#SciCommTip 10 [10/10]

Remember: It's not the number of followers that determines your success in building your academic brand on #SocialMedia. It's who is following you.

And don’t fret if your account doesn’t take off as quickly as hoped for. Building brand takes time. It’s likely to pay off, though, in the form of meaningful conversations, a better network, more citations, and possibly funding or positions.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Academia #Science #Career

#SciCommTip 10 [9/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

1️⃣6️⃣ IMHO, think twice when it comes to political statements.
a) You want to be respected as an expert by followers of any political view.
b) Your institution may not like you being so open…
Some fields of research are quite close to politics; separating your expertise from political statements may not be possible/in your interest in that case. Be aware of this aspect anyhow!

#SciComm #ScienceMastodon #Politics #Academia

#SciCommTip 10 [8/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

1️⃣4️⃣ Introduce new lab members. This is a nice way of welcoming them & makes your lab more attractive to future lab members.
1️⃣5️⃣ You want to share personal interests (bird pics?)? Fine. You'll appear more like a human being. BUT: Don’t overdo it… Remember you're building a brand. You want to be an expert in your field with an interest in birds, not vice versa. Instead, start a second account!

#SciComm #ScienceMastodon #Academia

#SciCommTip 10 [7/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

1️⃣2️⃣ Engage in discussions on the subject of your expertise. Be friendly & acknowledging. Give positive feedback, e.g. right after an interesting talk at a conference. (If people like you they might follow you back. Or remember you at the next conference.) Maybe ask for feedback on a new idea?
1️⃣3️⃣ Boost good comments you receive on your posts.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Academia #Mastodon #Twitter

#SciCommTip 10 [6/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

9️⃣ Share your own papers. Tag your collaborators. Tag your institution, they may retweet or like your posts. Ideally, sum up your paper in a thread. This is again a service to your followers (& everyone without access to the paper).
1️⃣0️⃣ Post links to media appearances.
1️⃣1️⃣ Share your excitement whenever you (or your lab members) receive an award.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Academia #Career #Mastodon

#SciCommTip 10 [5/10]

To improve reach of your academic #SocialMedia account:

7️⃣ Sharing new papers in your field is a good start. If you additionally share your thoughts, highlight pros & cons, sum up the finding or state why this is important, that's PERFECT. (Be kind & fair, you might meet the authors of the paper at some point!)
8️⃣ Tag your funding source whenever you publish or receive a grant. They'll love it.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Academia #Mastodon

#SciCommTip 10 [4/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

6️⃣ Post information that‘s USEFUL TO YOUR FOLLOWERS! As you’re using your account to boost your #AcademicCareer, you’re targeting your peers. Useful to them is anything that’s relevant to their work, saves them time, or they enjoy reading. Try highlighting/commenting on recent developments in the field, a policy change, news from a conference,…

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Academia #Mastodon #Twitter

#SciCommTip 10 [3/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

4️⃣ Share your expertise. You’re goal is to let people know you’re the go-to person when it comes to [insert specialty knowledge here]. That’s what building #brand is about! So show that you know a thing or two about it.
5️⃣ No need to brag. You don’t have to say you’re amazing at [x]. You show your expertise in how & what you share with your followers.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Academia #Science

#SciCommTip 10 [2/10]

To increase your academic #SocialMedia reach:

1️⃣Post regularly. The frequency doesn't have to be high. But posting a new paper and then staying silent for months on end isn't enough to build a #brand.
2️⃣Use hashtags. On #Mastodon, liberally. On #Twitter, not too many. Take the time to find hashtags that your community (& related communities) use often.
3️⃣Include an image (Key figure? Quote? People?).

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon #Career #Science

#SciCommTip 9 [6/6]

5️⃣ The bio of your #Academic #SocialMedia account should include

👉 a few (not too many) non-scientific interests, if you want to give your brand a personal touch

6️⃣ Before you start posting, ask your comms department about the institutional social media guidelines.

Now you’re ready to go! Follow this account to find out more about how to build your reach ❤️

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #Academia #AcademicMastodon

#SciCommTip 9 [5/6]

5️⃣ The bio of your #Academic #SocialMedia account should include your

👉 position & field of expertise

👉 institution? Including it will add to the professionality of your account. BUT you won't be using it privately anymore. Instead, you communicate as a representative of that institution. That could lead to problems with your employer in case you post party pics during lock-downs 😉 You should state "Views are my own.", but whether that really helps is debatable…

#SciComm

#SciCommTip 9 [4/6]

For your #Academic #SocialMedia account:

4️⃣ Add a portrait photograph. The more professional your head shot, the more professional your brand. If you're more of a laid-back person, your photo may reflect that. Of couse your brand will come off laid-back as well (so maybe don't overdo it if you're looking for a #Job?)

... ⤵️

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon #AcademicMastodon

#SciCommTip 9 [3/6]

For your #Academic #SocialMedia account:

2️⃣ Choose between a lab account or a personal one.

👉 personal account: The fact that you're a scientist is not obvious immediately. You're viewed as a single person (lone worrier?), not a team. BUT: That will make your personal brand stronger.

3️⃣ A personal account should run under your full name. IMHO, your title doesn't need to be included (as you're giving your position in your bio).

... ⤵️

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon

#SciCommTip 9 [2/6]

For your academic #SocialMedia account:

2️⃣ Choose between a lab account or a personal one. (#LinkedIn: personal!)

👉 lab account: comes off more social & inviting. People know right away that this is a scientist speaking. They don't know who is speaking, tho. Lab members could share posting responsibilities (then label each post with the author's acronym). Calling the account a lab when only the PI is posting, is a bit awkward (is the PI the lab?).

#SciComm #ScienceMastodon

#SciCommTip 9 [1/6]

You're a #Scientist and want to boost your #AcademicCareer? Use your #SocialMedia account to make your name a brand!

How to get started:

1️⃣ Choose your social network. Because you're targeting your peers, that's #Mastodon (#Twitter?) or possibly #LinkedIn. (Don't have much experience using the latter, but some find it useful & you're less likely to be confronted with anonymous hatred.) Check who of your peers are on which network.

...⤵️

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon

#SciCommTip 8 [5/5]

In your email signature:

🔟 If you have several affiliations, you should have several email signatures. Always use the email account and signature appropriate for the individual correspondence.

🚨 Ah, right: DO NOT USE YOUR PRIVATE EMAIL ACCOUNT.

If you disagree or have other suggestions - let me know! Otherwise:

Happy professional emailing ❤️

#SciCommTip 8 [4/5]

In your email signature:

7️⃣ Keep it short! If you would like to highlight several events/websites/…, don't add a link to all of them, but update your signature regularly.

8️⃣ For a neater look, include several pieces of information in one line, separated by a "vertical bar" ( | )

9️⃣ Do not include: more than one position, several affiliations, certifications,… All of this should be on your website, and you're including a link to that.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon

#SciCommTip 8 [3/5]

In your email signature:

4️⃣ Promote selected pieces of information, e.g. events, fundraisers, job offers, your clinical trial,...

5️⃣ Concerning logos & icons: Every image will increase the size of the email. If sustainability is something you care about, omit images.

6️⃣ That’s why I disagree with everyone who recommends including a photo. Instead, add a photo to your Microsoft account.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon

#SciCommTip 8 [2/5]

In your email signature:

2️⃣ Give your full name & title, position, the proper name of your department & institution, your workplace address, telephone number & email address. You don't need to label your telephone number as such: Use "T" instead or do without the label - we all know what we're looking at...

3️⃣ Add links to your personal website & social media accounts (hide the links behind icons for a tidy look)

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon

#SciCommTip 8 [1/5]

You're a #Scientist and want to make your name a brand?

It may seem obvious, but experience suggests otherwise, so it bears repeating:

👉 A professional brand (=you!) needs a professional #email signature!

1️⃣ Use your institutional template! You'll a) strengthen the Corporate Identity, and b) be perceived as part of this renowned/innovative/… organization. Importantly, observe the institutional font & color & possibly include its logo.

#SciComm #Wisskomm #ScienceMastodon