It’s 18 months since we started this blog and revived our dormant Twitter account and just 3 weeks since we relaunched Evidently Cochrane on this new site. We had some really thought-provoking feedback during the process of redeveloping the blog and we hope we’ve succeeded in making this a more accessible place for a wide range of people to find evidence to help with decisions about health. Tomorrow we’re all heading to Manchester for our Annual Symposium, which this year focuses on how we can make Cochrane evidenceCochrane Reviews are systematic reviews. In systematic reviews we search for and summarize studies that answer a specific research question (e.g. is paracetamol effective and safe for treating back pain?). The studies are identified, assessed, and summarized by using a systematic and predefined approach. They inform recommendations for healthcare and research. more useful, usable and used (you can follow and join in with this on Twitter using the hashtag #CE3U). This seems a good moment to reflect on some of the things we’ve learned so far about using social media to share evidence. Holly and I are taking a long, hard look at how we’ve used social media in the past year, and at what have been the triumphs and the turkeys, and we will be sharing that when we’re done. Meanwhile, here are my top 10.
1. Listening is vital
2. Know your audience
This is a big challenge for us. With Cochrane evidence relevant to a very wide and mixed audience, it’s really important that we take information to people in different places and in different ways. This isn’t just about making sure we are on lots of different platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn and so on), though that’s important. We’ll tweet about a Cochrane review in more than one tweet for particular audiences, using medical jargon or replacing it with lay terms, for example. This is more challenging for the blogs and I’m still working on this one, but I’m hearing that blogs work best when written with a specific audience in mind, so I’m trying to be more focused, rather than trying to write for everyone. Also, everyone appreciates good, clear writing, so best to aim for that!
3. Seek new audiences in unexpected places!
4. Don’t assume people know about your organisation. Cochrane who?!
I’m not just talking about the people we might have reached through joining conversations about the #RoyalBaby either. I might like to think that Cochrane is some kind of magic word, a widely-recognised stamp of quality in the world of evidence-based health care, but step outside of that community and this isn’t so. There are plenty of health professionals, even, who don’t know anything about Cochrane, as blank faces when I’ve talked about my job have often shown. So whilst I often attach #CochraneEvidence to my tweets, I leave out #Cochrane altogether if I can use 9 (or 17) characters more effectively. I’m linking to the good stuff in the Cochrane Library; naming it isn’t necessarily the best way to get people there.
5. Expert opinion really improves engagement and discussion, especially when the expert is a patient
6. Join up activity on different platforms for greater impact and engagement
Talking of experts, I have been delighted to engage with a vibrant community of nurses on Twitter, who got really interested in the Cochrane evidence on riskA way of expressing the chance of an event taking place, expressed as the number of events divided by the total number of observations or people. It can be stated as ‘the chance of falling were one in four’ (1/4 = 25%). This measure is good no matter the incidence of events i.e. common or infrequent. assessment for preventing pressure ulcers, which suggested that this common practice doesn’t help. I included some of the points raised on Twitter in my blog on this topic and then followed it up by co-hosting a @WeNurses tweetchat to continue the discussion. This was a fantastic and fruitful experience and I’m hoping to take up the excellent points made in the chat, alongside the Cochrane evidence, in an article for the nursing press. We’re also going to have a follow-up tweetchat in the autumn. This is definitely something I’ll hope to replicate in other areas.
7. Measure success not just by the figures but by the conversations you’re having
8. Repeating yourself is good!
We make boring companions if we keep telling people the same thing over and over, but forget this when it comes to social media! Tweets are soon gone from the screen, of course, but it has taken me a while to learn this new habit for Twitter and to remember to repeat myself. The same information can be repeated at different times (remember those time zones if you want a global audience) and in different ways for varied audiences, but it’s also worth noting that information can take on a new relevance in the light of something being discussed, the seasons, or an event. Whilst many of my blogs and tweets relate to new or newly-updated Cochrane evidence, it’s all current and can be shared whenever it seems relevant. I’m making sure I update the blogs to keep up with new versions of Cochrane reviews, so I can share these again knowing that they reflect the latest evidence.
9. Always aim to add value
This is my golden rule, I think. Why should you follow us otherwise, or bother to read our blogs? Adding value is often through sharing a link, but when it comes to live tweeting from events great tweeting enables those not attending the event to keep up with what’s going on. This really has transformed academic conferences in the most fabulous way. I’ve written more about that here. I’m hoping we’re going to see some great examples of this at our Symposium this week (join in using #CE3U).
10. Keep watching what others do well, experimenting and reflecting
Over to you!
We’d love to hear other people’s experiences of what has worked well so do tell us! You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @CochraneUK. I tweet as @SarahChapman30 too.
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and
sources back to your weblog? My blog site is in the exact same area
of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this ok with you. Regards!
Hello, I’m glad you like the blogs. You are, of course, free to quote and provide the appropriate credit and link. Also, under the creative commons licence the blogs can be reposted as long as that is in full. The photos, however, can’t be reproduced as they are bought for Cochrane use.
Best wishes
Sarah Chapman [Editor]
É importante, porém, que você confirme status de domínio público do teor sob a lei
dos Estados Unidos da América do mesmo modo que sob as leis de quaisquer outros países, conforme exigido pela edição do projeto específico.
Conseguir a cidadania italiana na Itália débito admirar algumas estágios que vou caracterizar agora adjacente em relação a algumas dicas que aprendi ao longo
deste tortuoso alternativa. http://www.sysinfo.co.jp/cgi-bin/aska.cgi
Silencieux et futé, il est très utile de l’avis des utilisateurs et une
utilisation régulière sera donc un bon moyen de conserver ou retrouver votre forme physique !
I found this very helpful for getting advice on how to do Social Media well, and will be referring this to others who may be interested in learning the same.I enjoyed reading this blog as a new blogger. I like your style and layout.
Awesome photo of the Vintage Trial Motorcycle Jumping over a Train. Where can I get a copy? My boyfriend loves the photo and I’ve looked all over for it to get it for him for Valentines Day.
This image came from the Everett Collection, purchased through Shutterstock.