6 suggestions for successful student storytelling

6 Suggestions for Successful Student StorytellingTim Nekritz and Lizzy Marks, SUNY Oswego

Who answers 3 key questions?

Among the most pressing questions an incoming student will have about their college experience:

•What do I want to do?•What do I want to be?•Will I fit in?

Who is their role model?

What do incoming students really aspire to be?

CURRENT STUDENTS! … who can answer the questions:

•What do they do?•What are they becoming?• How do they fit in?

Warning!

•You’ll have to take risks and trust people!

(This is what somebody had to do to create your college)

6 suggestions

• Find your storytellers• Have students blog (and blog strategically)• Takeovers (mainly Instagram)• Prospective students have questions; your

students have answers• Take requests• Team up!

Know your goals

“I WANT A FACEBOOK!” is not a goal

“I WANT MORE FOLLOWERS THAN OUR RIVAL SCHOOL!”

is not a goal

“I WANT TO MAKE A VIRAL VIDEO!”

is not a goal

What we do at Oswego

• Interns• Student bloggers• Laker Takeover• Q&A (video, live chats)• Student ambassadors

1. Find your storytellers

• Think POV• Network across campus• Look on social media

Track your community

Wonder from Down Under

2. Students blog strategically

•What goals/audiences?•What voices to include?•What do you want incoming students to

know?

Student blog golden rule

We don’t approve blog posts.We approve bloggers!

Lizzy, athletic ambassador

3. Let them take over

@herewegosaints, St. Lawrence

4. They have Qs …

5. Take requests

• Ask prospective students what they want to see or know• Our bloggers or interns will expand• Another example: Show me ______ at

Emerson

Why live in _____________?

6. Team up

• It’s not the size of your office, it’s the size of your network. – Tom Peters• Collaborate with other

departments/interns … build the big picture• Share and promote other awesome

content relevant to your college

Amplify the awesome (80/20)

Questions?

We’re on the Twitters• Questions?• Feedback?• Corny jokes? How many literalists does it take to change a

lightbulb?

@TimNekritz@LMarks11