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Since HGS established the social media accounts, we’ve seen increased interactions between the HGS and other scientific and industry-related societies. These include cross-promotional efforts for various events and conferences, referrals for memberships or reference materials, as well as general “shout-outs” across the inter-web. It is a coup to hear that participants at an event learned of the opportunity to get involved through a post or a “share” from one of our social media outlets.
The basic numbers fail to tell an important story. “One of the most surprising things about the social media accounts is the unexpected explosion of growth we’ve seen on LinkedIn” says Dianna Phu HGS’ Social Media chair. That story is that Social Media Growth of HGS in LinkedIn has trebled in the last five quarters (Figure 1). Our members seem to gravitate to one provider or another. Some, it seems, prefer to post information but not to keep up a running commentary or dialogue.
Each social media venue has its own personality and many people show a preference of one over another. A preference depends on how they wish to use the tools and the information/interaction they hope to obtain from them.
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, traditionally less “social” and more business-oriented, seems to appeal more to experienced professionals in HGS (Figure 2). An individual’s LinkedIn profile is essentially an online resume; therefore, job seekers and recruiters tend to garner the most tangible benefits from this interface. However, LinkedIn also provides discussion forums and focused question and answer arenas that can benefit even those not looking for career changes at present. It is also an ideal place to track your job history, career development, references, and recommendations. LinkedIn also provides a means to maintain contacts with past co-workers and classmates.
Facebook caters to those in search of more casual interactions, such as comments on photos and status updates for friends and family. These uses may be mixed with the mindless and somehow addictive third-party games and embedded applications. Facebook is a place to see what is going on in your community, in groups you follow, and to find out what your friends/peers/co-workers may report there. Facebook may house information on long-lost high school pals and distant relatives you may never have met. Facebook is rarely exploited by job seekers and “head-hunters” in the way that LinkedIn can be. Facebook is a place where pro-action drives interactions more than any external influences.
Users of the Facebook Fan Page in HGS are 70/30 Male/Female; the predominant demographic groups of users (Figure 3) may reflect the population that grew up with the internet; there is a surprising peak in men who perhaps may be planning a transition in their careers.
Twitter, though possessed of some similarities to Facebook or LinkedIn, is a much different medium altogether. Twitter may be considered the real-time consciousness of the modern world. What are people talking about right now? What breaking news story was just released? What natural disaster just occurred and where? Twitter is an instantaneous medium on which a broad and opinionated public can be reached and heard. All of that is done in snippets of 140 characters or less for each post. To those not accustomed to it, the streams of conversation can be chaotic, like the black and white static images we used to see on the old tube televisions. Its syntax and etiquette also are different from the other media, and may require dedication to a bit of a learning curve. For those who can focus and filter through the noise, the information can be powerful, humorous, enlightening, and horizon-broadening.
HGS’ involvement in social media motivates our participating members to share, on their Facebook pages or on their Twitter status page, their enthusiasm for the geosciences, their encouragement to others to participate in the Houston Geological and other technical Societies, and fulfills the HGS mission “to provide earth science enrichment through technical education, networking opportunities, and community service in a new way.”
On another note, the topic of HGS’ upcoming Continuing Education Seminar is on a subject near and dear to my heart. It is aimed at geologists who wish to acquire the skills and techniques to design and deliver dynamic presentations. As the manager of projects in appraisal, the teams with whom I work present content to management teams and to partners. I recommend they “not fight the frame” of the company’s master slide formats. In a variant one of my “famous sayings,” one’s blank palette is the final product of some other professional who has produced something valuable, at some expense, to relieve you of the weighty decisions of what font to use and where the elements of title and text belong. My dear readers may be surprised at how many still go their own way and sacrifice both the consistency of brand and a crisp presentation format. Do they just not know or are they exerting their right to such “creativity?” To my mind, this is misdirection of energy that should be spent on the content and message. Just saying…
Your editor has introduced a new feature this month called “100-Word Wonders.” Look for them in the nooks and crannies of the Bulletin. They hope to impart some little-known facts that may be of interest to our readers who tend to employ trivia to make their livings and who may enjoy them for the fun of it. Anyone who wishes can submit a 100-Word Wonder item (nina@hgs.org), with or without an illustration, and it may be used in a future issue. Please be sure to cite your sources. With this last sentence, this paragraph is also a 100-Word Wonder!
Reminder to our readers-- Should you hear of a fellow HGS member’s or contributor’s passing, please send information to
2012-2013 Editor-Elect, Karen Pate (karen.pate@repsol.com)
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