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The social media pages are currently in the process of being updated. If you have any questions or require support, please contact social.media@nihr.ac.uk.
The social media pages are currently in the process of being updated. If you have any questions or require support, please contact social.media@nihr.ac.uk.
The NIHR has a number of social media profiles, each with their own distinct audiences, tone and style. Posting content on social media enables the NIHR to share stories, highlight successes and engage with new and existing audiences, to promote and celebrate the important work that the NIHR does.
The social media team is responsible for the overall management of the NIHR’s social media presence, as well as newsletters, YouTube and podcasts.
The NIHR has profiles on the below platforms:
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Content types
news
positive impact stories
easy to digest short stories
Content formats
posts accompanied by text and/or videos
scrolling ‘carousels’
longer form articles
Jobs and events can also be posted on LinkedIn
Audiences
This channel has our broadest audiences.
This includes NHS decision makers, the public, government, charities, policy makers, healthcare bodies and media.
Content types
Good news stories showcasing work from across the NIHR
content demonstrating the potential career pathways and training available for NIHR researchers
funding opportunities
research to practice achievements
Content formats
posts accompanied by text and/or videos
scrolling ‘carousels’
longer form articles
Jobs and events can also be posted on LinkedIn
Audiences
researchers working with NIHR (including NIHR funded researchers)
health and care Professionals working with NIHR
Content types
stories involving an industry, charity or other partner
highlighting how NIHR can support industry/companies
Content formats
posts accompanied by text and/or videos
scrolling ‘carousels’
longer form articles
Jobs and events can also be posted on LinkedIn
Audiences
Clinicians
commissioners and healthcare professionals
interested patients, families and carers
X (formerly known as Twitter)
X (formerly known as Twitter)
Content types
news
positive stories
Content formats
single tweet, with short, concise copy accompanied by images and/or videos
thread of tweets for longer features. Keep tweets within thread concise and accompany every tweet with an image or video where possible
Audiences
This channel has our broadest audiences. This includes NHS decision makers, the public, government, charities, policy makers, healthcare bodies and media.
Content types
Raising awareness about the value and benefits for patients of getting involved in research
opportunities to get involved
new resources and tools to help people with PPIE
Content formats
single tweet, with short, concise copy accompanied by images and/or videos
thread of tweets for longer features. Keep tweets within thread concise and accompany every tweet with an image or video where possible
Audiences
The involvement community, including patients, carers and members of the public who have an interest in getting involved in research
public contributors - people who are already actively involved in research
PPIE leads (leads in universities, other parts of NIHR, other funders and NHS trusts)
researchers looking to get the public involved in their work and studying public involvement
international research organisations interested in UK/ NIHR good practice, including those who are part of the NIHR initiated global network for PPIE
Content types
personal testimonials and success stories
Global Health funding calls and grant announcements
interesting publications from NIHR-funded projects
Content formats
single tweet, with short, concise copy accompanied by images and/or videos
thread of tweets for longer features. Keep tweets within thread concise and accompany every tweet with an image or video where possible
Audiences
Global health policy makers, funders and partners
NIHR GHR award holders and their host institutions,
national policy makers and Ministries of health in low and middle income countries
international and local non-governmental organisations
Global health researchers and practitioners
UK Science & Innovations Networks (SINs)
British Council offices in LMICs
journalists/media, especially in Global health and development
Facebook
Facebook
Content types
awareness raising of NIHR’s offer and range of services to help people take part
The impact of health and care research and how it makes a difference to society
Content formats
posts accompanied by text and/or videos.
Audiences
potential trial participants
patients/careers
GPs
engaged general public
people living with health conditions
Instagram
Instagram
Content types
people focused stories, highlighting the real world impact of NIHR research.
Content formats
Grid - image(s) with text
Reels - short videos
Instagram stories - image and/or videos, live for 24 hours
Audiences
potential trial participants
engaged general public
people living with health conditions
external partners in healthcare settings
YouTube
YouTube
Our public YouTube channel NIHRtv hosts videos from across the entire NIHR, for all audiences. Due to the breadth of topics a number of playlists have been created to group related content.
If you are looking to publish on the corporate YouTube channel, read our essential YouTube guidance
External YouTube: NIHRtv
Internal YouTube: NIHR library
Social Media best practice
Social Media best practice
General
General
Post on the most relevant platform and tailor your message accordingly. Think about your audience and be customer focused. Post what our audiences want to see, now what you want them to see.
Use engaging images and/or video that will grab your audience's attention.
Keep the message short, clear and focused and use simple, understandable language.
Create a conversation, interact with your audience. Where relevant, use polls or other interactive elements that can help engage your audience.
Answer any queries in a timely manner. If you're not sure about a response, reply with a holding message and work with the relevant team to craft a response.
When relevant, tag other social media accounts.
Measure, assess and refine - keep an eye on what works well for specific audiences and do more of it.
Accessibility
Accessibility
Add alt text to your images.
Avoid using hashtags within the main copy. Capitalise the start of every word in a hashtag, for example #BePartOfResearch
In pictures and graphics, use as little text as you can in as large a font as possible. Avoid long quotes or paragraphs of text. Make sure that text and backgrounds have enough contrast so that they can be easily read.
Videos should include closed captions.
Need support?
Need support?
If you have any questions about social media, please contact the social media team at social.media@nihr.ac.uk.
Are we missing anything?
Are we missing anything?
We are always looking to improve this page and make it even easier for people to access important comms resources. Please complete our 2-minute comms site feedback form to share any feedback. Alternatively you can email internal.comms@nihr.ac.uk.
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