Engaging through Social Media Society’s gift to Alumni Relations

Today’s Focus

Why Social Media is worth the time and effort It’s FREE!

Facebook There are more than 500million active users of Facebook –50% of active users log in once a day –Users spend over 700 mins/month on FB –“Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others,” Facebook’s statistics site.

LinkedIn There are more than 100 million professionals online as of March ‘11

Holton-Arms School Founded in 1901 in Washington, DC Moved from Washington, DC to current campus in Bethesda, MD in 1963 Grades 3-12 Enrollment 645 All-girls Independent Day School

Holton-Arms Alumnae Association Total Alumnae 7,505 Living Alumnae 6,165 Alumnae with accurate contact information 5,148 Alumnae with valid 2,634 Holton-Arms FB group 1,031 Holton-Arms LinkedIn Group 552

Holton-Arms Alumnae Programing 2-3 Alumnae Events per month, 12 months a year –Local and Regional –Using Faculty: Book Club & Beer Tasting –Networking Events –Using Holton Alumna Expertise for events 3 to 4 day Reunion Weekend

Today’s Goals To look at Social Media strategically not technically Help you see how it can be a serious tool to engage your alumni To provide concrete take aways that you can implement into your own program

Social Media Holton Groups Holton Alumnae Group on Facebook for events, updates, and opportunities (1031 Members)

Facebook as a serious tool Supplemental communication, “Cross Pollinating” Providing School information where your constituents already are As a database for contact information

Examples: Events Post all of your alumni events on Facebook. –It’s okay to invite everyone Holton-Arms Networking Workshop –Include a survey –Respond to event posts

Event Tips Post your events early Click “Share” at least 8 times with a message to publicize your event Record those who have RSVP'd on FB in your database or Excel –1 week prior to event, send a targeted to all who have RSVP'd to provide details such as parking & to serve as an additional touch

Event Follow Up Post Photos –Tag your key volunteers Public Recognition –Thank your volunteers by tagging them in a post

Recognizing your Alumni Post Accomplishments

Recognizing your Alumni Publically thank

Facebook as an Annual Fund Tool 1000 donors by June 30 th – 25 new gifts in 3 days

Facebook as an AF tool for your volunteers Ask your volunteers to post the same message on Facebook There is nothing easier or less intrusive for a Volunteer than to post on Facebook

Alternative Ways to Engage Call for Volunteers Ask for Feedback If an alum comes to campus, snap a cell phone photo and post it Allow alums to post and promote their businesses

Alternative Ways to Engage Post a campus happening

Holton Alumnae group on LinkedIn for Job networking, job postings, industry advice, discussion forums, and a professional directory resource (552 Members)

Helping people help themselves with LinkedIn Enable your alumni to use the resource Discussions –Young alumna inquiryYoung alumna inquiry –‘06 Alumna moving to London06 Alumna moving to London –Alumnae Self PromotionAlumnae Self Promotion

Job Board on LinkedIn

The Search Function on LinkedIn Enable your alumni to use the Member search function –Key words (ex: Public Policy) –Companies –Names

Engaging on LinkedIn Ask Questions

LinkedIn as a resource for you Accurate Employment Information Accurate Contact Information Easily Searchable

Using Facebook & LinkedIn Together Post on Facebook to look at the new job postings on LinkedIn Post the link to a new LinkedIn discussion on Facebook or vice versa Link to events /discussions on your signature Link to your Social Media Groups on your signature

My Signature

Ensure Continued Success Create content –Creating can be as simple as posting a web story that is relevant

Ensure Continued Success AND Digest content –It can be as simple as “Liking” a posting by an alum or reposting their content –Respond to group postings or to Event postings Frequency –Goal: Create Content once a day

How am I going to do all of this? Check your social media when you check your and your voic Remember: –We are putting content into the modes of communication our alumni are already checking –Their PDA is in their hand – they are checking it – we are just adding in our messaging to also be digested

Why it matters “I didn’t know Holton did stuff” –Young alumna’s response to her first alumnae event in March 2010 You can stay top of mind and remind without being intrusive – keep it out of the inbox We kill ourselves to do it all, let Social Media support our daily work

It matters because we are... Relationship brokers and connectors –We connect people with people, the School, emotions, things, and activities –We engage our constituency through events, programs, Reunions, relationship management, volunteer management What better tools to have in our arsenal than Social Media; helping people help themselves.

My Contact information Abigail Sheridan Betts Alumnae Director Holton-Arms School