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At the same time, social media is critical to Extension’s success for the future in remaining relevant to a growing clientele base receiving information from the Web and with access to the Web 24/7 via smartphones and tablets.

The key to social media is that it is not a program.  It is a tool to enhance current programming. 

Look at what you’re already doing and find a social media tool that can help with your specific programming efforts.  Repurpose!  For example, if you write a newspaper column, look at sharing that same information via a blog in which you can add pictures and share your information with an online audience who may not read newspapers.  If you wrote a news release, created a PowerPoint or put together a paper how can you best share that information via social media to reach another audience?

It all comes down to having goals—just like we do for all programs—you need goals for how you will use social media.  Are your goals to send people to your website?  Are you trying to achieve a grant outcome?  Are you trying to reach a specific audience with information that you haven’t been able to reach with traditional means?  Are you looking for a way to engage youth or millennials differently?  My goals are to drive people to our websites and engage clientele with our research-based information.

When setting up your social networks, make sure you include the following:

• Add a photo of yourself and the University logo
• Provide links back to University websites
• Provide additional information about you or your organization

How will you incorporate social media tools into your current programming goals?  What current tools can you repurpose using social media?

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”      Peter Wastholm

Like many of you I proscrastinated way too long to do this–Blogging, this new way of communicating that is all the rage!  Wait, is it a fad or could it quite possibly be the newspaper of the future–A vital link to next generation Extension audiences?

I just published my first blog post!  It was easier than I imagined and actually kind of fun!  Now the part that is scary, overwhelming, yet incredibly amazing.  This post was just viewed by 80 viewers and that may (and hopefully) is only the beginning. What if this message goes viral!  Imagine reaching hundreds, thousands or more clientele with a single post!

Nearly 100 years into the incredible outreach history of Extension we find ourselves once again, literally viewing the tip of the iceberg, regarding our outreach potential. Within an hour drive of where we gather today live nearly one million Nebraska residents–over one half of our State’s population.  What percentage of this audience have we taught, inspired or influenced? Now is the time–We have excellent educators, the technology in our hands, and incredible opportunity to exemplify Next Generation Extension.  Join me in blazing a path into the next Century of Extension Excellence. As Nike would coach us….”Just do it!”

So I invite and challenge you to embark  on this journey into Next Generation Extension through Tweets, Facebook Posts, Pinterest Notes, Blogging, YouTube, Apps, Web-based learning and similar tools that are yet to be unveiled. Use these amazing tools to market, augment and report your terrific program work–availing these educational opportunities to new and grander audiences.

Along this journey, take time to share your successes and challenges here on the Next Generation Extension blog.  Be bold, flaunt your good work, ask for assistance, recruit colleagues to team efforts, and learn from each other.  Here you can share links to your videos, apps, on-line courses, social media strategies, related professional development opportunities and so much more!

I look forward to learning about your Next Generation Extension journey!

Dave