Getting Started on Social Media

Building a social media presence is not as simple as signing up for Facebook. The heart of social media, and what makes it “social,” is two-way communication, interaction and the sharing of information that is valuable to the end-user, your audience. Before you get started, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are there communication needs that are not being met by my unit’s website, newsletter or other property?
2. Who am I trying to reach? This will determine which platforms you should join (see below).
3. Does my unit have the necessary resources to maintain a robust social media presence (i.e., administrators who can respond to questions and comments, a sustainable content plan, etc.)?

If you are ready to embrace social, follow the next few steps to get started.

1. Choose a platform. Use your responses to questions one and two above and the chart below to inform your decision. It’s better to start with only one or two platforms in the beginning.

• Platform
  Audience
  Best for
• Facebook
  Parents, faculty/staff, alumni, University stakeholders
  High-impact feature stories, photo albums or live video
• Twitter
  All
  Real-time news and trending topics; the use of tags and hashtags is encouraged
• Instagram
  Students, prospective students and new alumni
  People-centric photos or campus beauty shots; use Instagram Stories to promote events, share reminders or go behind-the-scenes
• LinkedIn
  Faculty/staff, alumni, University stakeholders
  Business-oriented news and feature stories about research, rankings or economic impact
• YouTube
  All
  Hosting and archiving video content; title and tag videos appropriately to leverage SEO perks
• Snapchat
  Students and prospective students
  Showcasing campus happenings and campus scenery in real-time; messages are ephemeral

1. Name your account. Account names should include “KSU” or “Kennesaw State University.” Example: @ksu[name] or Kennesaw State University Dept. of [NAME].
2. Download your profile image. Follow our guidelines and instructions for downloading your social media profile image. Profile images should be consistent across all social media platforms.
3. Register your account. Include your account name and URL in an email to socialmedia@kennesaw.edu to register your account with the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing.
4. Listen and learn. Don’t forget to be social on social media! Respond to user questions and comments as quickly as possible and watch your analytics to learn what type of content resonates with your audience.

For any questions or concerns, please email socialmedia@kennesaw.edu.