Continental Ballroom, Mezzanine Level
It is increasingly difficult to find an American college or university that has not adopted one or more social media tools. However, while the media has changed, the mechanics of one-way communication have not. Many institutions see Twitter as little more than an additional broadcast channel, and Facebook as a third-party repository (or replacement) for the exact same content provided on their official school site. And what’s so social about that? At Ithaca College we’ve taken a somewhat different approach. We realize our audiences — prospective students; parents; currents students, staff, and faculty; alumni — want to engage IC, not just listen to us drone. We use social media to reach out, to listen, to gauge opinions about the College, and to share the stories and ideas that make Ithaca unique. People respond to the unique voice of IC on social media, one they recognize as distinct and personal. This presentation will focus on our success in social media, and how finding the iconic voice of your institution will help you better engage and inspire the people you want to reach.
Jake Daniel has worked with social media for over ten years, beginning with the groundbreaking Bolt.com during the halcyon days of Web 1.0. He has spent the past eight years helping to shape the Ithaca College brand, and promoting the College beyond the reach of traditional media. He plans to work in social media until something comes along in a holding midfield role with his beloved Celtic F.C.