JUMP START YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PURPOSE
• Increase effectiveness of outreach and engagement efforts in regards to both recruitment and retention.
• Engage prospective students, current students and faculty.
MESSAGE
• Inform students and faculty of events, news and department updates.
• Interact by using trivia or poll questions.
AUDIENCE
• Current students
• Prospective students and/or parents
• Other organizations/universities/departments
CHANNEL
Facebook pages can be effective if you provide your followers with relevant and current content
Twitter can provide real-time conversations and is a great tool for connecting with people who have similar interests
Blogs are a great way to connect with your targeted audience on a deeper level.
Each platform serves a different purpose. You don’t need to use them all; if you’re not sure which platform to use, please contact Layla at lsouers@slu.edu
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
• Read the SLU social media policy (slu.edu/marcom/social-media)
• Notify Marcom of your preference of social media channel(s) (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Assign account administrator(s)
• Create user name and secure password
• Confirm your email to activate account
• Upload profile information, including a high-quality image for your picture
SOCIAL MEDIA QUICK TIPS
Layla A. Souers Social Media Specialist Enrollment and Retention Management Communication 314.977.2674 / lsouers@slu.edu
DO’S AND DON’TS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE PERSONAL
• SLU E-mail: Do not use a University e-mail address to set up a social media account.
• Disclaimer: State: “The views expressed here do not reflect those of Saint Louis University.”
INSTITUTIONAL
• Ask Before You Activate: If you would like to create an official University social media site, you must first receive approval from the appropriate Vice President or Dean, and notify Marketing and Communications.
• Don’t Copy: Respect copyright and fair use laws.
• Political Speech: Do not use - prohibited due to the University’s tax-exempt status.
• Identify Yourself: Acknowledge who you are and your role at the University.
• Naming: The name of the page/site/network should reflect the specific University entity it will represent. Example: Saint Louis University History Department.
•
Set up a Profile: Unless the presence is representing a specific individual, a profile for a specific person should not be used to set up a social media account for a group, department or organization. Example: Department of Theology should set up a Facebook page, not a Facebook profile.
PERSONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
• Legal Ramifications: Individuals are personally and legally responsible for everything that they post online.
• Confidentiality: Do not post confidential or proprietary information about Saint Louis University, its students, their parents, its employees, its donors or its alumni.
• Use of Logos: Do not use Saint Louis University’s name, marks and logos except as specifically authorized by Marketing and Communications.
SOCIAL MEDIA QUICK TIPS
Layla A. Souers Social Media Specialist Enrollment and Retention Management Communication 314.977.2674 / lsouers@slu.edu
BE A GOOD AMBASSADOR FOR SLU As someone who maintains a SLU social media account, you’re an ambassador for the University. Be smart, honest, genuine and respectful.
TWITTER Frequency: Post 3-5 times per week. Each post has to be less than 140 characters.
ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS DEVELOP A PLAN FOR MANAGING CONTENT. Keep a document with ideas for posts and tweets. Add a weekly calendar reminder to post or tweet.
Engagement: Reply to tweets directed at you and re-tweet applicable tweets from those you follow.
TRIPLE-CHECK SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. Don’t just type and hit send – review it, have someone else review it, and copy it into Word and use the spell check function.
THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU POST. If you think a topic may be inappropriate, it probably is. Remember – WWBD? (What Would the Billiken Do?) If the Billiken wouldn’t post it, then you shouldn’t post it.
ENGAGE! Be sure to listen and check back for comments. Each social media platform is a conversation – conversations should not be one-sided, and should always be polite.
Frequency: Post 1-3 times per week. Content: Be sure to post photos and videos, not just statuses. Engagement: Like and reply quickly to comments.
BLOGS Frequency: Post 1-4 times per month. Engagement: Reply to comments on your blog. Comment on other blogs. Post links to your blog on Facebook and Twitter.
SOCIAL MEDIA QUICK TIPS
Layla A. Souers Social Media Specialist Enrollment and Retention Management Communication 314.977.2674 / lsouers@slu.edu