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Navigating the world of social media and financial aid. Jessica Hickernell University of Maine. The stats: Social media usage. Credit: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/08/social-media-update-2013/frequency-of-social-media-site-use/. The Stats: facebook.
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Navigating the world of social media and financial aid Jessica Hickernell University of Maine
The stats: Social media usage Credit: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/08/social-media-update-2013/frequency-of-social-media-site-use/
The Stats: facebook Credit: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/08/social-media-update-2013/frequency-of-social-media-site-use/
The stats: Twitter Credit: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/08/social-media-update-2013/frequency-of-social-media-site-use/
The stats: Instagram and pinterest Credit: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/08/social-media-update-2013/frequency-of-social-media-site-use/
Reasons to go social: customer service • Meet students where they are most comfortable • Decrease phone calls, wait times, long lines
Reasons to go social: social proof • Help students in a public setting
Reasons to go social: timely content • Post updates, deadlines, and important information instantly • Instant communications and timely, meaningful topics
Reasons to go social: Credibility and loyalty • Proof that we are more than just the person ‘behind the desk’
Reasons to go social: Transparency and access • Communicate early and often in a public setting
Reasons to go social: Financial literacy • Use it as an educational tool
Things to keep in mind • Challenges: • Resources- • Time • Personnel • Experts • Nature of Public Discourse • Online forums bring good and bad • FERPA • Protection of student information
Negative Comments • Negative comments not always a bad thing • Opportunity for feedback and change • Be honest • Be tactful • Contact person directly • Feel free to delete
STrategies • Post at least 3x per week • Know when to post • Typically posting between 6am -9am results in less views than posting during hours that students are more active online
Strategies • Advertise your page • Have student employees share it • Post in other school-affiliated pages • TAG! • Retweet/share articles and posts that are relevant to your students • Engages people • Increases chances of others using your materials
Strategies • Don’t be too serious • Don’t strictly post informational, text posts • Post funny things that are still relevant • Sparks discussion, serves as reminders, and build your followers EMBRACE THE MEMES!
Strategies • Post things that aren’t necessarily related to aid directly • Respond to comments promptly • Utilize student employees to quality check your posts • Do they find them interesting, engaging • Ask for feedback • Have weekly themed days • Example: What’s Free Wednesday (#WFW) – showcase area events, food, and other things that are free at your school/in your community for students to take advantage of
Examples • www.facebook.com/umainefinancialaid • www.facebook.com/umainestudentemployment • www.facebook.com/umfinaid • www.facebook.com/UTOSFS • twitter.com/msufinaid • twitter.com/LoyolaFinAid