Something to Tweet About

Audience:

Public health professionals working in tobacco cessation, advocacy and policy, and healthcare are the target audience.

Key Points:

The presentation will demonstrate how to effectively and creatively use social media to communicate and share an organization’s tobacco cessation efforts with partners through Twitter, Facebook, and blogging. NC Prevention Partners (NCPP) currently uses Twitter, Facebook, and blogging in conjunction with communicating internal and external organization news, events, and webinars; research findings; and best practices related to tobacco cessation. By presenting information through various tools, NCPP is broadening the dissemination of tobacco related information and increasing awareness of key tobacco issues in public health. Such outreach builds partnerships with other organizations (domestic and international), hospitals, and public health professionals; and encourages participation by diverse audiences. The presentation will include simple tools, rules, and recommendations for using social media and how to get started.

Educational Experience:

Through lecture and best practices, participants will learn from NC Prevention Partners’ experiences with Twitter and blogging in tobacco cessation and ways of personalizing social media to improve outreach and self-promotion. The presenter will demonstrate how to write and post a Twitter message. During the workshop, participants will create their own Twitter accounts, practice posting a tweet, and learn how to ‘follow’ others on Twitter.

Benefits:

Public health professionals will know how to exchange and support tobacco cessation efforts, research, and news through the use of social media and enhance partnerships with other organizations and health professionals.