Communications
Support Units
Training & Conferencing
Applications
Last updated: August 2021
Is Social Media Right for You?
Considerations before starting a UADA social media page
There are a few things you need to consider before deciding whether social media is
right for you and your needs:
- Time
- Effort
- Effectiveness
- Responsibility
Social media gets a bad rap for being a "time waster," something only people who aren't
working are paying attention to—a huge distraction. And it can be, for sure. It is
designed to be entertaining, a way to pass time and a cure for boredom.
But when you use social media for work at UADA, it has the possibility of being extremely beneficial for your communication and outreach efforts. It can also genuinely take up a large chuck of your time and energy, even if you're
not being distracted by advertisements of the latest release from your favorite musician
or a tantalizing Tasty video.
Social media is ever-changing, and there are new "rules" and practices that get established often, so it is your
responsibility as a Division social media administrator to stay informed about any changes and updates that occur.
Also, some rural areas of Arkansas have poor or no Internet and little cell phone service, so you must consider how practical it would be to create a social media page given
the connectivity of your audience.
Many times, social media pages get created—then abandoned—and those pages do not get
updated for a long time, if ever again. If a social media user were to come across
an abandoned UADA page, it would seem unprofessional and poorly managed. That being
said, we do feel that social media can be a useful tool, if used properly.
Your UADA social media page needs to be updated regularly with new website information, hours of operation, and relevant and timely images
that reflect your message, AND you need to make regular posts (at least 2 times a week, if not more) on your page, targeted for your specific location
and program area to maintain a healthy social media presence for work. If you are unable to maintain this schedule, social media for work may not be right
for you.
Am I required to have a social media page?
The short answer: No.
If you don't feel comfortable using social media and are not sure you will use it
at minimum 2-3 times per week or will not have time to maintain the account, do not
feel compelled to have one.
How much time does a business account require?
Social media is always "on" and requires frequent (and sometimes immediate) attention, even on nights, weekends, and
holidays.
Each administrator is going to spend a different amount of time on social media, but
it is certain that it will take up a fair amount of time each week. The bare minimum effort takes at least a few hours a week and requires content creation,
comment monitoring, and social listening. This effort can be delegated to and shared
with team members to maintain a healthy team and social media page.
Questions to ask yourself before creating a page
- What is my objective with setting up a social media account for work?
- How will I measure my success?
- Will my new page be competing with other similar pages? Is there really a need for the additional page?
- What other marketing channels am I currently using and how are they working? How will my new social media page be used differently?
- Who will manage this account? Who is my secondary colleague who will have admin rights? How will my succession plan work if the main administrator is no longer able to manage the account?
- What kinds of content will I share, and do I have a strategic plan to create and schedule this content?
- How often will the account be checked for feedback? Who will be in charge of responding to the feedback?
- Will my page provide valuable and novel content to my clientele on a consistent basis?
- How will I promote the account to gain a following?
We strongly caution you from being too eager to create accounts that will not be maintained. If an account has just a few followers or friends and there are no timely updates,
it is most likely not worth the time and effort. An abandoned social media page is
worse than having no page at all. If you create an account that is no longer being
used, please delete, hide, or remove the account.
If you need assistance choosing a social media platform or setting up an account,
please contact socialmedia@uada.edu.
