Respect is very important. As an employee of the university, your actions represent the institution as a whole. Thus, maintaining a respectful dialogue in online interactions will help uphold the image of not only Oregon State University, but yourself.

  

Set goals each term. Do you want to grow your followers? Increase post engagement? Convert people to your website? Define your needs and conquer.

  

Mistakes happen. Social media is super public and it's super hard to please everyone. Sometimes, you’ll make a mistake, but it’s important to address acknowledge the mistake, apologize, delete and/or repost.

  

Protect yourself. Make sure all your accounts are secure with unique passwords so your information can’t be stolen.

  

Check your grammar. Platforms including Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok don’t allow you to make changes after your content has been published. For this reason, it is a good idea to double and triple check that everything is spelled correctly and makes sense.

  

Post original content. And if you use someone else’s content, be sure to ask for permission and then attribute.

  

Timing matters. Most active times are in the mornings, late evenings and usually never on Friday or weekends.

  

Social media is visual. Using photos and videos helps better connect you with your followers and makes posts much more interesting than simple text. For helpful video tips check out Sprout Social's most up-to-date guide to social media video specs.

  

Good copy rules. Be a personality, use wit and tease in headlines.

  

Have fun with it. Ultimately, social media is meant to be a way to interact with other people. Engage and have a blast doing it.

Suggestions for managing a community

  • Be professional. Many employers look at social media accounts when deciding whether or not they should hire someone. Keeping your content professional and appropriate ensures that hiring managers will see you in the best possible light.
  • Create a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is a great tool to connect with potential employers as well as find jobs or internships. Setting up an account sooner rather than later could be a valuable asset in your future job hunt.
  • Follow companies you’d like to work for. Following companies on social media affords you the opportunity to find out what you’re interested in and when jobs or internships are available.
  • Double check your content before you post it. This goes without saying, but posting content that might position you in a bad light could be detrimental. You never know who is looking at your profile. They could be a potential employer.
  • Understand that you have a personal brand. Much like companies, you as an individual have a personal brand. Use social media to build your brand positively and publicly.
  • Go public. We know, it’s a little scary to make your accounts accessible to everyone. However, social media is your friend and is a great tool to show future employers who you are and what you’re about.
  • Use your best judgment. If you have any doubt about what you want to post, play it safe and don’t press SEND.
  • Retweets and shares are perceived as endorsements. It’s important to understand that everything you post or share reflects on you and your employer, even if it’s not your intention. You can’t control perception, but you can control content.
  • Identify how you want to use your accounts. For example, Facebook might be better for friends and family whereas Twitter might be best for colleagues, your profession or other acquaintances.
  • Showcase your work. Social media is today’s best opportunity to have your work seen. Commit to social media to share your successes. We’re here to help!
  • Post consistently. Posting content on a regular basis keeps your audience engaged. It doesn’t even have to be original content; a simple retweet or share holds almost as much weight as a post you’ve created yourself.