Increase Usage & Citation Using Social Media

As readers' expectations change, it is important that your article is visible where the user starts their search. Below are some of the social media sites that Sage recommends for promoting your article and other channels that will offer a direct way to reach your readership.

1. Contribute to Wikipedia

We recognize that many students are increasingly using Wikipedia as the starting point for their research. If there are pages that relate to themes, subjects or research that your article covers, add your article as a reference, with a link to it on Sage Journals Online. If there isn't a page in existence, why not create one. You can find out how here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Your_first_article

2. Join Twitter

Twitter is a micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Authors are increasingly promoting their content via twitter which is then picked up by other researchers and practitioners depending on their search parameters. Look at the example here. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Twitter allows you to set up search terms to enable you to monitor what is being talked about in your areas of interest: You can then comment on the relevant conversations. The more you engage, the more people will follow you to listen to your comments and recommendations. As followers come to you, rather than you approaching them, Twitter is an ideal way to reach new audiences.

Sage's guidelines for how to use Twitter are available here.

3. Add content to YouTube

Content is, of course, no longer as narrow as text and figures. It also includes user-generated content and multi-media content such as podcasts and videos. We are seeing an increasing amount of traffic to our journal sites via YouTube as students use video as an initial way of researching a topic. If you already have video content relating to your specific journal article, please let us know and we will add it to our Sage YouTube channel.

4. Start blogging

Wondering what to write about? How about:

1. Your area of research and papers that you have published – and/or other related papers in your field of research. Don't forget to link to them from your blog!
2. Conferences and training events that you're due to speak at.
3. Your last conference – were there any interesting questions that came up?
4. What do you think of any recent press coverage of your subject area?
5. Ask your colleagues and co-researchers to guest blog and stimulate debate.

The more you write, the higher your page will appear in search engine results pages when researchers are searching for content – especially as they are increasingly using Google Scholar. Sage will provide a blogging template and guidelines – please contact us if you would like further information.

5. Join academic social networking sites

Academics, researchers and practitioners are increasingly using social communities as a way of meeting and conversing with people who share the same research interests. These sites offer an immediate way to monitor what other people are looking at in your field of research or as a way to commission papers around online conversations you think are interesting. If there aren't any groups talking about your research interests – set one up. Take a look at ResearchGate and Academia for example. There are others too, perhaps you can ask your colleagues which they are part of to decide what suits you best.

6. Create your own website

Do you have your own website? If not, create one! You can create a very clean and simple site using Google sites. Sage will provide guidelines on how to engage with your audience using social media functionality.

7. Join Methodspace

Sponsored by Sage, Methodspace is a new online community for researchmethods. On the site, you can connect with other researchers, discuss methodology issues and controversies, Discover and review new resources, find relevant conferences and events, and share and solve methodology problems.

8. Join LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world with over 55 million members. It is not just for career opportunities. When you create your profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments, why not include a mention of your articles?

9. Join Facebook

Facebook lets users add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Additionally, users can join networks organized by city, workplace, and school or college. You can also join and create groups according to your interests or areas of expertise.

While social media is increasing in importance, there are other options to draw attention to your latest work: email your networks or post on listservs and websites about your recent publication, and add your article to your course reading list (if appropriate).