It is useful to think about what you hope to achieve through your chosen social media platform: Who is your audience? What are you going to talk about? What stories do you want to share?
You can always use the current Imperial social media networks to get your messages out too. Check out the Social media directory to see if there are already existing channels with pre-established audiences you could engage with directly.
Be prepared
Have some content ready for the first few days/weeks - some photos, some posts, some events, notifications etc.
Think about who is going to run your channels too. Do you have expertise already within your team, or capacity? Some channels are more time-consuming to run than others, so make sure you are ready when you take the leap!
Your profile
Branding/logos/icons: With the new rebrand, we have an amazing resource where you can generate your own personalised Imperial logo. Log into our Brand portal and get creative!
Our brand team can also help if you get stuck - drop them a line brand@imperial.ac.uk.
What name will you use? In many cases this might be straightforward, your department name for example.
Depending on the purpose and the platform you may need to think carefully about your name and make sure it’s clear immediately for users.
Know your platform. What are you going to use? Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, TikTok...the face of social media continues to evolve and each platform can suit different purposes at different times.
Try it out yourself. If you have never used your chosen platform before and are going to be involved in or responsible for the management of your account, download it and give it a go first!
You do not need to ask for approval to represent Imperial on a social media platform. But do let us know what you’ve set up so we can add it to our directory. Contact Philippa.Skett@imperial.ac.uk.
We’ll add you to the list of College social media networks and follow, like, add and join you! We will also add you to the Cross-College Social Media Group email list.
Security
When setting up your account, be sure to set a strong password, following ICT guidance. Store the password securely and change it every few months.
For additional security, consider setting up two-factor authentication and/or using password manager software, such as 1password, to store and generate secure passwords.
If you notice any suspicious activity on your account or think your account has been hacked, please consult the guidance in the 'Social media security' accordion further down this page.