Part One: Creating Content
So, you’ve been charged with managing your IU chapter or group’s social media channels. Sure, you have a personal Facebook page. Maybe you’ve even tweeted a funny quote or two. But hashtags? Groups? Grumpy Cat? You’re just not sure how to make the most of this thing.
First, breathe. This is Facebook—not the Final Four. It’s fun, and it can be an effective form of communication and engagement. We’ve heard your questions, so get ready for answers. This is the first in a three-part social media series for the Our Indiana blog.
Getting Started
Let’s start at the beginning. Creating a Twitter account is simple. Choose a short, intuitive handle. Chapters should use “IUAACity” (i.e. IUAAChicago), if available. (We’ll talk about resources for profile pics in a few minutes.)
Facebook requires a few more decisions. The first: Do I set up a Group or a Page? Most of our chapters and affiliates use Groups. They provide a closed space for people to communicate about shared interests—like IU! Be sure to set up an “open” Group so anyone can join without approval. Read more on Facebook Groups.
What Should I Post?
Content for social media should be meaningful and provide a unique value to your followers. Here are a few tips for good content creation:
- Promote events and chapter news. Your first priority is communicating what’s happening with your group. Post links to registration, give details for game watches, etc.
- Use images. Photos get 120 percent more engagement (likes, comments, all the good stuff) on Facebook, so use them.
- Get topical. Fans are more likely to engage with topics that are already top of mind, such as current events, holidays, or news. Draw a connection to IU within these topics and you’re golden.
- Ask questions about a shared experience. Example: “Who was your favorite IU professor?”
- Share. You can get lots of content from the IUAA Facebook and Twitter pages. You can also share from other IU accounts, listed here: http://www.iu.edu/connect/
Give Your Page a Facelift
Don’t ignore your page’s cover and profile images. Here are some great resources for you:
- IUAA covers and profile images (free downloads!)
- Indiana University Brand (free downloads!)
- Social Media Image Sizing Cheat Sheet
So, how was that? Questions or comments? Please post them in the comments on this blog entry. The next post will discuss how to manage content—posting frequency, responding to comments, integrating additional social channels, and more. Until then!