Your experts.exeter.ac.uk profile

Your profile on experts.exeter.ac.uk is one of the most powerful tools for building your academic reputation. It feeds external platforms, supports media enquiries, and helps potential collaborators, funders and PhD applicants find you.

If you do not have an expert profile set up, guidance can be found on the Profiles SharePoint site.

On the SharePoint site, you can find Profile Setup Guidance, a quick start Profile Video Guide if you are in a rush, as well as a Profiles Style Guide, if you are looking to updated your profile. You can find further support in the FAQs.

Learn more about how to promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in your profile.

Strengthen your presence across key research platforms

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date research profiles is essential for ensuring your work is discoverable, correctly attributed, and properly linked to the University of Exeter - so be sure to include the correct affiliation and regularly check for any missing publications or outputs that may have been incorrectly assigned to you.

ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) - A priority for all researchers. ORCID enables transparent and trustworthy connections between researchers, their contributions, and their affiliations by providing a unique, persistent identifier for individuals to use as they engage in research, scholarship, and innovation activities. ORCID provides a unique, persistent identifier that connects you to your research outputs, affiliations and activities across platforms. Create or update your ORCID and ensure that all your research is correctly affiliated to University of Exeter here.

Scopus - A comprehensive database for abstracts and citations, offering tools for tracking research metrics and author publications. As an author you will get an automatic profile in Scopus if you have authored at least two journal articles.  Data from Scopus also feeds into your Symplectic profile. Connect to Scopus and ensure your University of Exeter affiliation is correct here.

LinkedIn - A key social media platform for building your professional profile and connecting with academic and industry networks. It also enables the University to tag and amplify your work - however, we cannot tag you in LinkedIn posts if you have not listed the University of Exeter as your workplace, or if you are not following the University of Exeter LinkedIn page. More information available here.

ORE (Open Research Exeter) - The University of Exeter's repository for uploading your open access publications, helping to increase the reach and impact of your research. Access the repository, upload your publications and ensure records are complete and correctly attributed here and find out more about the open access process here.

Web of Science – A global research database similar to Scopus but with a more targeted and reduced global reach, providing citation data across journals, books and conference proceedings. It is widely used for benchmarking and research evaluation. Access or create your profile, review your author record and maintain accurate affiliation details here.

Dimensions – Links publications, grants, datasets and policy impacts, supporting discovery and literature reviews. Use it to track your research presence and ensure your outputs are correctly linked to the University of Exeter. More detail available here.

Altmetric – tracks how your research is shared and discussed across news, social media, policy and other sources. Good for seeing where your research is being most engaged with. You can access Altmetric Explorer through your University of Exeter login here.

Google Scholar - If you use Google Scholar to search for academic work, it is best practice to use it in combination with other scholarly databases, particularly when conducting literature reviews. Google Scholar is not a citation and abstract database, but rather a search engine for finding scholarly work. It can find obscure, wide range of outputs, including non-English literature, unpublished and grey literature, making it a good tool for HASS disciplines.  Guidance for Google Scholars can be found here.

Building a strong expert profile

A strong expert profile should:

• Clearly describe your research focus in accessible language
• Highlight your expertise, methods and distinctive contribution
• Include selected, high-quality publications (not just a full list)
• Showcase grants, impact, engagement and leadership
• Feature a professional, up-to-date headshot
• Align with strategic themes

It should answer three questions quickly:

1. What do you research?
2. Why does it matter?
3. How can someone work with you?

Regularly review your profile to ensure it reflects your current projects, priorities and strategic direction.

Encouraging engagement and collaboration

A strong profile should make it easy for others to engage with you. Include clear and specific calls to action where appropriate, for example:

Collaboration

• I’m open to interdisciplinary collaboration in…
• I’m interested in industry partnerships relating to…
• I’m available for policy advisory work in…

PhD supervision

• Clearly state if you are open to PhD enquiries
• List specific themes or methodological strengths
• Mention funded project opportunities where relevant

Media engagement

• Indicate willingness to speak to media
• Highlight topical expertise areas
• Use accessible language to describe policy or societal relevance

Optimising for search visibility

Your profile is often the first result when someone searches your name or research area. Small changes can improve search results:

• Write clearly - search engines favour clear headings, concise paragraphs and natural language.
• Keep content current - regular updates signal relevance to search engines and external audiences.
• Avoid overloading your profile with long publication lists or duplicated content - clarity improves both readability and visibility.
• Link strategically to funded projects, centres and collaborations, and relevant external platforms (e.g. ORCID).
• Use searchable keywords:
  • Include common terms used in your field
  • Add both technical and plain-English descriptors
  • Use variations (e.g. “physical activity”, “exercise”, “movement health”)

Professional headshot

Your headshot should be:

• High resolution
• Professionally taken (where possible)
• Neutral background

Avoid:

• Cropped group photos
• Informal or outdated images
• Low-quality screenshots

If you need an updated headshot, check whether professional photography sessions are available within your Faculty or via the Design Studio.

Organic social media

The University’s Social Media team is here to help you communicate your research effectively and build a strong, professional presence online—amplifying both your personal profile and the University of Exeter’s global reputation.

They offer guidance on choosing the right platforms (LinkedIn, BlueSky, Threads), sharing your research and insights, maintaining a professional tone of voice, and aligning your content with key themes and strategic priorities. You can also access support to help amplify your posts, tag institutional accounts correctly, and make the most of events and publications.

For practical advice, tools and contact details, visit the Social Media Resources Hub for communicating your research.

You can also access the Academic Toolkit presentation on SharePoint for guidance on using social media effectively to promote your research, build your profile, and engage with wider audiences.

Social media content - The Campaigns and Social Media Team are developing a new programme designed to support selected academics in creating high-quality, research-led social media content. The initiative will provide training, practical support and strategic alignment to help colleagues translate their expertise into engaging short-form videos, explainers and thought leadership content across priority platforms. If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch with the Social Media team.

Paid social media advertising

Paid social media advertising can help you showcase your research, events and academic work, and reach more people by targeting audiences beyond your existing networks. The Campaigns team currently supports paid social campaigns on LinkedIn and Meta (Facebook and Instagram). 

Requests are open to Exeter academics, current students and professional services staff. Unfortunately, requests from third parties cannot be accepted. 

Please use this form to submit a request for paid social media advertising through the Campaigns Team.

Please note:

• You will need a valid University budget code to complete this form, as all paid advertising costs must be charged to a budget.
• Once submitted, please allow 5 working days for a first draft to be sent to your email.
• If you have questions before submitting, please contact h.stock@exeter.ac.uk

ResearchGate and Academia

Research Gate – A commercial social networking platform for researchers, scientists, clinicians and students, to share their work, ask and answer questions, and collaborate globally and across disciplines.

Information on how you can increase the visibility of your work and publications on ResearchGate can be found here.  It also provides you with all the information you need to:

• Get started with ResearchGate
• Build your Profile
• Build your network
• Things to consider when using ResearchGate

Academia.edu – A platform for sharing research papers and following work in your field. If you choose to use it, ensure your profile is up to date, your publications are correctly attributed, and your University of Exeter affiliation is clearly listed. More information about the site is available here.

Podcasts

Exeter Impact Podcast

The Exeter Impact Podcast brings research impact to life with short, engaging episodes featuring experienced researchers across disciplines. Learn practical insights, strategies, and real-world examples of how research creates societal, economic, and cultural change. New episodes are released monthly on YouTube and as audio recordings for University of Exeter staff, with highlights shared in the Exeter Weekly Bulletin and on Research Culture Viva Engage.

To find out more, visit the Exeter Impact Podcast SharePoint site.

Podcast Production and Distribution Support

You can access specialist podcasting and digital storytelling support through the Digital Humanities Lab on our Streatham Campus.

The Lab offers end-to-end support for podcast projects, including creating WordPress websites to host your content and using distribution tools to share episodes across major podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon. This helps your work reach wider audiences than publishing on a standard university webpage.

It also houses a professional podcast and video studio, which can be used for a range of formats including interviews, podcasts, oral histories, discussion series, and video content. Support can include recording, editing, production and studio hire, with flexible options available depending on your project needs.

Pricing:

• Costs for research-related projects are usually calculated on a cost-recovery basis. The lab also has a range of staff expertise, including paid student interns, which can help keep costs manageable.
• Studio hire (including equipment) for non-HASS faculties can be negotiated as part of a tailored quote. Typical costs vary but can be as low as £40 per hour.
• Commercial rate options are available for external bookings.

The team will provide a tailored quote based on your requirements, whether that includes a WordPress site, editing support, full production, or individual elements as needed.

You’re very welcome to visit the Lab to talk through your project and explore the facilities in person. Please contact digitalhumanities@exeter.ac.uk for more information and to discuss your project.

Website guidance and search engine optimisation

The University provides in-house web and digital support for academics and researchers through the Digital Team. The Digital Team builds and maintains the main University website and can create sites that sit within the official University structure, such as official institute, network, and departmental research group pages.

Staff and postgraduate research students can also request a website/blog in WordPress. There is a free, self-service option available that uses a standard University template, or you can request a bespoke WordPress site designed by the Multimedia Design Studio (charged service).

For full details and contact information, visit the web support page.

Search engine optimisation (SEO)

The Digital Team also manage the University's central search engine optimisation strategy through the Digital Visibility 2030 project. Search engines and AI tools form a critical way for your research to be discovered, and optimising your content for these platforms can increase visibility and AI citations.

The team can support you with:

• Topic and keyword advice and research to align your work with frequently used search queries
• Identifying internal and external linking opportunities to increase the reach and visibility of your research across the web
• Web content audit and optimisation to improve how your research pages perform in search
• Guidance on building a strong digital presence that supports discoverability across search and AI platforms

Digital Skills and AI guidance

Digital Skills is an online self-assessment quiz and home of digital learning resources that have been designed to support University staff in developing their digital capabilities, both professionally and personally. By helping everyone to improve their digital skills, they aim to enhance engagement, learning outcomes, employability, and overall well-being. 

Explore the Digital Skills library and take your self-assessment quiz or find out more about the Digital Skills Initiative (DSI).

Responsible AI use is vital for maintaining research integrity. For more information read our guidance on Responsible Use of AI in research.

Please review the University’s AI guidance before using AI in any marketing activity to ensure it is used responsibly. We also recommend avoiding AI-generated images on social media to maintain authenticity and protect the University’s reputation.

Enabling AI Strategy

The University of Exeter’s Enabling AI Strategy sets out our vision to embed Artificial Intelligence responsibly and sustainably across education, research and professional services.

Our AI Policy

The University of Exeter Artificial Intelligence policy sets out clear principles for using AI at Exeter. It supports innovation while ensuring fairness, transparency and compliance with data protection and ethical standards. All staff, students and researchers should refer to the policy when using, developing or procuring an AI tool for University purposes, from drafting content to analysing data.

Training and support

There is several training and guidance resources available for academics on the Enabling AI webpage, including training on AI Fundamentals and Responsible AI Use in LearnUpon and  Microsoft Copilot Training.

The Internal Communications team have a range of resources available to help with communications planning, including templates, guidance and useful key contacts and channels across the University. They offer guidance on how to write for the weekly bulletin and create a comms plan and you can find templates for comms plans here.

If you would like the Internal Communications team's support on a communications strategy, please contact the team at internalcomms@exeter.ac.uk.

Take care not to share confidential or sensitive information relating to the University, your research, or external partners. This is particularly important for industry-funded projects, collaborative research, or work that may be subject to intellectual property protection (e.g. patents).
 
Always ensure that any data, findings or insights you share are approved for public release, and avoid disclosing information that could compromise partnerships, publications, or commercial opportunities.

For general queries on research dissemination, including maximising your research presence and available training, please get in touch with Dr Simon Strange (Research Dissemination Officer)

Social media: socialmedia@exeter.ac.uk
Internal Communications: internalcomms@exeter.ac.uk
Press and media: pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk
Design, photography and filming: designenquiry@exeter.ac.uk

The Press Office is the University’s official link with external media, managing and enhancing its profile locally, nationally and internationally. The team works with newspapers, magazines, online outlets and broadcasters to generate impactful coverage of research, institutional developments and events.

They can support you by:

• Writing and distributing press releases on newsworthy research and activity
• Coordinating media enquiries and interview requests
• Arranging TV, radio and documentary coverage
• Managing media visits and press photography
• Advising on how to present research in accessible, compelling language
• Providing guidance, training and support for engaging with the media

The Press Office can also help position academic experts within ongoing news stories and provide strategic advice on media engagement, including managing sensitive or high-profile issues.

For full details and contact information, visit the Press Office page.

Writing for The Conversation - The University of Exeter subscribes to The Conversation UK, a platform where academics share insights from their research, supported by professional journalists. It’s widely read and often leads to further media coverage, making it a valuable opportunity to build your profile and develop your writing for a broad audience. For more guidance, including how to get started, visit the internal SharePoint page.

The Press Team manages a programme of media training for academics who are likely to be asked to speak to the media. As places are limited, attendees are selected based on the likelihood of using the skills for media interviews. If you think media training would be useful and appropriate to you, please get in touch: pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk

The Multimedia Design Studio supports a wide range of print and digital projects via a paid service, including reports, animations, films and visual assets, ensuring all work aligns with the University’s visual identity.

• Brand hub
• Brand guidelines
• Tone of voice
• Creative Templates (slide decks, posters, report covers, social templates)

For full details and contact information, visit the Multimedia Design Studio page.

The University's Asset Bank provides access to a library of high-quality imagery for use across print and digital projects. This includes photographs from professional shoots as well as licensed stock images, supporting consistent and visually engaging outputs that align with the University’s visual identity. For full details and access information, visit the photography and filming page.

The Design Team provides photography and filming support for strategic communications and marketing activity across the University. Whether you are planning photography, filming or visual content for a campaign or project, our in-house team can offer support. 

To ensure requests are prioritised and scheduled effectively, please complete the film & photography creative brief  and then send it to Abi (A.Raja@exeter.ac.uk) and the Design Studio Account Managers (designenquiry@exeter.ac.uk). This allows the team to assess briefs, manage capacity and schedule work in a consistent way.  

Before submitting a request, you can review the central calendar to view current bookings, existing commitments and indicative availability. More guidance on planning and preparing for photography and filming can be found here. This includes key considerations to help you get the most from your brief.  

For projects involving identifiable individuals, appropriate consent and release processes must be in place. Guidance, model consent forms and crowd release notices are available on Asset Bank. 

Please note - Due to current demand, the Design Team will take a considered approach to allocating time, prioritising projects with the greatest strategic impact. Where requests cannot be accommodated internally, alternative options may be advised where appropriate. As this is a new service, the process will continue to be reviewed and refined, with any updates clearly communicated. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss an upcoming project before submitting, please contact the Design Team at designenquiry@exeter.ac.uk.

Our latest rankings can be found on our 'About Us' pages. University rankings are an important measure of our global reputation and visibility. They help prospective students, researchers, partners, funders and policymakers understand the quality, impact and international standing of our education and research.

When Exeter performs strongly in a major ranking, it is important that we collectively help amplify this success. Sharing ranking announcements and related content across your professional and social networks helps increase awareness of our achievements, strengthens our reputation, and extends the reach of our key messages to audiences around the world.

To support this activity, a range of social media assets, graphics and ranking icons have been developed for use where appropriate. All approved assets can be accessed via the University's Asset Bank. If you are unsure about the correct use of ranking icons or branded assets, please get in touch with the Design Studio (designenquiry@exeter.ac.uk) for guidance.

Participating in conferences, panels and events is a key opportunity to showcase your expertise and contribute to conversations that align with the University of Exeter’s priorities - supporting a healthier, greener and fairer future through research and collaboration.

PivotRP allows you to search for upcoming conferences with open calls for papers from researchers, scholars and students, issued by professional bodies and other conference organisers. Use this link sign in with your Exeter credentials, then navigate to the conferences section. From there you can search for upcoming conferences and filter by discipline, location and date.

If you are speaking at, or attending, a national or international event, let the University know in advance so we can help amplify your presence and maximise impact. A clear, well-written speaker bio that highlights your expertise, research strengths and connection to the University of Exeter is essential.

Before your event, take time to define your key messages - what you want audiences to understand, remember and share. Position your work within wider global challenges and institutional priorities to strengthen your profile as a thought leader in your field.

To extend your reach, promote your involvement before, during, and after the event. Share insights, highlight key moments, and reflect on outcomes across your channels, ensuring your content links back to the University of Exeter and its research themes.

Find out how to organise and run an event through the Event Planning Toolkit, produced by the University's Events Team. The planning toolkit includes checklists, templates and other resources. If you have any questions, please email eventenquiries@exeter.ac.uk or contact a member of the team.

For guidance on risk assessments and health and safety, please use the Event Management Standard. If you have any questions, please email eventenquiries@exeter.ac.uk or contact a member of the team.

Guidance for online events

There are many benefits to holding an online event as opposed to an ‘in-person' event. Online events are more cost effective and sustainable. Transitioning your physical event to an online event or creating a new online event is the best way to safely and effectively engage your community.

Guidance for online events can be found here.

The following options may be useful to consider if you need to publicise your event:

External Engagement and Global can advise on using email marketing software – CreateSend is used for digital event invitations and newsletters.  Email marketing is particularly useful for contacting large mailing lists with professional HTML email designs.  A small cost is incurred per campaign.

Please note: we have collated a mailing list of people interested in attending public events (made up of attendees from previous events in Exeter and Cornwall) and are able to use this for relevant institutional events.  However, emails to this list must be sent through CreateSend.

The Internal Communications team can assist with promoting your event to University staff and students (eg through the Weekly Bulletin for staff, or University Updates for students): internalcomms@exeter.ac.uk

If you require advice or support with the press, please contact pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk

Eventbrite is a powerful tool for publishing, advertising, and managing free events. Please see our Guide to Eventbrite‌ for more information, or Eventbrite’s own getting started Social media can be a fantastic way to promote events and boost the impact of your event on the day. Guidance for using Social Media to promote events can be found here.

Recap, although primarily used for teaching, is also a great tool for creating high quality pre-recorded content. It can be used in conjunction with PowerPoint to distribute a presentation to a wide audience. Any content created using Recap is exportable as a video or audio file.

For advice on photography and filming during an event, please contact the Multimedia Design Studio.