5 Social Media Steps to Take RIGHT NOW at the Start of School
Everything is going digital -- from online signup sheets to family calendars that live on our phones -- parents are engaged through wildly different ways than they used to be. Most have facebook accounts, some are on Twitter, families are entertained on YouTube and almost everyone has an email address.
How do schools use these new tools to their advantage?
By building an online community! In using even one of the numerous social media platforms, schools have the ability to bring parents, teachers, administrators, and community members even closer together, which leads to an even tighter real-world community and more support for our schools.
Parents that are engaged, involved, and feel like they're making a real difference translate to more volunteers, more donations and dedicated advocates. And that's great for any school!
Where do you start?
The two most widely-used platforms are currently facebook and Twitter, but no doubt others will crop up too. These are the best places to start your social media activities as the majority of your parents will probably already be present on these sites.
Before you open accounts, talk with your Principal. Does your school or district have a Social Media policy? Will the facebook and Twitter accounts be school accounts or School-Parent group accounts? Many Parent-leaders also launch their own Twitter accounts so personal views can be separated from official school news.
(We'll have more information on how to effectively set up your school's profiles on both of these sites in future posts, keep an eye out for them!)
5 Social Media Steps to Take RIGHT NOW at the Start of School
- Get commitments from your inner circle of parent leaders to comment and share school messages on facebook and Twitter
- Add facebook & Twitter links to all emails and handouts from the school and parent group
- ASK parents to join in the real-world by posting “Join us on facebook and Twitter” signs (with addresses) on large posters during school events when most parents are on campus like back-to-school night, carnival etc. Consider using a QR Code so parents can take a photo with their smartphone and access the link information quickly without typing.
- Create a social media plan for big events like the school carnival and auction fundraisers, family cleanup days and membership drives. What messages do you want your parent community to share? What actions do you want them take? Write suggested facebook posts and twitter messages and share them with your inner circle of parent social media leaders.
- Add a facebook 'like box' and "follow us on Twitter" button to the school website (We'll show you how in future posts!)
What's the purpose of having an online presence as a school?
The main reason is to help build a very broad community of parents, teachers and volunteers that are engaged and willing to become involved and support your school. Once parents start joining your online community (on facebook and Twitter), listen and engage with them, build rapport and trust so they stick around, invite their friends, and take positive actions for your school!
4 Steps to Building an Online School-Parent Community*
- Listen. What are parents & community members already saying about your school?
- Engage. Jump in the conversation. Think of communicating as if you were joining a group already talking at a cocktail party rather than communicating as you would in a press release.
- Create Trust. Be helpful. Offer useful information about your school, parenting topics and local community events.
- Inspire Action. Once you've built trust and community, it's easy to ask parents to support fundraisers, volunteer for school activities, become members of your School-Parent-Group, and advocate for your school in local and state elections.
(We'll have more information about cultivating community and recruiting and recognizing volunteers with Social Media in future posts!)
Like the ideas but don't have the time?
Create a position for Social Communications Coordinator AND/or cultivate a team of Online Ambassadors. Reach out and find out who in your school is already social media active in their personal or work lives. See if you can recruit these parents to volunteer to help build your parent-group’s online community.
***
You may also like:
Facebook Power Tips for School-Parent Groups
10 Twitter Tips for Savvy Schools and PTAs
Volunteer Recognition: 5 Sensational Tips using Social Media
* Special thanks to Jessica Kirkwood, VP Interactive Strategy at the National Points of Light Foundation for sharing these steps.
