sets out a best practice guide for once your accounts are up and
running.
Having covered why social media is worth bothering with, and how to decide what you are using it for, here is a ten point checklist on how to get people liking and sharing your content online.
1. Be clear on why you are using social media
Don't forget: identifying why you want to use social media will help make the way you use it quick and efficient.
2. Ask the parents
See how parents feel about you using social media. Distribute a short questionnaire, outlining why you want to use it and asking parents which networks they use and what they would like to see. Check if they have any reservations.
3. Speak to your staff
Your staff are likely to be your best ambassadors online. Ask them how they would like to be involved and how they currently use social media. Identify whether anyone in your team has the skills to manage your page.
4. Create a consent form
Assuming that your staff and current parents are on-side, create a consent form that is sent home to all parents. Ideally, this form should include some guidance on how you will use social media as well as the conditions they are agreeing to.
5. Agree your picture rules
Sharing images of children is the most common cause of misgivings. However, pictures showing children enjoying their time at nursery are also the thing most parents want to see. The key is appropriateness and security. The NSPCC advises making sure your photos are activity-focused and that whoever is in charge of your social media fully understands the privacy settings of your chosen channels. Never share the names of the children in the photo and ask parents not to tag other people without permission.
6. Introduce a staff policy
Lay out the terms of use for your staff too. You want to encourage them to be advocates for the setting while ensuring you don't lose productivity or damage your reputation. Some key recommendations include asking staff to refrain from befriending parents on social networking sites and for them to understand and utilise the privacy settings available.
7. Understand your chosen platforms thoroughly
It is vital you project a professional image when using social media, so make sure you offer professional training for the person you selected to manage your accounts, or consider outsourcing the job.
8. Focus on brand values
Be clear on what your values and ethos are and focus as a team on the best ways to communicate this. If outdoor play is important, make sure you show that this is happening in all seasons.
9. Plan, plan, plan!
Plan out your content in advance and share it with the team. Think about the activities you know will happen and other significant dates like Easter, for example, and identify what images you will need. Check all spelling, punctuation and grammar.
10. Monitor results
Monitor the effectiveness of your social media activity, and relate it back to your original aims. Be clear on what you want to achieve and how to measure it.
Kate Tyler is managing director of Shake Social, a social media agency for the early years
- Let us know how you get on using the #nwsocial hashtag on Twitter
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Facebook
The most popular network and the most powerful for nurseries. People can collect 'friends' and companies can collect 'likes' for their profile pages.
Twitter
This real-time service is unrivalled for fast-paced, breaking news. Use hashtags (#) to group conversations together. Tweets are limited to just 140 characters.
Pinterest
A virtual pinboard for all the things you love. Boards are based on different themes, with images 'pinned' on your board linking back to the website they came from.
YouTube
YouTube is now the second largest search engine in the world. Owned by Google, it is immensely popular and affects your online search rankings.
Blogs
A blog (web-log) is an online article or journal that can include text, images and video.
Google+
Although not as widely used as other social networks, Google+ does influence search engine rankings.
LinkedIn
Connects people for professional purposes.
Instagram
With its square format and retro filters, Instagram gives your images a polaroid feel. Only available for use on mobile phones, it is intended to be about recording the moment.
Snapchat
Allows users to create 'snaps' - photos or videos that only last for up to ten seconds once the recipient has opened them.
