Marketing the UW on Facebook Presented by Elise Daniel, E-Communications Marketing Manager, UW Marketing May 14,

Situation Analysis On Nov. 7, 2007, Facebook released Facebook Pages to allow businesses and organizations to promote their brand and interact with "fans." By Jan. 2008, more than 300 universities & colleges had launched Facebook Pages BUT few are maximizing the potential of their pages: inactive, using only the basic features Many have had no activity since their creation.

What Is UW’s presence on Facebook? 16 pages 7 applications: 1.Husky Cam (shows live shots of Red Square) 2.Washington Dawg Pack 3.Washington Basketball Fans 4.Washington Football Fans 5.CSE 142 Contests (just for fun) 6.Student Survival Kit coupon book 7.UW Events Countless groups, many of which are inactive Numerous official profiles, including Harry the Husky & President Emmert

Here’s what UW’s official Facebook Page looks like

Key Facts About UW’s Facebook Page Launched April 7, 2008 Managed by UW Marketing 411 fans as of May 12, male-to-female fan ratio Most fans are ages:  18–24 (39%)  25–34 (40%) Avg. unique page views/day: 31

Why Did We Decide to Create a UW Facebook Page? To expand on the popularity of Pres. Emmert's Facebook profile by offering a broader view of the UW To interact with students and young alumni in their “native” environment To engage them in a relevant, timely, and innovative way To influence perceptions of the UW To more firmly establish the UW brand To remain competitive with peer institutions To leverage Facebook’s unparalleled viral marketing potential To repurpose Facebook innovations we develop or discover in our other marketing activities (as approp.)

How Is the UW Facebook Page Different from the UW Home Page? The Facebook page: –Targets a narrower audience –Makes use of applications built specifically for Facebook (e.g., the Wall, the mini-feed) –Invites and enables user participation (e.g. fan photos, Wall postings) –Serves as a supplementary communication outlet in the event of a crisis or a big announcement.

Who Are Our Target Audiences? Primary Audiences: Prospective students Current undergraduate students Young alumni Secondary Audiences: Parents Graduate students Faculty and staff Husky sports fans Peer universities Media

How Are We Using UW’s Page? Promote events Share videos and photos Provide news feeds Share key facts Cross-link to UW sites Offer fans a way to: –Show off their affinity for the UW –Share photos & videos –Post messages on the Wall

President Emmert’s Facebook Profile Created by his son in 2005, mostly as a lark Updated in October friends (as of 5/12/07): –UW alumni: 57% (mostly from 2003–2007) –Current UW students: 30% –UW faculty and staff: 9% –LSU alumni, current students, & faculty: 3% –Relatives/friends of the President: less than 1%

How Is the UW Facebook Page Different from Pres. Emmert’s Profile? We use the UW page to market “all things UW.” Emmert’s Facebook profile is focused on: –Marketing things he’s personally involved with –Showcasing items that are of high strategic value –Reinforcing his transparency goal by: Providing a way for students and young alumni to have a more personal connection to the President Giving him a way to speak directly to students and young alumni about issues of concern or interest to them

Future Plans Provide free downloads (e.g., wallpaper, ringtones) Develop UW-specific Facebook applications Continue to: –Increase fan numbers –Look for additional opportunities to promote the page –Refresh content at least weekly –Seek out useful Facebook applications –Promote the UW!

Should Your Unit Have Its Own Facebook Page? This checklist will help you decide:  Your target audience is primarily students or young alumni.  You have the resources to monitor the page daily, answer fan questions, and update it at least every two weeks.  You have content that is specific to your unit and doesn’t duplicate content on the UW page.  You have Facebook Friends who will become fans of the page and help promote it.  You have a strategy for addressing controversies or crises related to your unit that might lead to increased activity on your page.

How Can Your Unit Contribute to the UW Facebook Page? By providing content that appeals to the under-30 age group: –Videos –Photos –Events By working with the UW Marketing strategy team—primary contact: Elise Daniel, or

Questions?