Social Media

Social media are tools and networks that allow individuals, groups, and organizations to create, combine, share, discuss, edit, organize, and collaborate on content. Social media websites and tools provide a unique opportunity to connect with people who are interested and engaged in your program's work.

AddThis

AddThis allows users to share links to your Web pages on various social networks. AddThis is available through the OpenText content management system, and any office can place the AddThis button on their site. AddThis is a standard part of the current EERE template.

If your site is not in the new template, you can add AddThis to your site manually. It should go to the right of the "Printable Version" button. See the Building Technologies Office website for an example.

Blogs

Any program may run a blog. See the blog standards for the requirements and best practices.

Bulletin Boards

EERE has its own bulletin board system. If you want to create a board for your website, e-mail Alex Clayborne.

Every EERE bulletin board must have at least one moderator and a back-up moderator to read, review, and delete comments as necessary. Your board can be either restricted to a certain group or open to the public.

Facebook

EERE's offices cannot have their own Facebook accounts. Instead, they are encouraged to provide content to the EERE Facebook (for general EERE communications) or to the Energy Saver Facebook (for general public and consumer-oriented communications). Contact Drew Bittner if you are interested in submitting information to either of these accounts. Note that it will take up to 2 business days to post an item on the EERE or Energy Saver Facebook accounts.

Some key programs and partnerships (like Solar Decathlon) may be eligible for their own Facebook accounts. If you feel a project you are working on requires a Facebook account, please e-mail John Chu with your request.

Flickr

Offices may not create their own Flickr accounts. However, all programs are welcome to submit pictures to the U.S. Department of Energy's Flickr account. Contact John Chu if you have images you want to put on Flickr.

MySpace

Ask John Chu before planning a MySpace account. In general, they are discouraged unless you have a proposal that explains why MySpace is the correct venue for your content.

RSS Feeds

All offices are encouraged to use RSS feeds to help visitors keep up with updates to their content. For guidance, see the RSS Feed page.

Twitter

Currently, Twitter is restricted to the DOE level. If you have a post for the DOE Twitter Account, please contact John Chu.

Vimeo

Offices may post videos on the DOE Vimeo channel.

All videos must follow EERE's video requirements, and a copy of every video on Vimeo must be sent to the Communications Team as well. Contact John Chu if you have a video you want to place on DOE's Vimeo Channel.

Widgets

Widgets (also known as "gadgets") are small bits of code that users can place on their own website, blog, or social networking site. Widgets are especially effective when information is regularly updated, either manually or with an RSS feed.

For a list of widgets used on the EERE Web site, see the EERE Social Media page. To get your widget listed on EERE's Social Media page, please contact Allison Casey.

All programs can make widgets. For more information, see the Widgets page.

YouTube

Offices may not have their own YouTube channels, but they may post videos on the DOE YouTube channel. Some high-level EERE programs, like Solar Decathlon, have their own YouTube channels. Please e-mail John Chu if you believe your website requires its own independent channel.

DOE's YouTube channel is designed for the general public. Only short, easy-to-understand, engaging videos are accepted for posting on this channel.

All videos must follow EERE's video requirements, and a copy of every video on YouTube must be sent to the Communications Team as well. Contact John Chu if you have a video you want to place on DOE's YouTube Channel.