U.OSU

So you’ve set up your U.OSU site, you have an About page, some snazzy Widgets, and a post or two. Now it’s time to work on increasing your social reach. Additives tend to have a negative connotation (no sugar added, etc.) but in this case, social additives can propel your site to the next level. Here are three simple steps to get you on your way.

1. Social media icons

Incorporating social media icons allows connectivity with your various social networks and makes sharing content a breeze. In the Dashboard, navigate to the Customize dropdown menu and locate “Social Media Links.” Here you will see space to enter Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Check out the step-by-step guide to eliminate any URL vs. username guesswork, then it’s as simple as copy-paste.

2. AddThis Social Share

Once your icons link to the appropriate channels, why not make social sharing visible to all of your diligent readers? Watch this quick instructional video on enabling AddThis Social Share to your site then your content can be distributed with ease to various social platforms, increasing reach and readership.

3. Twitter feed

Our last tip is to add your Twitter feed, or another public feed you wish to highlight. Head to the Widgets setting in Twitter and you’ll see a screen similar to the one below. Scan the settings options, for instance I edited my link color to coordinate with my site, then copy the HTML box below the preview. Next, in the Widget section of your Dashboard, add a “Text” widget to your sidebar — paste in what you copied from Twitter and you’re good to go!

This is a great way to allow site visitors to follow, retweet, and see what you’re up to with ease. If you need additional instructions check out this article on embedded timelines

Now you should be well on your way to social sharing success! For additional articles and instructional videos visit the Resource Center.