Do you think projects dedicated to public social media management, such as SocialEU, are important in the 21st century?
Well, I think that our world nowadays is mostly digital, even more with the irruption of COVID-19. So yes, we do need to understand that digital “world”, not having any kind of problem when working with digital documents or through digital platforms. Otherwise, we would be outdated, and it would leave us at a disadvantage specially on the labour market.
If we, as project managers, have the chance to help our society with EU projects in this way, let’s take it and let’s do it of course.
To what extent does your project help social media management?
JIMINY is a project aimed at disadvantaged groups members from Romania, Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Poland; and tries to help them to solve the problems of limited possibilities for employment because of their no-tech or low knowledge and motivation to learn.
What we are doing is creating a Self-Help Handbook with techniques to improve emotional intelligence, digital awareness and entrepreneurship lifestyle. My organization (so, me as project manager) is in charge of the creation of the “digital awareness” part of the Self-Help Handbook. That is, I try to teach adults with little computer literacy how to create digital content, and how to manage it on social media (which is even more important). I also help them to distinguish which marketing strategy is the most suitable for their business, and the importance of online networking. This information is the key to success for any kind of entrepreneur.
What are you trying to teach your target with JIMINY?
Our materials try to teach the target audience which software need to master; how they can learn to use and what they need to know about the creation of multimedia content or other graphic elements. Also, what a network is.
Let’s be clear, letters, papers, faxes and face-to-face visits are no longer used in the business world. What they now need is to learn how to handle with office software suites, emails and online voice calls. And the way to do business and make we known is through social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. So, users need to understand these networks, to learn how to use them. And often the information they receive on the websites themselves is insufficient, or they think they can use any type of social network when this is not the case, when they should adapt it to their needs.
We will try to answer to what extent it is advisable (or not) to use, as well as different examples where it can be positive and/or negative, depending on the context and the market being faced. What is more, we also provide some open access solutions, free courses and tutorials regarding each program. This is how the target would be able to take advantage of it.
How would you ensure that your teaching is followed?
Well, the second result of the project, which is being carried out now, is the creation of a digital intelligence algorithm that acts as a “Personal Trainer” on the JIMINY platform. We will then put all the content of the Handbook there, and the algorithm will decide which one to teach the person depending on their needs. But also, the material will be more playful and interactive. It has “action cards”, which are like cases applied to a specific need. For example, ours are:
- Choosing your Office Suite where you can instantly share your document with your team and edit them at real time by more than one person.
- Designing multimedia content with GIMP like an advertising spot, a radio advertisement, the logo of a new company, the corporate image, graphic designs to use on a website.
- How to arrange your first online conference in Zoom.
- The main keys of networking and the management of Linkedin.
- Is social media appropriate for entrepreneurs. And we give a general description of different social networks (Facebook, Instragam, Snaptchat) with the profile for each one, and some tips to promote in a good way your projects, like being proactive or being true to your image.
- Developing your social media strategy acknowledging your economic sectors and its characteristics. Some advices like knowing your audience, with examples of good practices and analytical tools as tweetDeck.
What are the results expected?
Let’s see, I hope that the project will have precisely the expected results. I hope that those adults who have difficulties in handling digital content will be better able to do so or to understand it. And that they adapt to the current situation. That they find a job, that they make their company known, or that they simply learn something new.
One suggestion on EU projects about social network that you will introduce in the future proposals?
I think there is a lack of projects on digital marketing. How to design your logo, what colours to choose, what shapes… In the end the exploitation of social networks, or the use of platforms like Zoom or Skype is a bit easier through Google. But I see a lack of small details that need to be addressed. And of course, more interactive content, more courses, more Apps…. and disseminate them throughout the life of the project. I think it is essential to accompany this type of project with a SUPER dissemination strategy that brings something new, a contest like SOCIALEU, new challenges in followers, fairs, I don’t know. We would have to think very carefully about how to turn this idea around.