Our Blog: where do you stand?

Social Media and School Districts – Before You Engage

By: Chrissy Hugyez | 03/02/2011

While social media is a common buzz phrase in many corporations and organizations, many school districts across the nation have been slow to jump in and embrace social media. There are many reasons for this lag including a lack of understanding of the benefits of using social media to reach the district's various audiences and concerns over controlling the content.

Today, a couple of my colleagues and I participated in Education Week's "Pumping Up District Social-Media Strategies" webinar, which featured two speakers who have successfully implemented social media in their school districts. Eric Sheninger, principal of New Milford High School in New Jersey, and Nora Carr, chief of staff of Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C., shared best practices.

The best practices they shared are ones that we often share with our clients who want to engage in social media:

• Keep it professional
• Think before you post (you are creating your own digital footprint)
• Update frequently
• Identify and target your audiences
• Start small and keep it simple
• Have a strategy and a plan (this is the most important key to success in social media)

According to Carr, a few of the ways to avoid potential pitfalls are to develop your social media policy ahead of time and set guidelines for those who will be engaging in social media on your district's behalf. It is very important to provide adequate training to those individuals. In addition, communicate your expectations to your audience both clearly and regularly.

What are some of your best practices for engaging in social media?

Posted in Digital Communications