Social media and science communication has become omnipresent in all aspects of daily living, an aspect mirrored in the increasing importance of social media for researchers. Although some scientists have retreated from using social media for research due to concerns over the increasing negativity surrounding many of the available platforms1, social media can still be an extremely effective communication tool for researchers. This article offers some basic guidance for effectively using social media for researchers’ promotion.
Social media for researchers: Why use academic social networks?
Every academic researcher who wants their work to be more visible needs to have a social media strategy. The ultimate goal of scientific study is to increase the world’s knowledge for the benefit of all. This can only be achieved through communicating results and discussing implications, which is where the role of social media in research becomes important. Using social media for research allows you to:
- Create academic social networks in your field and related areas: Share ideas, results, and suggestions; learn what other work is being done and how it might affect your research.
- Promote your research: One study suggested that a correlation exists between an article’s social media exposure and its citation numbers2.
- Connect to policymakers, the media, and the public: Reaching the right people through social media for researchers can greatly impact the application of your work and potential funding.
- Improve your science communication skills: Join the national and global dialog on important issues and help inform the public on the issues that impact us all3,4.
- Discover new collaboration opportunities: Using social media for researchers allows an exchange of ideas that can spark a mutual interest in different research directions.
- Form new friendships: Online interactions on academic social networks can sometimes lead to personal relationships.
Social media for researchers: Best platforms online
To effectively use social media as a communication tool for your research, you must first have a strategy and plan for a time commitment. Because all platforms are different–social media sites vary in their format and purpose–it is important to choose the right platform to maximize your effort and get the results you want. Listed below are some of the most popular platforms used as social media for researchers.
| Social Media for Researchers | |||
| Platform | Description | Pros | Cons |
| Social networking site | Update contacts and followers about your latest research, presentations, and articles; most popular and well-known social media for researchers | Difficult to get posts to reach beyond your primary contacts | |
| Professional networking site | Share updates on your work publicly or within a specific group; promote your articles, presentations, or blogs through links | Most posts are not public, and thus it is difficult for them to reach a diverse audience | |
| Social networking site in which posts are limited to 280 characters | Tweet about your latest research, respond to the work of others, discuss conference presentations, share links; easy to connect to a diverse audience; currently, a very popular social media platform for researchers | As it is best to tweet at least once a day, there is a time commitment; the number of tweets is overwhelming though, and yours may become lost in the crowd | |
| ResearchGate | Social networking site dedicated specifically to scientists and researchers | The largest academic social networking site; a route to social media for scientists and researchers that allows them to share research and discuss related topics; can also be used to collaborate with others on research of mutual interest | The site has been experiencing issues with its policies and the publishing rights of some of the posted articles |
| Personal blog | Blogging platforms, such as Word Press, used to publish an individual’s posts, articles, and other content | Write detailed articles and posts about your research or areas of interest; you completely control the content; can be promoted through email lists or on other social media platforms through links | Extensive time commitment needed, as new material must be published frequently to keep your readers engaged |
The effective use of social media for researchers is recommended as it helps communicate research, amplify its impact, and connect with other researchers.
Here are some tips to help optimize the use of social media for researchers.
- Have a plan. To know how to use social media for academia effectively, you first need to know what you want to accomplish. This will also determine which platform you use and how frequently. Don’t try to do too much on academic social networks and remember to keep your social media activities targeted.
- Make the process of using social media for academic research a regular habit. For some platforms, you will need to post consistently and keep the content fresh. The best way to do this is to incorporate this activity into your daily routine. It is better to spend a few minutes a day on updating your profile while using social media for researchers than to spend more time less often.
- Start small, build a following and keep expanding your network with patience and persistence. This is important while using social media for researchers. Social media as a communication tool for students can be especially helpful if they ensure that they’re following the relevant people.
- Create a strong personal profile and keep it updated. This will make sure that as you use social media for research, people who visit your profile are aware about what you intend to do on the platform.
- Always be aware of your audience. When using social media for research, do not post in haste. Remember, promoting research on social media is a carefully thought-out process that demands consistency and correctness.
- Remember, it’s called social media–so engage your audience, tell stories, and be human. The effectiveness of social media as a tool of communication improves when you interact with your audience.
Using social media for academic research and ensuring your research flows into everyday communication streams can do wonders in increasing your work’s impact and building your reputation as a researcher. We hope this article helps guide you in the right direction when promoting your research paper on social media platforms.
References
- Hunter, P. The growth of social media in science. EMBO Reports 21 (2020). doi: 10.15252/embr.202050550.
- Lamb CT, Gilbert SL, Ford AT. Tweet success? Scientific communication correlates with increased citations in Ecology and Conservation. PeerJ 6 (2018). doi: 10.7717/peerj.4564/supp-2.
- Azma S. How to communicate effectively as a scientist on social media. Fancy Comma, LLC (2020). https://fancycomma.com/2020/09/13/how-to-communicate-effectively-as-a-scientist-on-social-media/
- Heemstra, J.M. A Scientist’s Guide to Social Media.ACS Central Science 6 (2020). doi: 1021/acscentsci.9b01273.
