Set up a social media account

Make sure you have time and resources

Managing social media takes time and effort. How much depends on your goals, how many channels you have, what kind of content you’re posting and how your audience is engaging with it.

Questions to consider:

• How much time can your department dedicate to social media content management and moderation?
• Are you willing to have two-way conversations? Responding to questions and posts strengthens relationships with your audience.
• Do you have the budget? If necessary, you might need to pay for ads or boosted posts.

Contact socialmedia@sfu.ca if you’re still unsure whether a new social media channel is the right next step for you.

Be clear about your goals

Does starting a social media account align with your department's goals? Being clear on your goals helps you determine what content to post and how to measure success.

Identify three to four key messages that support your objectives and the larger goals for your program.

Questions to consider:

• Are you using social media to educate, discuss, promote or advocate?
• How do your goals relate to SFU’s strategic priorities to engage students, research and the community?
• How will you know when you’ve successfully achieved your goals?

Define your audience

Do some research before you set up an account.

Choose a channel where your audience is active. Make sure you understand the different cultures, purposes and general codes of conduct before you start participating on various social networks.

Questions to consider:

• Who are you trying to reach?
• What networks do they use and what do they post?
• Who do they follow and whose content do they share?
• Who are their influencers, or the people your audience follows and shares content from?