communications professionals to test the social media waters. Nearly every organization is involved in social media in some way, but few are thinking about it strategically. This workshop will review the social media landscape, outlining the fundamental changes to the ways we now communicate and interact online.

9:45 AM-NOON
Social Media Tools
This session offers an overview of six social networking platforms. Presenter will discuss basic terminology and will highlight the nuances of some of the services (privacy options, etc).

• Facebook: We'll demystify the algorithm Facebook uses to determine where and when content appears and explain the difference between Groups and Pages.
• Twitter: An introduction to the microblogging service with examples of how individuals and institutions use it.
• LinkedIn: Includes the basics of LinkedIn's functionality and a discussion on the benefits of being selective when it comes to making and accepting connection requests.
• Google+: Learn about the latest player in the social media game and the potential it holds for higher education.
• Location-based services: You'll get the basics on platforms such as Foursquare and SCVNGR and understand what it means to an institution when someone “checks in.”
• Blogs: An introduction to blogs and blogging platforms with a few individual and institutional examples.

NOON
Workshop Adjourns