Virtual Connection: 5 Ways to Improve Community Engagement Through Social Media

by Andrea Gribble, Founder of #SocialSchool4EDU

AWSA Update Poll

In this weeks Update Bulletin you were able to read about some ways to drive community engagement using social media. Please indicate what purpose you PRIMARILY use social media for at your school.

(Click button on left to see poll)

Communication. It’s tough these days. With your students, staff, parents and community members seemingly more distracted than ever, how can your school make the needed connections?

Social media can be a key driver in engaging your community in the daily activities of your school district. With channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, photos and videos can easily be broadcast. The thing is, it takes work to fully utilize the platforms to increase the interaction.

We’ve identified some key ways to drive true engagement on the social media platforms. Here are five ways that can help your district connect with the community:

Post often. Facebook is the number one channel to reach your community, but if you aren’t posting 10-15 times per week on your page, then people are not going to see your activity. You can check out the School District of Amery for a great example of how social media can be used to showcase your students and staff.
Interact. You cannot simply post images and videos without being ready to listen and respond to followers. Take the time to “like” positive comments on your Facebook page. Make sure to retweet those messages using your school hashtag. These little gestures let your community members know you are paying attention to their activity on social media. It also drives the algorithm up on your account, meaning more people will see your updates.
Share video. Photos are great, but videos are even better. Have you tried Facebook Live yet? This allows your community to tune in to events as they are happening at the school. The School District of Wisconsin Dells is doing a great job of incorporating this into its special events. And remember, short videos are the best! It’s tough to grab someone’s attention for more than 30 seconds, so don’t be afraid to share short videos.
Promote. Sometimes our online efforts need a little offline support. This means talking about your social media channels every chance you get! When you have parents and community members inside your school (concerts, parent/teacher conferences, sporting events), explain that interacting with the school posts will help the messages reach more people. Share with them how much it means when students receive quick comments of “way to go” or “I am so proud of this team” when a photo is posted.
Streamline. More pages are not always better. Many schools have found that consolidating their multiple social media channels has actually improved their connection with the community. The Unified School District of Antigo is one example where the team merged three different pages (district, high school and PBIS) into one district page. They now enjoy over 3,100 fans and the weekly reach on Facebook is reaching new heights! The chart below shows when they started making frequent posts on the district page. No longer do community members have to wonder what page is going to be sharing updates; they can tune into the district page and get regular updates of the great things happening.

Social media is obviously here to stay. We encourage your school to revisit your strategy for this important community engagement tool. If you need help, we are here! Grab free tools and resources at www.SocialSchool4EDU.com.