Training

Before the Steve Jobs Library and Museum begins to use social media, it will need to determine which staff members will use social media initially and the degree to which they are familiar (or fluent) with it. In its early planning stages, the SJLM should consider appointing a social media strategist. A social media strategist can act as a liaison between the managers of the museum and the staff members who will use social media in their daily duties. The social media strategist is someone who understands the many technologies available and their application and can coordinate which ones to use and who will use them (Wollan 2010).

Once appointed, a social media strategist can work with administration to identify roles for museum staff members. As the museum does not have a large staff,social media responsibilities will have to be divided among staff. According to Allen-Greil, the museum will need to keep in mind that social media requires a number of key skills: “editing, writing, customer service skills, technical know-how, legal knowledge, and subject matter expertise, among others” and ensure that each staff member has the appropriate skills to be successful. In terms of training, Mindflash Online Training has an infographic chart on how to train employees on the use of social media which the museum can utilize (Infographic 20120). Given that the museum has a technological focus, staff are “tech savvy,” therefore the museum is in the position to enable its staff to manage their own use of and training in social media. The staff can be separated into training groups based on their levels of knowledge in social media applications. The “tech savvy” user training group can focus on the specific social media applications the museum will be using and how audiences will be engaged with them (Infographic 2012). For those considered “digital natives,” training should focus on the social media goals of the museum and how to measure the returns rather than on how to use social media applications (Infographic 2012). If the museum has staff new to social media, then a group should be formed so that they can be trained on how to use the social media applications (Infographic 2012).