In 25 Tweetable Truths about Higher Ed Social Media, Rachel Coker and Michael Sgro present lessons for newbies and seasoned pros alike. This talk was created for SUNYCUAD's 2015 conference in Rochester, N.Y.

2. Social media is a two-way street,
not merely a giant megaphone.
Don’t forget to listen.

3. Adding a photo
doubles the
engagement
on a tweet.
So says
@marksluckie,
former manager
of journalism
and news
@Twitter.

4. You must own your “brand.”
Claim your university page
as new platforms emerge.
(Grab your own handle, too!)

5. New social channels/apps/
platforms require additional
time & energy. Be strategic.
Don’t start something you
can’t continue.

6. LinkedIn isn’t just about
career development. It’s
a key tool for recruitment,
engagement & support!

7. If it matters, measure it.
Check analytics through each
platform or track your school's
overall influence on Klout.

8. “Rules” only take you so far. You
can succeed with long videos,
Facebook posts without pix,
tweets without hashtags.

9. We’re all part of a team.
(Do you really need a separate
Facebook page or Twitter
handle?)

10. Spelling counts! Craft your social
media posts ahead of time, and
give yourself time to edit them.

11. Brevity is the soul of wit.
Find ways to save
characters on Twitter &
elsewhere!

12. Strong images and good graphic
design elevate your message.

13. Top apps for researching
college: Facebook (67%),
YouTube (62%), Instagram
(48%), according to the 2015
Social Admissions Report.

14. No one likes a robotic
retweeter: Curate content! Tag
boards, RebelMouse and Storify
are tools to consider.

15. Channels like Snapchat and
Yik Yak offer insights into the
mood of your group. It’s OK
to listen.

16. 77.6M Americans access their
Instagram accounts at least
monthly, eMarketer says. That's
27.6% of the population.

17. You’re probably
not using the
full breadth of
the tools at your
fingertips.

18. You’re competing for people’s
most precious resource:
Attention. You must surprise,
delight, be authentic.

19. Humans are wired to tell (and
retell!) stories. Think of them as
the ultimate “social proof.”

20. Trending topic + your campus
expert = media exposure!

21. Most people will miss most of
what you do on social media,
says @sree. It's OK to repeat
yourself.

22. Pinterest is full of possibilities.
What about a board highlighting
faculty authors with links to
Amazon?

23. When it comes to hashtags, the
simplest path is often the best.
Keep a list & promote it on
campus & beyond!

24. If you want to get better at
social media, you can go back
to school on YouTube!

25. Social media can take over your
life. Smart users find ways to
schedule posts!

26. Participation counts! Everyone
can have a role in social media.