Thom Simmons. Cif-ss director of communications SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY Thom Simmons. Cif-ss director of communications

SOCIAL MEDIA IS LIKE A GUN… SMART PEOPLE WILL USE IT AS A USEFUL TOOL… NOT-SO-SMART PEOPLE WILL SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT WITH IT.

The goals and strategies of Social Media Fan Engagement/Fan Community Listen to and Lead the Conversation Spread Information and Amplify positive messaging Position school as the official source

Social Media Platforms - Common – Facebook & Twitter - Instagram – Pictures, Likes and Comments - Ask.fm – Today’s 20 questions meets Truth or Dare. Questions can come from anonymous users. - Snapchat – Photo sharing application that disappears within seconds, can still have a screen shot taken of the picture though. - Tango – Similar to FaceTime with video & voice capability

PLATFORM SUGGESTIONS Twitter Instagram Facebook Snapchat News/ Articles Calls to action Video Multiple photos Lengthy Updates Pictures Exclusive clips (in or out of game) “behind the scenes” Pre game prep Post game celebration 10 second clips In-game videos Pre game pics Post game pics 15 second videos Score updates In game pictures Promotions Engagement 140 characters or less Twitter Instagram Facebook Snapchat Customization: how are you gearing posts towards audience/ personal brand People engage with you because of how well you express their passions/ wants/ needs/ likes/ dislikes Create what people expect to know about via social media Includes where you are posting what Knowing your audiences not only means knowing what they want to know about but WHERE they want to know about it from FACEBOOK: new articles, calls to action, video, multiple photos INSTAGRAM: live in game videos/ pre/post game pics TWITTER: score updates, in game pictures, promos, engagement SNAPCHAT: in-game exclusive clips: “behind the scenes” inside locker room, taping, pre-game prep, post-game celebration etc.

Inclusion of Student-Athletes Select student-athletes in every sport to follow. Retweet POSITIVE student-athlete comments to create discussion outside of the school regarding your programs and student-athletes. Brings the emotions of the team to the fans and school community. Method of tracking student-athlete behavior (unofficially) Encourage student-athletes to promote their own games to increase attendance.

How Can I be Everywhere? Your twitter account can be used by multiple users. Event managers, Activities Directors, Assistant Athletics Director, booster club members, and game workers are other possibilities. For big events, recent alumni in Communications are a good source. It is a good way to increase your visibility as Athletics Director. Have someone in attendance send you content for you to post from wherever you may be if not at that site. Have trustworthy students (i.e ASB President, officers, etc.) run social media at events. That gives them responsibility and accountability. They are also more in tuned with your audiences demographics.

Linking your Twitter account to Facebook Why would I want my school updates/information on Facebook? It is another social media outlet for your patrons. Some individuals are not on Twitter, but only use Facebook. Easy to link both together. You must have a Facebook account in order to link Twitter-Facebook messages. You do not need to post on both social media networks, just post to Twitter. This is an option for getting and sharing information, not necessarily for fan engagement.

Suggestions for Twitter Consider your audience. Interact when you get direct messages. It may answer other questions people have for you. What information do your followers seek from you? - Sport (tennis vs. football) - Level of play (Freshmen, JV, Varsity) - How often to tweet? Every play, score, quarter, half, final score? It is possible to TWEET TOO MUCH.

Gaining More Followers Post signs at athletic facilities Make announcements at events Your twitter users will be prompted to consider following your @hsathletics twitter name any time they login. Current students, recent alumni, and parents. Twitter is used by a cross-section of your constituents Media outlets will retweet your information and you eliminate press releases

Social Media Policy Participation in activities, groups, and teams is a privilege at (insert high school). The use of social media by a student considered to be “unbecoming of a (insert mascot here)” may result in discipline including suspension or removal from the activity, group, leadership position, or team.

Social media dangers

Watching hundreds of thousands of dollars disappear

Watching hundreds of thousands of dollars disappear

There’s no such thing as private social media. Social media dangers There’s no such thing as private social media.

Delete doesn’t mean it’s deleted everywhere. Social media dangers Delete doesn’t mean it’s deleted everywhere.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA Your sense of humor is not necessarily in tune with what the rest of the world thinks is funny.

Retweets/shares/likes can get you in trouble. Social media dangers Retweets/shares/likes can get you in trouble. 

Threats on Social Media are taken seriously. Social media dangers Threats on Social Media are taken seriously. 

SOCIAL MEDIA DON’TS Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see. It’s a simple but effective rule. It’s plain common sense.

SOCIAL MEDIA DON’TS Don’t post pictures with alcohol, drugs or anything similar. Those acts are illegal. Sharing them is plain stupid.

SOCIAL MEDIA DON’TS Don’t post anything that demeans women, minorities or any persons or groups you feel are “different” than you.

SOCIAL MEDIA DON’TS Don’t retweet/share/like inappropriate material. Retweeting is just as bad as you saying it. 

SOCIAL MEDIA DON’TS Don’t post/retweet/like offensive music lyrics, movie lines or anything that would be seen as inappropriate.

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Take a breath before hitting “send” or “post.” Ask yourself: Is this really something I should post? What will others think when they see this? What would my grandmother think if she saw this?

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Make social media a “trailer” of your life, not a whole movie. People should see a brief peek into what it is like to be you but don’t need a picture of every meal you eat.

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Moderation is key, and recruiters tend to shy away from over activity. If you are Tweeting 20 or 30 times a day, what else are you doing with your life?

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Remember that you are always representing someone, whether it’s yourself, your family, your school or your team. So act accordingly.

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Say thank you. This is always a good option. Student-athletes and athletic departments need to take time to thank those who support them. Fans, teammates and family for example.

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Support others. Student-athletes can provide a positive example for other students by sending positive messages about their peers in other sports or activities at school.

SOCIAL MEDIA DO’s Share news and humor. Social media is meant to be fun. Join in conversations and share things you find interesting or entertaining.

QUESTIONS? THANK YOU!!!