Move-in day is an exciting time for any institution. Freshmen and upperclassmen alike look forward to the start of a new school year, and even faculty and staff are ready to get back in the swing of things after the summer. Social media is an important part of the experience.
LinkedIn’s new university pages feature could be a game changer for institutions. Here are some initial thoughts on the new platform from an alumni and alumni communications perspective.
The best thing about social media is that we can be in the trenches with our audience. The worst thing about social media is that we have to be in the trenches with our audience. I know I’m not the only social media strategist working in higher education who lies awake at night wondering…Where are they now?
Is it a mistake to ask students, parents and alumni what they would change about an institution via social media? Matthew Anderson, new media coordinator at Western Washington University, doesn’t think so.
“Effective crisis management starts with a plan. While every crisis is different, having a plan that provides a framework for response—and testing and practicing the plan—will allow the institution to focus on the nuances of the crisis at hand rather than routine but important details that can slow response time.”
To facilitate more substantial news coverage, media relations advisers and fundraisers must work together to “mine” the human interest elements of a gift, starting with the donor and the purpose of the gift—and celebrating a donor’s diverse background can greatly increase the richness of the story and its media potential.
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