This part of the toolkit offers some quick tips on effectively using social media, hashtags and all.
Just a friendly reminder about the way social media works: People are talking about MICA, even when we aren’t. People are looking for what we offer whether we promote ourselves or not. If we’re not part of the conversation, then the rumor mill is telling our story. Let’s make sure we get the story straight.
Social Media Field Guide
Are you ready to start or revamp the social media presence for your program or department? MICA's Social Media Field Guide has everything you need including a new account checklist, best practices, content plans, report templates, and more. Not sure where to begin? Start here.
Creating social media accounts for your department
Please submit this form in order to create a new social media channel for your department.
Purposes of each platform
When posting on social media, be sure to diversify your writing tone and messaging. Here’s how we classify each channel:
| Platform | Purpose/Themes | Posting Frequency |
| Instagram Stories | A mix of disposable visual content generated by students, faculty, staff and communications | As needed, Monday-Friday |
| Crowdsourcing content from students and people who check in at MICA | Daily | |
| Storytelling, family, student, and alumni focused | Daily | |
| News, conversations | 2 -3 tweets daily | |
| Professional connections and announcements | 2-3 posts monthly |
As an academic or administrative department, we suggest posting on each platform two to three times per week, minimum. If you cannot create original content at this frequency, please contact us to work on a strategy for those accounts.
Naming conventions and tagging
Date and time: Please use the following format for time: 1 pm, 3:30 am, and use May 6, 2018 for dates.
Degree/Major: Name ’18 (Major)
President Hoi: Refer to Sammy as President Samuel Hoi
When referencing a department or the college, if space allows, include their name and handle in the tweet.
Hashtags
#MICAmade
#MICAmade2018 (or graduating year)
#MICAmade2022 (or incoming year)
Tip: Avoid using more than three hashtags on Twitter. When in doubt, use #MICAmade.
Image sizes
Try to include photos and videos in every post that you share. Please refer to the Always Up-to-Date Guide to Social Media Image Sizes by Sprout Social for images sizes for each platform.
Instagram Takeovers
From time to time, MICA gives programs and departments the opportunity to take over the account for the day. Before requesting to take over the account, please make sure your content is relevant to multiple audiences, is highly visual, and has an appropriate call to action. Here are a few examples of successful takeovers. If you would like to request a takeover opportunity, please email Erin Baynham.
Requesting Social Media Shares
Social media messaging for programs or departments are often niche specific. If you feel your content is relevant to a broader audience, please submit them via our creative request form to share on our official channels. This usually works best on Facebook and Twitter.
Instagram Story Board
Instagram Stories are the perfect place to share content that is interesting and might not need a long life span. Use this social media toolkit to download Photoshop and PNG files that contain MICA’s official color palette for easy IG Story access.
GIFs
A gif is a lossless format for image files that supports both animated and static images. Most of MICA’s gifs are quick animated images.
MICA has an official channel on GIPHY! To use the gifs, go into any platform that allow you to insert gifs (including Instagram Stories, Facebook, text messages, etc.), then search for MICA or MICAmade. Download or insert as needed.
Contact
Need strategy advice? Contact Erin Baynham at ebaynham@mica.edu or x4137.