Focus on how to be social, not on how to do social.

Focus on how to be social, not on how to do social.

The most common question I hear when I talk about social media marketing for your school is which social networks should a school use. I’m quick to answer this question with a question – which social networks are used by your target audience?

 If you are looking to reach prospective parents my answer to that question is Facebook.
Once you decide to launch a Facebook page for your school the work is only beginning, not ending. You need to decide:
  • What to post?
  • How much content should be about school and how only related to school and/or education?
  • When to post?
  • How to measure success? How to make sense of Facebook Insights?
  • How to set-up and design your Facebook page?
This week I found a number of great articles about Facebook that will hopefully help you to begin answer the above questions.
If you’re interested in enrolling in an online course, created by me, that will help you answer these questions (and much more) please add your name to this list: Facebook Marketing for Schools. I’m in the planning stages of outlining the course and will open it up to a select beta group made up of people on the above list.
Hope you have a great weekend.

Required Reading

6 Benefits Of Using Facebook Advertising

Earlier this year, Facebook changed its algorithm to encourage Facebook Page managers to rethink their overall Facebook strategy. The change influences your Facebook Page’s organic reach based on…

15 Types of Facebook Apps to Enhance Your Facebook Page

Want to do more with your Facebook page? Have you considered using Facebook apps? Facebook apps let you customize your Facebook page in many ways. In this article I’ll share 15 ways Facebook apps can enhance and customize your Facebook page. Note: Many of the apps listed here have some free options and some paid…

How to Use Facebook Video Cards for Business

Do you use your Facebook Profile for business? Want a quick and easy way to say thank-you? Facebook video cards make it easy to say thanks to clients, employees and business partners. In this article you’ll discover four ways to use Facebook video cards to strengthen your professional relationships. Create Facebook Video Cards Facebook’s Say Thanks…

Facebook Cover Photo Do’s and Don’ts [+Pre-Sized Templates]

When people arrive at your Facebook Page, where do you think they first look? I’ll give you some hints. It’s a visual piece of content that sits at the top of your page. Its dimensions are 851 pixels wide by 315 pixels tall. It takes up almost a quarter of the screen on most desktop browsers. That’s right — it’s your Facebook cover photo. Since it’s one of the most noticeable parts of your page, it’s crucial that you follow Facebook cover photo best practices.

Creative Ways to Boost Your Facebook Organic Reach

In January 2015, Facebook implemented an algorithm change that limits the number of promotional Page posts that show up in users’ News Feeds. Now, users see much fewer…

Suggested Listening

If you haven’t checked out this episode I encourage you to spend a few minutes of your time a listen to my interview with Tim McDonough about social media.

Suggested Viewing

How to Schedule a Facebook Post

This is a short screencast for members of SchneiderB University. It’s free to join and includes two more screencasts, my “Social Media System for Schools” ebook, and access to the SBU forum.

Oldie But A Goodie

A practice that should be part of the management of your school’s Facebook page is to “Use Facebook as [Your School Name]” and interact with Facebook as your school. The benefit of this practice is that when you engage on Facebook by liking, sharing, or commenting on other Facebook personal profiles or Pages your school’s Facebook page will get the credit and not your personal profile. Through this activity you can increase engagement, extend reach, and help to define your brand in the world of Facebook and beyond.

Heard on the SBU Forum

Has your school thought about going paperless? Check out this forum thread.

Are you considering advertising on Yelp for your school? Make sure you read this before you do!

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