Today is my last day at UMSocial. This office moves near the speed of light, but it’s still hard to believe that three years have gone by so quickly. Although there’s always more to understand in the social media space, I wanted to pass on a few things I’ve learned during my time here:
- Seek different perspectives. Including people of different backgrounds and identities on your team helps ensure that you’re crafting meaningful content for all audience segments.
- Your first idea is rarely your best. We throw copy and captions around our office at least half a dozen times before posting content. It’s surprising how much you can improve an original idea in a few minutes.
- Measure the right things. Sure, your increase in followers last month is something to be proud of, but how does it compare to the growth of your competitors? Be honest with yourself about how your strategy is performing.
- Your content is your first impression. Don’t forget the importance of every post: it may very well be the first time someone interacts with your organization.
- It won’t be fun to watch unless it’s fun to pitch. We’ve done quite a few videos in my time here. The most successful ones are those that garner laughs in the ideation stage. Don’t expect your followers to appreciate content if you’re lukewarm about it.
The experiences this job has afforded me—driving a Zamboni, dressing up as an elf, covering Michigan at the Final Four—will forever be my favorite college memories. Whoever gets this internship next, congratulations: you’re about to learn a lot.
Post written by Peter Schultz, #UMSocial Special Tasks Intern.
