As television was to the man walking on the moon in 1969, Social Media is to Commander Chris Hadfield's 5-month stint on the International Space Station (ISS).
Evan and Kyle Hadfield, Chris' sons, began preaching the merits of Social Media at a family gathering in 2009 and again when it was announced that Dad would be on the 5-month mission to the ISS.
It all began by setting up two social profiles, one on Twitter, the other on Facebook. In January 2011 he had 1,000 Twitter followers and 600 Facebook friends.
Today, Chris Hadfield has garnered almost a million followers on Twitter and falls into the 99.9 percentile of most influential Twitter users. He has over 336,000 likes on Facebook. And let's not forget his YouTube posts! Chris' cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity was published on May 12th: on May 15th there had been over 11 million views!
Utilizing Social Media Commander Hadfield provided us here on earth a unique view into his world aboard the ISS, exposed us to breathtaking images from above and provided interesting facts, did you know with the suit's low pressure, 4.2 psi oxygen, you can't whistle as the air is too thin (Facebook May 11th).
By all accounts, Commander Hadfield embraced Social Media.
Finding Time To Do Social
Over the course of the 146 days aboard the ISS and between the 130 scientific experiments, he found time to connect numerous times a day. Now back on Earth, undergoing a barrage of tests that determine how his body reacts to gravity after being weightless for so long he still finds the time to connect every day.
So how is it that while orbiting in space, manning the ISS and conducting his research, Chris Hadfield was able to stay so connected? A well-planned, presence management.
The first step is planning your social media initiative.
- Determine how often you'll post. Depending on the framework you establish this could be daily, weekly, bi-weekly.
- What you will you post? Will your posts be themed? Contain seasonal information? Announce upcoming promotions?
Creating an editorial calendar will assist in keeping your planned content in order and will allow you to pre-compose content. Chris Hadfield's "Space Oddity" video was recorded on weekends during Chris' personal time. - Where to post? Once you determine the social networks you wish to have a presence on there are tools available, such as Buffer and Hootsuite, which allow you to schedule your posts.
Don't forget to set aside time to respond to comments and questions....avoid being anti-social in your social media presence.
Chris Hadfield's Best Videos
- Space Oddity: although copies of the video are sure to stay around the license agreement between the Canadian Space Agency and David Bowie's record company allows the video to stay on YouTube for one year only.
- First song ever premiered from Earth and Space: written by Chris Hadield and Barenaked Ladies lead Ed Robertson the track is a cooperation between the Canadian Space Agency and CBC Music. It's not the first song from Space. That honor goes to Jingle Bells, a surprise performance by the Gemini 6 crew in 1965.
- Star Treks' actor William Shatner calls Chris Hadfield: the man making space so attractive asks Chris what it's like to live in space.
Chris Hadfield's Most Popular Photos
- View from London all the way to the northern lights
Clear skies at last, from Cardiff to Belfast to Edinburgh to London, to the northern lights, and beyond. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/...
- Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) February 15, 2013
- Earth and its moon seen from space
Tonight's Finale: The full moon rises over the only planet we have ever called home. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/...
- Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) February 18, 2013
- Valentine heart
Seven billion hearts, but I can see only one. #ValentineFromSpace twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/...
- Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) February 14, 2013
- New York, New York
New York City shining by night. Central Park is visible from space, and maybe even the light on the Statue of Liberty. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/...
- Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) January 25, 2013
- Chris Hadfield seen through a weightless drop of water
Weightless water. This picture is fun no matter what direction you spin it. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/...
- Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) January 27, 2013