People's attention spans on social media are very short and people are very quick to scroll past stuff that blends into their everyday feed.

The essentials, quickfire!

Post regularly
Planning your social media content in advance is key. Set weekly reminders if you need them.

Keep it short
100 words or less if you can. Direct them to your webpages/events to ‘find out more’.

Use ONE link or your link in bio
For Facebook/X, include ONE link in your post to avoid confusing students. Hyperlinks don't work on Insta. Try to avoid using links in your copy and instead direct people to your 'link in bio'. (e.g. Linkt.ree)

Limit emojis
We've received heaps of feedback from students that they don't like when our posts use lots of emojis, as they can make things difficult to read.

Proofread
Typos are a bad look.

Mix it up - POST REELS!
Variety is key. Use a mix of photos, videos and links. This is a big one. Reel content on IG in particular is huge. Make short vids. Low-fi content is key. See our Resources below for regular content. Vox pops (with consent!), ASMR, viral trends and even just little updates where your followers can see your face... there are heaps of options.

Use content/trigger warnings
These are super important if your content contains sensitive material. Find our guide for writing on Help Docs.

Include image descriptions
If you’re posting images, make sure to include image descriptions so your content is accessible to people with low vision. You can add these if using Meta Business Suite by clicking the pencil icon next to the photo and selecting 'Alt Text'. alternatively, you can add them underneath your caption using full stop + enter so they are hidden under 'see more'.

Tune your Controversy Radar
Sometimes our witty quips and memes can turn into awkward or even rep-damaging gaffes. It’s a good idea to do a bit of background research when you’re posting something that references pop-culture or something topical, just to be on the safe side.

Keep it fresh
Update your socials and website pages regularly.

Engage with your followers
Answer questions and respond to comments. Even a single emoji can make someone’s day!

Moderate comments
You may be held accountable for content that is published on your page, even if you didn’t write it. Refer to UMSU Facebook Terms of Reference for more info. You should also familiarise yourself with the Social Media Policy and Guidelines, as well as our Social Media Moderation guide.

Budget for ads
Invest in Facebook or Instagram adverts for your big campaigns and events. Not sure how ads or boosted posts work? Don’t stress! Click here for more info.

Give us some behind the scenes action
People love to see faces. You don’t need to say much, “hard at work in the office today” will do!

Tag @umsuunimelb for FB shares and/or add us as a collaborator on your IG posts
You’ll get better reach while retaining more direct "ownership" of your content.

Remember, you are part of UMSU
Everything (posts, events etc) must go through your department account – not your personal accounts.

Post format template
Not sure how to format your posts? You can follow our 'tried and tested' structure below as a guide:


TITLE / CATCHY HEADLINE
BODY — talk about your event and why students should come (2-4 sentences max).

WHEN: [DATE]
WHERE: [LOCATION]
MORE INFO: [LINK]


Add UMSU as a collaborator

Why Use Collaborator Posts?

  • Instantly share content across multiple UMSU department feeds
  • Reach wider student audiences
  • Keep ownership of your content
  • Help students discover your department

Key Guidelines

  • Add collaborators BEFORE publishing
  • Request collaborations during business hours (9am-5pm)

Steps to Create Collaborative Posts

Create your post and go to the share screen
  1. Tap "Tag People" > "Invite Collaborator"
  2. Search for and select @UMSUunimelb or other UMSU department (you can also tag @lifeatunimelb
  3. Share post and wait for collaborator to accept

Collaborators will receive the request via DM and must accept for the post to appear on both feeds.




Resources


A super quick guide to approaching social media and creating engaging content.

Topics covered include:

  • What *is* social media?
  • Knowing your audience
  • Golden rules of
  • Insights and evaluation
  • Keeping your content real
  • Being careful with your rep!




Presentation slides: Ted Talk - Socials.pdf



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