Social media
Once you’ve contacted Media Relations about your research, consider self-promotion.
With over 1.5 million followers across the University’s social media channels, amplifying academic work is a key priority for the team. We’re looking for compelling research stories and can support you to reach a wider audience.
Promoting your research on official University channels
Social media posts with images and videos perform significantly better across platforms. If you have photographs or video content related to your research, please share them with the team and they can be incorporated into promotion.
Examples of what the Social Media team looks for include:
- Behind the scenes of the research process
- A photograph of you / with your peers
- Videos that show the research in action
Examples include:
- Effectively cleaning up UK waterways on X
- Manchester accent TikTok video
- Exploring research facilities in the National Graphene Institute reel on Instagram
Meet the expert content series
Our Meet the Expert series showcases experts from across the University as they discuss their work and research. This series has resonated with a broad audience, accumulating tens of thousands of views on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
If you are interested in participating in Meet the Expert, please contact the social media team at socialmedia@manchester.ac.uk.
Examples:
- Meet the expert: Professor Jamie Woodward on TikTok
- Meet the expert: Professor Marianne Aznar on Bluesky
- Meet the expert: Professor Julian Yates on LinkedIn
Promoting your research on social media
Tips for self-promoting via your own social media channels
Tag the journal that published your paper
They may reshare your post or engage with it, helping your research reach a wider audience.
Include the link to your paper
Platforms like LinkedIn and Bluesky allow direct links, so make full use of this. If the platform doesn’t support links (e.g. Instagram), include the paper’s title in your caption and add the link to your profile bio.
Tag collaborators
@mention co-authors and relevant colleagues to notify them and expand your post’s reach to their networks.
Use relevant hashtags
Look at similar posts in your field to identify hashtags that increase discoverability.
Tell people what to expect
What are the key findings of your research? What will readers gain from your paper? Make this clear in your post.
Start a conversation
Engagement grows when you ask questions. What discussions does your research spark? Invite your audience to weigh in.
Reshare when relevant
Your research doesn’t have to be a one-time post. If it relates to a trending topic or current event, reshare it with updated context.
Key links
- View the University’s social media directory
- Take our Social Media eLearning course here
- Social media guidelines (Instagram and TikTok)
Contacts
For more information or guidance on using social media at The University of Manchester, please email socialmedia@manchester.ac.uk or contact the local representatives listed below.
| Dept/Faculty | |
|---|---|
|
Division of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment |
|
|
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health |
|
|
Faculty of Humanities |
humcomms-webteam@manchester.ac.uk |
|
Faculty of Science and Engineering |