There are No Gurus (FOR CEANY)

THERE ARE NO GURUSA FEW DO’S AND DON’TS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

WHY THAT NAME FOR THIS PRESENTATION?

• I’m not really that smart• There’s too much to know• The field is changing so rapidly• Those who calls themselves gurus or experts are

selling something.

A FEW GROUND RULES

• Some of what you hear will sound contradictory• None of what you hear is “THE right answer.”• Some of what you hear will probably be invalid in 6

months• I’m not going to recommend you use any particular

platform• Your mileage may vary

WHY SOCIAL MEDIA?…BECAUSE THE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO REACH ARE THERE. AND THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT YOU.

Want to know if people are thinking of transferring?

Having problems at school? Problems registering for class?

Want to know if a student is really excited about getting accepted?

The pulse of the campus is out there. Right now. in real-time.

IT’S ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SOCIAL MEDIA IS A TACTIC…NOT AN OBJECTIVE

• Don’t just “do social media” to “do social media.”

HAVE GOALS

• What are your goals? Recruitment? Increased Enrollment? More Likes?

• Pick a goal, then figure out best platform to help achieve that goal.

• Numbers are nice, results are better

REMEMBER BUFFALO SPRINGFIELDSTOP!…EVERYBODY LOOK WHAT’S GOING DOWN

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALL

FIND A FRIEND

• Someone who can help you learn• An advocate for your cause to others on

campus• Maybe lots of someones• Get S.M.U.G., if you can.Find cheap student labor

DON’T LINK YOUR ACCOUNTS

• People will catch on• If you catch an error & delete post from one, do you remember to delete from the other?

• Different social media outlets treat content differently. • Different audiences receive content differently.

BE PROACTIVE. BE RESPONSIVE.

• Don’t ignore your page• Post Regularly• Provide answers• Even the tough stuff.• It’s okay to say “I don’t know. I’ll look into that for you.”• If you’re not talking someone else is doing it for you

BE CONVERSATIONAL

• Write in English, skip the jargon• Social Media is not a press release or a white paper or a dissertation

• Be lighthearted (where appropriate)• Start conversations, don’t just react.• Ask questions.

BE AUTHENTIC

• Don’t try to be something you’re not. • “Authenticity builds credibility slowly, but shameless promotion can destroy it quickly.”*

• Use the resources at your disposal to build that credibility.

• You don’t need to hit people over the head w/ marketing messages or admissions deadlines.

*Greg Perfetto & Jeff Arnold of AdmissionsLab.com

DON’T BE RUDE

• It only takes a minute to become a meme• Ocean Marketing• Even the rude people on your page most likely just want a response

WE ARE ALL IN A CUSTOMER SERVICE BUSINESSUSE SOCIAL MEDIA TO GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS GOOD SERVICE

DON’T RUN FROM YOUR MISTAKES

WATCH. EXPLORE. MEASURE.

• Don’t just plunge in headlong. Observe first.• Your communities will tell you what they want. Listen.• Use the stats functions of different platforms• Google Analytics• Consider a service, if you can afford it.

• Hootsuite, Radian 6, IceRocket

BUT IT’S NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION!

ADD IT TO YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION

• “When am I going to do my work?”• THIS IS YOUR WORK!• Carve out 15 minutes in the morning and/or afternoon.

• Or try the Google approach- 50 min work followed by 10 min. of putting out fires.

• Increases your value to your organization

• You can only learn from the experience• What will it really have cost you? Social Media is cheap• You’ll still seem cool and edgy

DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL

QUESTIONS? COMPLAINTS? COMMENTS?DAVE TYLER585.395.2306@[email protected]