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SOCIAL MEDIA
NEWSLETTER
June 2024
VOL. 2
ISSUE 6
INTRODUCTION
🌞 Hello, RAMily & summertime! As the sun beams brighter and the days grow longer, it's time to embrace the vibrant energy of June. In this month's newsletter, we're dedicated to soaking up the sunshine and harnessing its warmth to curate engaging content for our university community. From highlighting exciting summer events to sharing tips on staying productive during the break, we're here to ensure our digital presence radiates the spirit of the season.
To gather the best summer content, consider these strategies:
Capture campus life: Document the vibrant campus scenes during summer. Snap photos of students enjoying the outdoors, summer classes in session and any special events or activities.
Feature student stories: Share experiences from students participating in internships, travel programs or unique summer projects. Personal stories add a relatable and inspiring touch.
Highlight local events: Cover local festivals, markets and community gatherings. These events not only showcase the lively summer atmosphere but also promote community engagement.
Share tips and hacks: Create content around summer productivity tips, wellness advice and fun DIY projects. This keeps your audience engaged and provides them with valuable information.
Utilize user-generated content: Encourage students and faculty to share their summer adventures on social media and tag your socials. Sharing their content can build a sense of community and offer authentic insights into summer activities.
Let's dive into June with creativity, enthusiasm and a keen eye for capturing the essence of summer on social media! 📸 Join us as we celebrate the joys of this sunny season and make the most of every golden moment. #SummerVibes ☀️
-Saher Randhawa, Senior Social Media & Communications Manager
Enterprise Marketing & Communications, VCU
Ask SAHER
Is there a policy on sponsorships, advertising and endorsements?
Yes, you may find the full Outgoing Sponsorships, Advertising and Endorsement policy HERE. The policy is in place to:
- protect and enhance VCU’s brand and reputation
- establish procedures that ensure appropriateness, consistency and coordination of efforts across the university for outgoing sponsorships, advertising and endorsements
- promote the greatest cost savings and appropriate investment of university resources and support strategic priorities
- avoid conflicts of interest
- avoid duplication of sponsorship and advertising efforts
- provide central coordination of sponsorships and advertising using the university’s name
CONTENT TIPS & TRENDS
Worried about how to continue creating content now that it’s summer?
Don’t fret! We have a list of ideas to keep those creative juices flowing.
Connect with any students from your department who are completing smmer internships or studying abroad. Tip: Reach out to the Global Education Office at geo@vcu.edu for leads on students from your department who will be traveling soon!
Highlight your department’s faculty and staff who work on campus year-round.
Attend an orientation session to capture excitement from incoming students. (We recommend reaching out to Orientation and Transition programs at newrams@vcu.edu for more on how to get involved.)
Attend an orientation session to capture excitement from incoming students. We recommend reaching out to Orientation and Transition programs at newrams@vcu.edu for more info on how to get involved.
Grab empty shots of your space while students are gone so that you can contrast them with clips once campus is full again.
Celebrate national and social holidays. Pride Month and Juneteenth are this month, but so are observances such as the summer solstice (June 20), National Pink Day (June 23) and World Social Media Day (June 30)!
P.S. - Summer is also an opportunity to rest after a hectic academic year. Don’t forget to take it easy and relieve yourself and your team from the pressure of following your typical posting schedule. Students are on break this summer and you deserve one, too! 🫶
- Loan Nguyen & Jaleelah Harris
SPOTLIGHTS
GENERAL NEWS FEED
LET’s TALK DESIGN
CLICK TO ACCESS
As the August deadline for brand compliance grows closer, I wanted to share some new general news templates to help those who don’t have a Canva Pro account. While I still recommend investing in the subscription for $14.99/month, I want to continue to make sure that our resources are accessible across the enterprise. You’re also welcome to use the original templates and adjust them with assets available to you in the free version of Canva to avoid having your graphic saved with a watermark. As always, if you have questions, concerns, or need any help reach out at identity@vcu.edu.
- Abby Giuseppe
GENERAL NEWS STORIES
BOB’s BRANDING BUNKER
Just a reminder that the old “angle” and angular solid container are no longer to be used. The new rolled ink textures are appropriate when material fits the bold, energetic end of the brand spectrum and can be downloaded HERE.
As always, if you have questions about how to use the VCU brand or want feedback on a project, hit me up at identity@vcu.edu. - Bob Saydlowski
Also, I’m holding virtual office hours every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to Noon via Google Meet so stop by!
MEET OUR NEW
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN!
We are excited to share that our new social media intern, Madison Silcox, just started with us this summer! You’ll be seeing a lot of her this summer on our social media pages and especially via reels on Instagram! To help you get acquainted with Madison, check out her responses below to our spotlight questions:
Where were you and what were you doing at your last job?
- For the last 9 months, I worked as a Student Worker in the VCU Office of the President assisting the Office Admin, Melody Wang. You may have seen me at the front desk there or volunteering at Commencement. I also currently work at Chick-fil-A in my hometown as a Supervisor!
Where are you from?
- My hometown is Newport News, Va. I’ve lived right by the CNU campus my whole life, as both my parents were alumni there.
- My hometown is Newport News, VA. I’ve lived right by the CNU campus my whole life, as both my parents were alumni there.
Where are you from?
What are you most excited about working here?
- I’m excited to learn more about how ideas are developed and collaborated on to make the final product for VCU socials! I’ve always been a big fan of the content and I’m interested in hearing more about and being part of where it comes from.
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at the office?
- I love coffee and books, so you might find me at Alchemy coffee shop on Broad Street or in Monroe Park reading one of my many, many books.
What are two interesting things about you that no one would know?
- Something not a lot of people know about me is that my grandmother graduated from VCU back in 1965 and was one of the first two women in the School of Engineering Technology. She certainly earned being my role model growing up! Another fun fact is that I love almost every fruit except for blueberries (the only exception being when in muffins.)
What’s your favorite color, book, movie, artist or vacation spot?
- My favorite movie is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (which not many people have seen, please tell me if you have!) and my favorite artist is either Hozier or Noah Kahan.
What’s your favorite candy or snack?
- My favorite candy is anything with dark chocolate. Snack? Definitely Cheez-its.
VCU SOCIALS IS AWARD WINNING!
VCU Social Media has been awarded a 2024 Top Virginia Employers for Interns!
The annual award celebrates Virginia employers who provide high-quality internships for students. Some of the noteworthy efforts of employers include exposing interns to senior leaders, structured mentorship programs, housing allowances, paid time off, security clearances and training for industry certifications. View the press release HERE.
VCU was also recognized at the 77th Annual Virginia Public Relations Awards as a winner in the following categories for Excellence and Merit in the Capital and Commonwealth:
- RecWell Wednesday Series (Social Media: Organic - Efforts used no paid advertising)
- Safety Series with VCUPD (Public Service Announcements Social Media: Organic - Efforts used no paid advertising)
FAQs & REMINDERS
Can my student intern be an admin for our accounts?
When are the social media admin meetings?
- Monthly social admin meetings take place every 3rd Tuesday of the month at noon via Zoom! The next meeting will take place on June 18 from Noon to 1 p.m.
- No, your student intern should not be an admin, aka a manager of your social media accounts. However, they may help you create and post content. Only full-time employees should be registered admins. Update admins here.
How do I make sure my social media posts are accessible?
- Take the VCU social media accessibility training via Talent@VCU to learn tips for each platform.
What are the first things I should do when a social media admin leaves or changes?
- Change the passwords to your accounts and put in a ticket to Jira to update admin contacts for your social media channels.
Missed a monthly meeting or newsletter?
UNcommon branding update:
- Reminder that starting in August 2024, any content that does not meet brand standards will not be shared or reposted to the main VCU accounts. Check out the brand website to log in and download logos, letterheads, templates, social frames and more. For branding help, fill out the form here.
Reach out to us for questions, concerns or recommendations:
Join us on social media!
Join the VCU Social Media Admin group on Facebook!
Visit our website!
Official VCU Social Media:
President Rao’s Social Media:
Do you have photos or videos of Dr. Rao and/or student/faculty life around VCU? Tag us on Instagram @VCU or @VCUPresident or email socialmedia@vcu.edu for a chance to have your content reposted!