Social Media Guidelines

Digital engagement is a powerful platform to share Purdue stories with past, present and future Boilermakers. Here are some tips to help your storytelling shine.

Policy

Official Approval

Per the University Social Media Policy, you must secure the approval of the appropriate administrative leader in your college, school, department or group (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor, vice provost, dean, etc.). You must also notify the appropriate campus authority, designated in the University Social Media Policy, of your plans.

Registering Your Social Media Presence

 Social Media accounts will be updated in late April 2020.

  • Per the University Social Media Policy, you must register each social media presence that your group maintains. The list of registered social profiles is available online. To register your presence, please complete the following form.
  • NetworkUser Name 
    Provide a list of all of your social media accounts by providing the network (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and User Name (e.g. @LifeAtPurdue). Add additional rows by clicking the + sign.

Guidelines

Posting Tips

  • Keep posts short and direct
  • Include photos, videos, or GIFs
  • Use Bitly to shorten URL (Branded Domains Available)
  • Post and monitor daily

Emojis

  • Emojis help social media posts stand out and create brand continuity
  • Consider using the following emojis when planning out social media posts
    Train 🚂
    Hearts 💛🖤

Campus-wide Hashtags

  • #TheNextGiantLeap = Primary campaign
  • #MySmallStep = Student stories
  • #MyGiantLeap = Faculty/Alumni stories
  • #PurdueUniversity, #BoilerUp, #Boilermakers

How to Use the Hashtags

#MySmallStep, #MyGiantLeap or #TheNextGiantLeap

SAMPLE 1: #MySmallStep / #MyGiantLeap (Student or faculty profiles written in first person.)

#MySmallStep is studying the root causes of mental illness at Purdue University to someday become a leader in my field. Learn more about my journey at Purdue University toward #MyGiantLeap.

SAMPLE 2: #TheNextGiantLeap (Research, innovation and milestone stories.)

Purdue University anthropology professor Michele Buzon uses health and cultural evidence from burial sites to understand the lives of Nubians and Egyptians during the New Kingdom Empire. Learn more about her research and future trip to Sudan. #TheNextGiantLeap

SAMPLE 3: #TheNextGiantLeap (Research, innovation and milestone stories.)

Physics professor Robert Kramer and Purdue scientists have discovered how to cut down food waste and provide a renewable source of clean energy. Learn more about the team’s research. #TheNextGiantLeap

Social Media Channels

Facebook

  • Audience(s): Parents, alumni, the general public.
  • Content: Stories about research initiatives, celebrations/milestones, current student profiles, alumni profiles. Photos and videos.

Instagram

  • Audience(s): Current students, prospective students, alumni, the general public.
  • Hashtags: #MySmallStep, #MyGiantLeap, #PurdueUniversity, #BoilerUp, #Boilermakers, #PicturePurdue, #TheNextGiantLeap.
  • Emojis: 🚂💛🖤
  • Content: Events, students, student life, celebrations, milestones. Should serve as a high-quality photo gallery to showcase your organization.
  • Other Ideas: Use linkedinprofile.com so every photo can be linked from the profile URL. See the Purdue Instagram page for an example. https://linkinprofile.com/lifeatpurdue

Twitter

  • Audience(s): Students, alumni, the general public.
  • Tagging: Always tag as many elements as possible — as well as Purdue departments. Check if professors are on Twitter and then reach out to let them know you’ll be tagging them in a tweet.
  • Hashtags: #MySmallStep, #MyGiantLeap, #PurdueUniversity, #BoilerUp, #Boilermakers, #TheNextGiantLeap.
  • Emojis: 🚂💛🖤
  • Content: Tweet and retweet about campus events, research initiatives, fun facts about Purdue.

LinkedIn

  • Audience(s): Students, young alumni (job seekers), alumni (recruiters looking for young alumni), business professionals.
  • Tagging: Always tag as many elements as possible. Check if professors are on LinkedIn and then reach out to let them know you’ll be tagging them in a post.
  • Hashtags: #MySmallStep, #MyGiantLeap, #PurdueUniversity, #BoilerUp, #Boilermakers, #TheNextGiantLeap.
  • Content: Innovation — partnerships, research, student profiles, alumni profiles, professor profiles.

Managing a Social Account

  • Join the Purdue Social Media Slack Channel
  • Review purdue.edu/brand for the most up-to-date information
  • Always use a departmental email to set up a new Purdue social media account
  • Make sure at least two employees have administrative access to social media accounts
  • Use LastPass to securely keep track of all passwords
  • Use Social Studio to schedule and engage in conversations
  • Go team! Follow other Purdue accounts to amplify their messages. Attend Boiler Social meetings. Future sessions will include professional development opportunities and sharing of best practices.

Downloads and Resources

With the increasing number of social media platforms, keeping up with profile images has become a challenge. Sprout Social’s image guide details the most common image sizes for popular platforms.

Cover Photos for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

There are couple cover photos you can use for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn account.

Social media profile templates

Easy-to-use resources for designers across campus to use when implementing the brand.

Download Social media profile templates

Instagram templates

Instagram image templates

Get started with in-brand Instagram image templates. Download them and make them your own.

Please download the zip file, it includes:

  • Photo template. The gold frame helps Purdue shine through, consistently.
  • Proof-point template with a number.
  • Proof-point template with outline text.
  • Proof-point template with solid text.
Download Images Template in PSD Files
How to use the templates
  • Save the Photoshop files (.PSD) to your desktop. (The PSD format enables you to add and remove layers in the template.)
  • In Photoshop, use the layers panel to remove or add a new photo.
  • To delete and add text, double-click the type icon in the layers panel, or use the type tool. Resize as necessary.*
  • For proof-points, best practice is to keep character counts between 20 and 30.
  • Remember to flatten and save the new images as JPEG or PNG files for use on Instagram.

*You must have UnitedSans and Acumin Pro installed on your computer for the templates to function correctly.

Instagram Highlight Covers/Icons

Here are Instagram highlight covers, which can be used to feature Instagram stories on your profile permanently.

Download Instagram Highlight Covers/Icons
How to create Highlights on Instagram
  1. Open your Instagram story you posted.
  2. Tap on the Highlight icon in the bottom right-hand side.
  3. In the Add to Highlights pop-up, tap New.
  4. Enter a name for the highlight and then use one of the icons as a cover.
  5. Tap Add and then Done.

Instagram Three-Line Profile Template

Below are two three-line profile templates for Instagram. Choose from a circle version or square version. These can be used to write your own highlight cover. For best practice, keep character counts between 20 and 30.

Download Three-line Profile Templates

Social Media Management Tools

Free Options

  • Hootsuite: Allows up to three social media accounts and one login
  • Buffer: Allows up to three social media accounts and one login

Low-cost Options

  • Sendible: Allows up to 12 social media accounts and one login = $29/month
  • Hootsuite: Allows up to 10 social media accounts and one login = $29/month
  • Loomly: Allows up to 10 social media accounts and two logins = $25/month
  • Buffer: Allows up to 10 social media accounts and one login = $15/month

Bonus Feature

ASANA: Are you looking for a solid project management system?

Asana is a powerful tool and is free if you have 15 or less employees on the platform. The mobile app is incredibly helpful for project management on the go.