I put together a list of practices to try out when the idea generation and engagement rate is running low. Have other tactics that have helped you, simply reply and let me know!
Re-share community content: User-generated content is content floating around the internet that is originally created by your audience. In this case, students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Setting up a school-specific hashtag, local geotag, or browsing through posts that use an existing branded hashtag is a great way to find content to share on your social platforms. Here are a few examples:
- Mission College Repost Student’s Anniversary
- Brookdale Community College Repost from School Hashtag
- West Virginia University Repost Spirited Baby Triplets
3 Benefits of Using User-Generated Content in Education Marketing, Flocker
Repurpose previous content: We don’t always have to reinvent the wheel to attract engagement, resurfacing a picture that was posted last year as a Throwback Thursday could also do the trick! Essentially, one piece of content can serve many purposes. If your institution or office runs a blog, turn the main talking points into an infographic and post on Instagram and Twitter.
12 Benefits of Repurposing Content, Thrive Hive
Interact with your community: A mantra I live by and preach to campus accounts is , “comment more than you post.” You can always engage with your community even when you don’t have something to share. Take the time to reply to comments or direct messages. Another good practice is to search your university hashtag or location tag to find more content to interact with.
What You Do AFTER You Post is Way More Important than What You Post, Post Planner
Call-to-actions (CTA) captions: The CTA is the part of your caption that encourages your community to do something – it’s an invitation engagement. Whether that’s to register for a resume building workshop or reflect on their favorite campus activity. Refer back to the last tactic, making sure to comment on those that have replied!
What Is A Call-to-Action (CTA) and It’s Benefits, Creative
Produce a social media content calendar: A social media content calendar are organizational spreadsheets used to schedule social posts in advance. Some great scheduling platforms are Buffer, Sprout Social, and Later. I use a combination of Buffer schedule and Google Sheets to plan and organize copy.
How to Create a Social Media Content Calendar: Tips and Templates, Hootsuite
Your content bank will overflow if you play with some of these practices!
*This post was originally created for my newsletter, Digital Leadership Download. Subscribe and keep up with everything I’m writing, podcasting, and speaking about!
