CDC officials recently released the Health Communicator's Social Media Toolkit, which offers guidance for sharing health information through social media, Federal Computer Week reports.
The toolkit includes a chart of social media tools and what organizations need to use the tools. For example, podcasts and widgets require little staff time and can be done with relatively small budgets, while online video production and podcast creation require moderate amounts of staff time and funding.
While social networks like Facebook require low financial investment, they demand the highest investment of staff time, according to the chart.
CDC's toolkit also includes a list of "Top Lessons Learned from Using Social Media," compiled from CDC's experience with several social media tools and websites. The list of lessons includes:
- Adopting low-risk tools -- such as podcasts and widgets -- first and selecting the most popular social media sites;
- Creating portable content and using mobile device applications to expand reach;
- Facilitating content sharing and encouraging interaction; and
- Establishing realistic goals and not relying on social media to meet all communications needs (Lipowicz, Federal Computer Week, 10/22).