MarComm releases new social media guidelines

In a book review of Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by New York Times bestselling author and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk, a blogger shares 30 statements that he describes as the “hardest hitting right hooks of information.” Here are three that, if adopted, can be gamechangers for how we manage social media at DU:

• If you truly understand how marketing works today, you know there is no individual six-month campaign; there’s only the 365-day campaign, during which you produce new content daily.
• The strict dividing lines between marketing categories can no longer exist—they must all be blanketed with a layer of social.
• Success in social media boils down to three things: understanding the nuances of your platform, using a distinct voice, and driving your business goals.

Social media provides an opportunity for our audiences and potential stakeholders to share in the DU experience, regardless of where they are located. Just as the website is a powerful tool for building our brand and enabling our audiences to find out more about what we have to offer, social media plays a crucial role in more directly connecting people and developing relationships.

MarComm has recently posted social media guidelines to outline how to handle social media’s dynamic environment, including how to handle negative issues with authenticity and grace.

In general, social media best practices require social media managers to maintain a presence that is:

• Personable and accessible to build community and drive engagement
• Maintained diligently and monitored regularly to respond to posts, comments, and mentions
• Measured routinely to better understand your audience and drive content decisions

In addition to providing guidance for account creation and oversight, posting, and what to do when encountering issues, there are also guidelines regarding accessibility, photo and video consent, and livestreaming. A link to HubSpot’s Social Media Definitions, a comprehensive glossary of terms and acronyms from A (Avatar) to Z (Zapier), is provided as well.

Whether you’re thinking of creating an account or need some information about how to manage an emergency, DU social media guidelines should become your #1 resource for your next steps.