Social media is becoming an essential tool in education and can help with planning lessons, building the school community and staying connected with parents. Many schools want to be more engaging on social media, but struggle to find the time to post the right content around their busy school schedules. Whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other platform, here’s a few tips and tricks to show you how to get the most out of your school’s social media and make posts more engaging.
Automatically schedule your posts
If you’re struggling to find time to post on social media, there are a number of websites you can use to schedule your posts. Handy tools such as Postcron, Buffer and TweetDeck allow you to schedule your posts to upload automatically at a later date, meaning that your social media can stay active even if you are too busy to post.
Quality over quantity
Although it is important to post often, it is much better to focus on the content itself rather than the amount you post. Make sure your posts capture the attention of your audience and keep them engaged, and keep it consistent.
Post at the right time
You need to find the right time to post to make sure that as many people as possible see your content, as this will increase your likes, comments and overall engagement. If the majority of your followers are parents, you are probably better to schedule your posts to the evening rather than during the busy school run, for example.
Use visuals to capture attention
Try to include images or videos alongside text to get your message across more clearly. You could use stock images or design graphics for your school, or perhaps include a ‘meme’ or an inspirational image quote. Our brains are able to process visuals 60,000 times faster than text – so make sure to include them in your posts!
Ask a question
One of the best ways to engage with your followers is to ask them questions, as this keeps them engaged and keeps the conversation going. Take some time to think about the most effective questions you could ask, and mention your followers with an @ when you are asking them questions directly.
Hashtag trending topics
Have a look at which topics are trending in your area, nationally or globally. You can use Twitter or Google Trends. When relevant, tag these along with your comments and post, as this will increase engagement with your followers and spark conversation.
