Social Media Toolkit

Are you interested in having a social media presence on behalf of Vanderbilt University Medical Center? Read through the information on this site and then fill out an application form.

The tools and resources on these pages are intended to help you begin and maintain a social media presence. But before you jump in, think about these questions:

Who are you trying to engage?

Did you know most folks under the age of 25 do not use Twitter? Or that in the U.S., there are approximately six million more females than males on Facebook? Figuring out who you want to have conversation with will help determine which platforms are best for you.

What would you like to accomplish?

If you simply want to promote an event or send out news about your department, a website or an eNewsletter might be a better choice for you. Facebook groups and Twitter require daily maintenance and a desire to engage with others. Of course you may always send news and announcements to the social media team and she will gladly post appropriate messages on the current Vanderbilt Health Twitter and Facebook accounts.

What is your message?

This is a trick question. Social Media is all about connecting, not pushing a message. To be a good participant, you must first be a good listener. Your online community will tell you what they want to hear from you.

Do you have what it takes?

To be successful at social media takes not only time and some strategy, but it also takes an outgoing personality. If you've been described as a people-person or friendly, you probably have what it takes. Or you may be a connector — someone who enjoys making connections and providing helpful information. In any case, you'll need to have some personal or professional experience with social media before hosting an account on behalf of VUMC.