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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Gaining More Followers
Post signs at athletic facilities
Make announcements at events
Your twitter users will be prompted to consider following 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

11. 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.

12. Social media dangers

13. Watching hundreds of thousands of dollars disappear

14. Watching hundreds of thousands of dollars disappear

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

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

17. 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.

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

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

20. 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.

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

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

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

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

25. 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?

26. 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.

27. 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?

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!!!