Share your research in social media
Learn how to best share your research on social media and avoid common pitfalls.
About social media
Sharing your work on social media is a great way to get in touch with other researchers interested in the same subject, build networks and follow the larger national and international discussions. But it can also create discussions and open opportunities with people you had never met in other contexts. This is also a good way to reach out to the public with your research.
Select channel
Choose one or two channels with care, based on what you want to achieve. You can start by identifying groups and networks on each platform where you can reach people who are interested in research news in your field.
Think about your purpose
Think about the purpose of your account. Is it only professional, do you want to focus on a specific issue - who do you represent and what do you want to achieve?
Who do you want to reach?
Think about who might be interested in your research and who you want to reach. What kind of interaction do you want? It is very important to identify your target audience and think about them when publishing. This is crucial when choosing channel.
How do you formulate yourself?
Write with the target group in focus. Explain why your research is important. Why not make it a habit to formulate a “mini-abstract” for each article where the research's "what and why" are explained in 3-5 sentences. It can be very useful in social media.
Pictures and videos
Posts with images and videos give more attention to the content. Try to think that the image should complement the text so they do not say the exact same thing.
Be patient
It takes time and commitment to build new channels and followers in social media. Therefore, try to post regularly, especially in the beginning.
A profile page on LinkedIn is a great way to strengthen your personal brand and expand your network, which in turn increases the opportunities to get new grants and enter into exciting collaborations. If you consider your KTH profile page as a showcase, the LinkedIn page is the flyer that is sent worldwide.
Avoid starting your own LinkedIn pages for centers or units. Use KTH's topic pased pages instead.
Tip about a news for topic based pages on LinkedIn
Getting a well-functioning LinkedIn page does not require much effort. Go through the different parts below one at a time and you do not have to spend many minutes a week to have a well-functioning and active page.
Create your profile page
Profile photo and background photo
Choose a profile photo that is new and where you look like yourself, let the face take about 60% of the image area, dress as you would dress at work and smile with your eyes. The background photo is the second visual element at the top of your profile page. It captures people's attention, sets the context and shows a little more about what is important to you in your professional role. An image from the lab where you work or a symbolic image for the subject area you are passionate about can make visitors quickly understand who you are.
Create a headline that is more than just your title
There is no rule that says that the description at the top of your profile page must be an academic title or job title. Use the headline field to say a bit more about how you see your role, why you do what you do and what makes you tick.
Example: Communicator with long web experience and sustainability commitment or Senior Design Lecturer with a passion for Design and Sustainability.
The story of yourself
The summary is a chance to tell your own story. Instead of listing your knowledge or titles you have had, try to explain why certain skills and knowledge matter - and the difference they can make to the people you work with or to the society. Here you can take the opportunity to talk about the societal impact you create. It is valuable for both financiers and potential partners.
See how Denise Mc Cluskey describes herself in her summary
Expand your network
Start by synchronizing your profile with your email address book so you can get suggestions on people you know. To keep your network up to date, make it a habit to follow up meetings, conferences and seminars with LinkedIn requests to people who participated.
List your skills
A quick way is to browse through the list of skills and select the ones that are relevant to you. It helps to substantiate the description in your headline and summary. Remember to stay relevant and not make the list too long, but choose skills that are the core of who you are.
Put some effort on Accomplishments
The Publications section is one of the most underused in LinkedIn profiles, which means you can really stand out from the crowd when you use it. Whether it is a scientific paper, a book chapter or a blog post, you should put them in publications. You will find the section under accomplishments together with awards, courses and projects. Make it a habit to post your publications and projects here, both ongoing and completed, and link to the project page so visitors can read more. In addition, if you have received a patent for an invention, a prize or an award, this is where you can brag with them.
See how Devy Kartika Ratnasari, MSE, has worked with publications and other achievements
Endorsements and recommendations
When other members endorse your skills, your credibility increases. To begin with, go through your network and identify people who you think deserve a recommendation or an endorsement from you - it often triggers people to give back. Ask for recommendations or endorsements from people whose words you truly value. Then work proactively with your recommendations to build a picture of yourself that matches reality.
Start using LinkedIn
Share content from KTH
Sharing your own but also others' case studies, publications and other news from KTH helps to reach your target group but also show which areas you work in. With a post, you can reach more relevant people than you would reach via, for example, a research conference. Even when you share the work you yourself are not directly involved in, it shows your passion and commitment.
KTH on LinkedIn with almost 150,000 followers
Share and comment from your LinkedIn feed
The basic level is to have a network on LinkedIn. The next level is to get active by sharing relevant content with your network. You can start by keeping track of your LinkedIn feed and sharing content that you find interesting - and that fits your profile.
Add a comment to your shared posts and you will appear better in the feeds. Well-expressed comments also enable you to share a broader range of content. You may question a particular result in a report, but still find it interesting, for example. In that case, a comment can demonstrate your knowledge in the field.
Follow relevant people in your research field
Following relevant people and groups on LinkedIn helps to put a range of interesting content in your feed, which you can then share and show what interests you. By finding groups for your field, you can further expand your network and discuss specific issues as well as share experiences with others.