Critical Engagement: A Social Media Bootcamp
The University of New Haven provides a centralized graduate admissions overview and emphasizes the importance of effective social media strategies for engagement with prospective and current students. As challenges to higher education's business model arise, institutions are encouraged to adopt a proactive, personalized approach to relationship management. The document outlines various social media platforms, their demographics, and guidelines for maintaining a consistent online presence to enhance brand awareness and recruitment efforts.
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Critical Engagement: A Social Media Bootcamp
- 2. The University ofNew Haven • Private, nonprofit university in West Haven, CT • 1,800 graduate students • Centralized graduate admissions
- 3. Overview • Who, what, where, when, why • …and How. • Content strategies for engagement • Q&A
- 4. Learning Outcomes • Learnhow to use the primary social networks to your advantage • Identify the best channels for your audiences • Develop successful content curation strategies
- 5. “Powerful forces arecalling into question higher education’s business model and raising new expectations for the quality and efficiency of service delivery. Institutions failing to navigate these changes are likely to find the road ahead increasingly difficult.” Personalization Offers A New Vision for Relationship Management. Ovum Whitepaper. © Ovum Published (03/2012).
- 6. “…institutions must take,without the luxury of added resources, a far more personal and proactive approach to managing student relationships than traditionally has been done in the past.” Personalization Offers A New Vision for Relationship Management. Ovum Whitepaper. © Ovum Published (03/2012).
- 7. “As with anydifficult or turbulent time, organizations that refocus on basics such as delivering quality services and cultivating long-term relationships with their customers are likely to come out of the experience better and stronger.” Personalization Offers A New Vision for Relationship Management. Ovum Whitepaper. © Ovum Published (03/2012).
- 8. SOCIAL MEDIA BASICS What the #$*& is a tweet?
- 9. What is socialmedia? Forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as video) * Merriam Webster Online Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20media
- 10. Defining Social Media • Social interaction • “Highly accessible communication…” • User-driven • Transparent • Engaging and interactive • “Communicate in all directions…” • “Real-time communication…” • “Variety of content…”
- 12. The Largest SMChannels • Facebook – 7 billion users • Twitter – 182 million users • Pinterest – 104 million users • LinkedIn – 86 million * Courtesy of Mashable.com 4/6/2012
- 13. Facebook • Full profiles that allow users to “like” and share content • Connect with friends, family, brands • Controlled privacy • Share status 86% Age 25 or older (46% are 45+) updates, photos, article 57% female / 43% male s, links 24% have a bachelor’s or master’s degree
- 14. Twitter • Short messagesof 140 characters • “Follow” other people/brands • #Hash tags link trending topics • Great resource for content, professional 81% Age 25 or older (33% are 45+) development, branding 59% female / 41% male 24% have a bachelor’s or master’s degree
- 15. Pinterest • “Pin” favorite content – photos, recipes, etc. – on boards • Users follow boards or other users • Informal, fun • Great branding 90% Age 25 or older (55% are 25-44) channel, but is not for 82% female 25% have a bachelor’s or master’s degree advertising Top Geographic Region: AL, KY, MS, TN
- 16. LinkedIn • The “professional” network • Profiles are essentially a long-form resume • Connect with other professionals for networking • Discussions, job 47% Age 25-44 (49% are 45+) search, recommendatio 50/50 Gender Breakdown 50% have a bachelor’s or master’s degree ns
- 17. Other Networks toConsider • Google+ – Similar to Facebook – Group friends/brands into “circles” • foursquare – Allows users to “check in” to your institution/office – Can be used for specials as incentives to visit • YouTube – Video sharing on your “channel”
- 18. HOW TO DOIT I’ve never used a fishing pole before
- 19. The Groundwork • Whatis your goal with social media? – Awareness? Engagement with prospective students/current students/alumni/community? • What metrics are important to you? • Who will be participating/responsible for content? – Faculty/staff, student employees, current students, alumni?
- 20. Uniformity • Keep youronline presence uniform as much as possible in look, feel, and “talk” • At UNH: – http://www.facebook.com/unhgradschool – http://www.twitter.com/unhgradschool – http://www.pinterest.com/newhavengrad • Brand consistency in identity and message is critical
- 21. Facebook • Need a personal page first as administrator • Then establish a brand page • Timeline cover photo should represent who you are, your experience
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- 23. Facebook Courtesy of Danielle Glick http://www.copyblogger.com/timeline-cover-photo/
- 24. Twitter • Personal administrator account not required • Can customize profile image and background • Can link to a cell phone number for updates • Consider a widget on your website
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- 26. Pinterest • Request an invite • Set up as brand page • Pin content from the web or upload photos representing you • Keep it fun, informal • Ideas for content: – Local things to do – Campus event photos – Great “eats”
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- 28. LinkedIn • Need anadministrator before creating a group page • Group can become far- reaching: – Prospective/Current students – Alumni – Faculty/staff – Recruiters
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- 30. General Tips • Beopen to mobile – Purchase smart phones for staff responsible for SM content • Set up vanity URLs for promotion – Facebook.com/unhgradschool • Flexibility on time commitment and early expectations
- 31. WHAT TO POST What do I use for bait?
- 32. Voice • What isyour voice? • Echo your brand, mission • Communicating should reflect your service, campus experience • What is your brand message?
- 33. Types of Content(According to MH) • Direct self promotion • Indirect self promotion • “Altruistic” self promotion
- 34. Direct Self Promotionon SM • Events • Admissions Announcements • Grad Fair Attendance • “Leeching” on other content • Interactions with prospective students
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- 37. Interactions with ProspectiveStudents
- 38. Interactions with ProspectiveStudents
- 39. Indirect Self Promotionon SM • University News • Student News (Research, Study Abroad, etc.) • Faculty News (Research, Promotions, etc.) • Alumni News • Event Photos
- 40. Indirect Self Promotionon SM • Location information • Interactions with current students • Contests – Do not necessarily have to be related to your programs
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- 42. “Altruistic” Self Promotionon SM • Graduate School Tips • Financial Aid Tips • News related to your programs • Job Postings
- 43. Twitter Potpourri • Use#hashtags in your tweets – ie. #iopsychology or #emergencymanagement • Follow industry news and industry leader Twitter accounts – Example: @forensicnews – RT relevant content to your followers
- 44. Finding Content • Alertsand searches for content – Google Alerts – Create searches on Twitter related to programs, industry, your institution, and more • Check your Facebook news feed and your followers’ pages • Be open to creativity • Enlist student help
- 45. SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING Brand Awareness
- 46. Social Media Advertising •Creating a first ad – Demographic targeting – Geo-targeting • Ways to use these ads – Program Awareness – Brand Awareness – Recruitment Fairs – Webinars / Open Houses / Recruitment Events
- 47. Social Media AdvertisingChannels • Be mindful of platform and audience • Costs: CPM vs. CPC
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- 49. Suggested Social MediaTools • Hootsuite • TweetDeck • Bit.ly • Facebook Insights • SocialBro • Klout • Radian6
- 50. Thank you. QUESTIONS? Contact Information: MarcusHanscom University of New Haven 203-932-7277 mhanscom@newhaven.edu @marcushanscom All social media demographic data provided courtesy of OnlineMBA.com via http://mashable.com/2012/03/09/social-media- demographics/