Social media has become a huge part of people’s lives, with many using the platforms to share everything from their favourite music to what they had for breakfast. Universities are catching on and starting to use social media to attract potential students. Find out how they can leverage social media to bring in the numbers.
Giving Updates Through Facebook Pages
One way for universities to attract students is through their Facebook page. Universities can provide regular updates about the happenings on campus, from discoveries in research to events that are coming up.
This provides a sense of what’s going on at the university and shows prospective students who they could be connecting with if they were to enroll there. Also, only creating a Facebook page is not enough. Here are some ways to make your page grow faster:
- Have a catchy cover photo;
- Post lots of visual content like memes and photos;
- Incorporate highlighted posts;
- Use your brand colours.
Share Campus Pictures on Instagram or Pinterest
Another way for universities to use social media is by sharing pictures of the campus. When prospective students choose where they want to go, one thing that helps them decide on a school is seeing what the place looks like.
Using sites such as Pinterest and Instagram, schools can share images of their campus, hopefully making someone interested in finding more information about it. One way to get the best out of both is to share your gram posts as pins. This way, you will be driving traffic both ways and grow your Instagram page faster.
Posting Lecture Videos on YouTube
Allowing potential students to feel your lecture hall and meet the faculty members is a great way to drive action. Parents and students want to know the quality of the teaching methodology, and a video will do just that.
For instance, you can choose a popular topic, let’s say, how to write a cause and effect essay. Given that many students are interested in essay writing guidelines, you can drive more traffic to your YouTube channel and attract more students to your school.
Sending Tweets on Campus News
There are more than 500 million tweets every day, making Twitter one of the most effective marketing tools today. Colleges and universities should actively tweet to promote events that are happening on campus. By sharing information about activities or new initiatives, schools can reach prospective students who wouldn’t have otherwise known about the school. This is a good way to flip the script in terms of how people traditionally find out about things, instead of waiting for them to come physically to campus.
Starting a Campus Blog
Pursuing a degree at a university is an investment of both time and money. A student needs to ensure that their chosen school is worth it. Starting a blog for campus news or events can give incoming students access to information about their future home away from home – without requiring them actually to visit. You can be sure that many students will be looking for more information before committing themselves, and a blog is an excellent way to answer their questions.
Follow Other Universities on Social Media
Another way a university can attract new students is by following other universities on social media sites. This tactic can be used to keep up with what’s going on at those schools, including their teaching approach. For instance, you can try and find out more about their quantitative vs qualitative research methods, especially if they are a college you would like to emulate in terms of performance.
Follow High School Students on Social Media
This is a unique and innovative way to reach out to students. You can follow high schoolers on social media, join their conversations in their groups or communities, and then offer advice or feedback about their post.
This strategy provides access to students’ information and makes you a valuable person in their lives. Then, when it is time for them to think about colleges and universities, they will remember your involvement with them as an individual.
Creating an App
Having an app is another useful way for universities to attract students. The app should allow users to post their questions about the university and then answer them in order of priority. They can also have a chat room where they can ask each other for advice on housing or classes available at the school. Also, the app can be useful for learning purposes where the school can post guides and provide answers for common questions like, “what is a synthesis essay?” etc.
Bring Alumni on Board
If possible, bring alumni back on board by asking them for help with social media. Alumni are usually more than willing to share their past experiences at the school to help new students feel what it is like there and if they would fit in. They bring more credibility to your social media page and can win over more students to your university.
Wrapping Up
Universities are finally realizing social media’s power in attracting students. With a few simple tweaks, universities can greatly increase their visibility on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other platform they choose to use. The future is bright because more people than ever are using these platforms as part of their daily lives. It’s time to ensure your university has an active social media presence.
A Blogger and Author! Mansoor Bhanpurawala is recognized as a leader in digital marketing and Tech space. I?m a professional full-time blogger, a digital marketer, and a trainer. I?m here to help bloggers like you create an outstanding blog and earn money from it.
