Social Media Guidelines

At the University of Michigan-Flint, social media helps tell the UM-Flint story. We invite students, faculty, staff, and alumni to take part in our social communities in order to capture and portray the total UM-Flint experience - not just as we describe it, but as it’s expressed by people who are part of it. There is no better testimonial than one that is unsolicited and authentic. Social media channels allow us to reinforce the UM-Flint brand with engaging content and responsiveness. Today, like never before, there is an opportunity to engage, interact with, influence, and learn from our audience.

UM-Flint's official social media accounts can be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, and Flickr. These accounts are managed by University Relations (UR). If you have been authorized to create a social media account on behalf of your UM-Flint department or program, please consult the UM-Flint Brand Toolkit to be sure you’re following visual identity guidelines. Please also contact UR to ensure coordination with other UM-Flint social media accounts and content.

Social Media Strategy

Before creating a social media presence for your department or program, consider the following. Not every social media outlet will work for everyone. Remember: Social media is a tool, not a strategy. The outline below references the U-M Social Media Strategy Outline in the University of Michigan Communicators’ Forum Social Media Guidelines.

Purpose

Why are you establishing a social media presence?

Objectives/Goals

What do you plan to achieve with this social medium? Inform? Encourage dialogue? Share information? What kind of information? What platform(s) will you use to achieve this?

Target Audience

Who are you hoping to connect with by way of social media? Which social media are most likely used by your target audience?

Execution & Maintenance

• Who will establish the social media site?
• Who will be the administrator and maintain the site?
• How often do you plan to update it?
• How will you connect to other UM-Flint social media sites?
• What kind of content will you share, who will generate it, and where will you find your content?
• How will you measure the outcomes to know that you have met your goals?

University Relations can help tailor a social media strategy to your communication plan and departmental goals. If you would like more information about social media strategy, contact UR.