The use of social networking platforms for sexual health promotion: identifying key strategies for successful user engagement
Authors
Veale, Hilary J.
Sacks-Davis, Rachel
Weaver, Emma RN
Pedrana, Alisa E.
Stoové, Mark A.
Hellard, Margaret E.
Issue Date
2015-02-06
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Health Promotion , Internet , Social Networking Sites , Sexual Health , Facebook , Twitter
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
We identified active Facebook (n = 60) and Twitter (n = 40) profiles undertaking sexual health promotion through a previous systematic review, and assessed profile activity over a one-month period. Quantitative measures of numbers of friends and followers (reach) and social media interactions were assessed, and composite scores used to give profiles an ‘engagement success’ ranking. Associations between host activity, reach and interaction metrics were explored. Content of the top ten ranked Facebook and Twitter profiles was analysed using a thematic framework and compared with five poorly performing profiles to identify strategies for successful user engagement.
Results:
Profiles that were able to successfully engage large numbers of users were more active and had higher levels of interaction per user than lower-ranked profiles. Strategies used by the top ten ranked profiles included: making regular posts/tweets (median 46 posts or 124 tweets/month for top-ranked profiles versus six posts or six tweets for poorly-performing profiles); individualised interaction with users (85% of top-ranked profiles versus 0% for poorly-performing profiles); and encouraging interaction and conversation by posing questions (100% versus 40%). Uploading multimedia material (80% versus 30%) and highlighting celebrity involvement (70% versus 10%) were also key strategies.
Conclusion:
Successful online engagement on social networking platforms can be measured through quantitative (user numbers and interactions) and basic qualitative content analysis. We identified the amount and type of host activity as key strategies for success, and in particular, regular individualised interaction with users, encouraging conversation, uploading multimedia and relevant links, and highlighting celebrity involvement. These findings provide valuable insight for achieving a high level of online engagement through social networking platforms to support successful health promotion initiatives.
Description
Citation
Veale, H. J., Sacks-Davis, R., Weaver, E. R., Pedrana, A. E., Stoové, M. A., & Hellard, M. E. (2015). The use of social networking platforms for sexual health promotion: identifying key strategies for successful user engagement. BMC public health, 15, 85. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1396-z
Publisher
BMC Public Health