PUB. 11 2021-2022 Issue 1

8 for Your School A re you overwhelmed by the thought of using social media for your school? Do you have social media accounts but aren’t sure how to utilize them? You are not alone. Fortunately, utilizing social media effectively isn’t as daunting as it may seem and can help schools increase enrollment, connect with students and their families, and aid in fundraising. Here are answers to FAQ and a few quick tips that may help. 1. Where do we start? Facebook & Instagram Most schools have set up Facebook and Instagram accounts which are a great place to start and adequate for most schools. Attempting to utilize too many social media accounts such as Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, etc., is not only time-consuming but typically unnecessary. (One exception may be a middle or high school where administrators want to use TikTok or a similar app to connect with students.) Just keep in mind that most parents/guardians would rather have you spending time with their children instead of posting on every social media platform. If you are a new school that doesn’t have Facebook and Instagram set up, be sure to get them running as soon as your school is authorized. Mountain Sunrise Academy in Saratoga Springs was able to get the word out about their new charter school to local families, government, and businesses by creating their Facebook and Instagram accounts quickly and sharing floorplans, blueprints, photos, and videos of progress being made. This not only built relationships within their community, but increased enrollment applications. It also gave the new Executive Director a chance to introduce herself. BY EMILY ASHBY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Tackling Social Media