Social Media and You

Social media platforms have become the new way to communicate with people. They are instant, convenient, multi-faceted, and can include a variety of ways to appeal to different types of learners: visual, audio, and read-write. Social media is useful for creating an online presence. This presence can be used to deliver original content but can also serve as a way to market yourself simply by creating a following.

When doing this, it is easy to get caught up on creating original content. Creating, writing and sharing original content IS A GREAT IDEA. However, it is not the only way to create an online presence. To really

maintain a large presence and following, several posts a week or day must be made and new and relevant information must be shared. This presence can be in the form of sharing articles, recipes, and graphics from other reputable sources (with credit, of course! No plagiarizing in dietetics). This information has to appeal to a variety of audiences and be easily understood and accessible. The information must also include a variety of subjects, as different people have different interests and appealing to a wide audience involves getting in peoples personalities and specific interests, without being too hard to understand or exclusive. It is not easy. But, it does get easier with more experience!

Tools to utilize to find content to create your presence include EatRight, AceFitness, NutritionFacts.Org, GotNutrients.com, and more! Get creative. The only thing is minding sources and using content from reputable places. There is so much misinformation out there that is so easily shared it is easy to find yourself surrounded with garbage. By sticking to sources that constantly have peer-reviewed and up to date information you will find yourself with good content worthy of a following. Sometimes its useful to write a short synopsis with a link to the article, therefore giving your audience the gist of the information without doing all sorts of research! There are also several platforms out there that make it easy to organize your social media life into one place. MailChimp is a great platform that is used to send emails to various lists. You can set up email blasts ahead of time and schedule when appropriate. Scheduling is so helpful! This way you are able to upload days, weeks, even months worth of content and schedule it to send automatically. This makes it incredibly convenient and helpful.

One thing I have learned through my education is that in the field of dietetics, you must stay on top of trends and especially when those trends involve social media. Because of all the misinformation out there, there needs to be a stronger presence from those in the field. Trends in healthcare, nutrition, and overall wellness are constantly changing in addition to the ways that we keep in touch with each other, including other professionals! Many sectors of our lives have become immersed in various types of social media, whether it be from dating, working, keeping up with friends and family, to keeping in touch with our doctors and other healthcare providers. To keep up with trends, try using articles, graphics, and other information relevant to dietetics to create a presence and a following. To successfully do this, focus on current trends in your own social media in food, health, fitness and more. Having the skills to source and share relevant information, not necessarily writing it, keeps businesses strong and present in a hustling world.

#Blog #AudienceEngagement