Using Social Media to Meet Strategic Goals Tom Wantuck, SR VP Asset Management KHEAA & The Student Loan People Veena Garib, Director of Career Services Everest University, South Orlando Campus

Social Networks Facebook MySpace YouTube Flickr Blogs LinkedIn Twitter And much more…

Is Social Networking a Fad? Video: show-social-media-is-bigger-than-you-think/

It’s Not a Fad Inside Facebook says: “the number of Americans over 35, 45, and 55 on Facebook is growing fast. In the last 60 days alone, the number of people over 35 has nearly doubled. Developers and marketers may want to think about how to serve this group of new users.” Inside Facebook, March 2009Inside Facebook

“Join the Conversation” Dozens / hundreds of conversations taking place every day online about your organization. Who is talking? Who is listening? Are you listening? What are they saying? What are you saying in response?

Why Join the Conversation? To correct misconceptions To provide less formal interaction with your organization To strengthen connection to your organization To build community To empower your community to speak for you …the media is listening, too.

Is there gold in them hills? Examples of how to use these tools for business: – Engage in conversations with customers – Build a buzz about a new product or service – Share examples of other people using your product – Facilitate a contest – Promote an upcoming event – Link to associations or groups to share values/purpose (sharing company’s e-newsletters or promotions)

Why do schools use Social Media? To connect with key audiences: prospective students, students, alumni, faculty, staff, employers To take and keep control of their message To take advantage of the tremendous opportunity to communicate on a variety of platforms To make the institution more accessible

Everest University Career Services Phone calls are not as effective any more Graduates will respond to a face book message but will not return a phone call Can send a message or if user is online you can chat live Users will list personal information on their profile page (employer, phone number, etc.)

Everest University Career Services Face book used to market Career Services workshops, on campus recruiting events, employer information sessions, job fairs University face book page must be approved by corporate Cannot use personal face book page to communicate with graduates Stalking? Ability to read posts/conversations between a student and their friend

Linked In Linked in is like face book for professionals Your resume, your contacts, recommendations Search for candidates when hiring Career Services Use to connect with local employers Search for graduates

You Tube Everyone searches you tube Everest created their own you tube page Marketing tool Schools/programs to prospective students Community relations/outreach stories Everest commercials posted on you tube

But how can we use it? “Ignore Friend Request”? Work with schools and student groups to provide content that they want and let them repurpose it. Use to bring students to your web pages. Possible use in the “margins”? Skip Tracing? Creating Collection contact?

To succeed with any of these tools Be a consumer Know your audience Know your goals Be relevant, honest and timely Understand and watch your stats Listen Remember, content is still king

Thank You