Social media is a powerful knowledge mobilization tool used by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. It allows us to share our research with the broader public, drive online narratives about our research findings, and build connections with key stakeholders and community with those engaged in similar work. Social media is one of the most effective ways to reach new audiences.

With about 6,000 tweets happening per second, it can be hard to make your research stand out. Thoughtfully crafted messages paired with images and videos are your golden ticket.

Visually compelling social media content reaches more people and gets shared more. Tweets with photos receive an average 150% more retweets, and it’s estimated that Facebook posts with photos receive an average 37% increase in engagement.

Learning how to channel your research into eye-catching visuals is a worthwhile endeavour that will help increase the reach and impact of your work. This module is designed to give you all the practical information and tools you need!

In the video below, COH’s Communications Officer, Lindsay McRae, outlines best practices for promoting research using social media (including what to post, where to post, and when to post), and provides a tutorial on how to use free design tools to create social media images that make your research stand out. Want to see more? Follow the COH on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram.

Resources

• Create Custom Images & Infographics — Canva.com
• Pre-schedule Social Media Content — Hootsuite.com
• Shorten Links — Bitly.com
• Writing Best Practices — Twitter Writing Formulas
• Social Media Tips for Researchers — Using Social Media to Effectively Promote Your Research

Presentation Slides: