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Guidelines for Social Media Managers

With great power comes great responsibility. If you're responsible for managing official Ole Miss social media accounts, use the resources on this page to ensure consistency and alignment with our brand.

Read the UM Social Media Policy
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  4. Marketing and Brand Strategy
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  6. Guidelines for Social Media Managers

The following guidelines apply to all employees of the University of Mississippi who wish to launch official university social media accounts. Note that these guidelines do not apply to employees who wish to launch personal social media accounts.

Before You Launch an Official Account

Hey there! If you're part of our amazing University of Mississippi team and looking to launch an official university social media account, these guidelines are for you! We want your social media journey to be top-notch, so let's dive in.

First things first. Read (then follow) the University of Mississippi social media policy.

Be sure to use a shared or general email address like "getsocial@olemiss.edu". It keeps everyone in the loop and protects the integrity of the account should you decide to ever leave your position.

Assign both primary and secondary administrators for consistency. Remember, only permanent, full-time university employees should be assigned primary adminstrative rights.

  • Do we have the personnel available to maintain a social media account at a consistent, professional level of engagement? Does that person have the time to manage this account, and keep it timely? Who is responsible for the account on the weekends?
  • What happens when the primary administrator goes on vacation? What happens if the primary administrator leaves the university?
  • Who is our audience? What platform works best for our unit and our target audience(s)?
  • What kind of content will we share? Do we have enough unique content that will allow us to set our unit apart from any other similar accounts?
  • What do we hope to accomplish with this account?
  • How will we define success for this account?

Let the social team know about your official university social media account. Use the social media application below to get started!

Register Your Account

Setting Up the Account

Once approved, it's time to set up the official account.

Keep your personal and Ole Miss accounts distinct. When using your personal phone for Ole Miss account posts, ensure clear separation between the two identities.

Establish community guidelines. Let voices be heard while guiding conversations. Map out guidelines in your “about” sections or by providing links on your social media platforms. Check out the official comments policy of the University of Mississippi Facebook page for an example.

Create a content calendar to  consistent engagement. The worst thing to do is to launch without a plan!

Managing the Account

Here comes the fun part: social media management. Time to start the conversation.

Embrace our brand personality! Use conversational language ("We," "Our," "Y’all") to reflect Southern hospitality. Make it warm, especially for students.

Monitor actively! Social media is around the clock. Be prepared to respond promptly and seek assistance if needed.

Engage thoughtfully! Listen and respond with care. When in doubt, reach out for guidance.

Share content from other official Ole Miss accounts. Tag and mention—it's good social media etiquette!

Double-check facts and proofread content before sharing. Aim for accurate information and polished posts.

Prioritize engaging content. Before posting, ensure it's interesting and adds value to our community.

Maintain consistency in design and distribution of posts. Uphold professionalism in tone and representation.

Maintain professionalism and good taste in all posts. Individual units should represent themselves, not the entire university.