Use social media to promote OT

Getting involved in social media networks can give you a flexible and convenient way of communicating with occupational therapy colleagues, supporters, policy makers, related organisations

Becoming an active member of popular social networks allows you to raise awareness of your work, as well as establish connections with people with similar professional interests. No longer are people using social networking websites to just keep in touch with friends and family.

BAOT/COT has taken initial steps to get involved in social media by creating presences on Facebook and Twitter, with the aim of engaging with expanding online OT communities and professional networks. Our social media profiles enable us to communicate using targeted updates (e.g. Links, calls to actions, announcements) to our existing networks as well as potential community members. It also allows us to share event information and news with others outside the organisation, raising the profile of the profession – a key objective of OT week 2009, for instance.

Register with Facebook to expand your professional network and socialise with local OTs and well as OTs worldwide

Facebook is the biggest social networking website with more than 120 million active users. Users can add friends and send messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about their activities and insights, and share links and multimedia.  Additionally, users can join networks organised by city, workplace, school, and region.

Facebook was initially used for student networking and has expanded to a larger public and appeals to an older professional user base. There are over fifty active OT groups on Facebook including The American Occupational Therapy Association, the Facebook Occupational Therapy Association, and Occupational Therapy Students: Get Connected.

Visit Facebook and set up a profile
Visit BAOT/COT on Facebook

Sign up with Twitter to receive micro- updates and relevant links

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Twitter works well for organisations that communicate regularly with members, potential members and related companies and publications.

A growing number of occupational therapists are becoming active on Twitter. Allied health and social care groups, local government, and policy makers participate on Twitter, linking to upcoming events, new publications and announcements.  BAOT/COT is currently following tweets from the Health Service Journal, NHS choices, and Disability now.

Once registered with Twitter, you can search for organisations and individuals to follow. You can also search terms found in tweets at any given moment. For example, search ‘vocational rehabilitation’.

Visit Twitter to set up a profile
Visit BAOT/COT on Twitter
Download Tweetdeck, a social media browsing application

Create a professional profile on Linked in

Linked in enables users to create professional profiles, network with other professionals and join online groups relating specifically to professional issues. It’s a useful way of expanding your professional network. Profiles are in a CV format including current professional interests and employment history.

Visit Linked in and set up a profile