Virtual Recruitment - The New Reality and How to Make the Most of it!
It is that time of year, where we now have all you lovely challenge leaders on board and can begin the journey of making the 2020 recruitment season the best one yet… but with a twist!
With the ongoing pandemic, everything is now virtual, including our recruitment. We are here to give you advice, tips, and examples on how to build your virtual presence and become the ‘virtual’ go-to face on campus!
Developing Your Virtual Presence
So HOW do you become the virtual face on campus...?
SOCIAL MEDIA of course! Before making any posts, do your market research and share across all of the relevant University platforms. Utilising a business point of view will be the most effective approach. Imagine bringing out a new product, you will want to know the target audience, their mindset, and where is the best place to reach them. It’s the exact same as advertising your challenges and information meetings!
For example, the Three Peaks challenge might be very popular in an adventurous society (such as Scouting DofE, Trekking, Mountaineering, First Aid, etc). Once a targeted and personalised post has been created, then create a blanket generic post that is still enticing to share across all networks (such as halls pages, fresher event pages, fresher group chats, subject pages, and society group pages).
What is the key platform? Is it Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Email …. even Tinder? Whichever platforms you choose to promote on make sure to adapt and make it relevant!
Types of posts
We find that a combination of varying posts is the best way to capture engagement and to stay relevant. Big bulky text can often bore the reader and be discouraging. Short snappy posts that state the highlights (as seen in the below examples) can really capture the attention of any audience.
The aim is to not sell a sign up here but build that virtual presence and get the trip known on campus. Lots of frequent small posts combined with video posts will for sure guarantee yourself a virtual presence on campus! Get some separate video posts uploaded too, just schedule then for different days or a morning and afternoon to text and image posts.
One style we find really effective is personal posts made by you. Why not self-record and explain the odd text? Your face will become known and the element of trust will be built!
Facebook Examples:
Instagram Examples:
Tinder Examples:
TEN TOP TIPS
The key to a good post - make it short, sweet and filled with our beloved EMOJI’s
Video tips - the Facebook algorithm (which you’ve all heard us discuss) loves videos and promotes them more. But make sure when you post a video to do it on its own without extra photos!
Personalise your content - Record yourself talking about the trip. A great example is the one many of you saw us show on the training day of Kieran from Swansea. Use the elevator pitch you have made, find a nice setting, and get your mate to film it!
Timing - When posting, make sure to adapt to ‘student hours.’ We all know students aren’t morning people so posting at 7am won’t reach many. The best times to post are between 10am-12pm and then 6pm-8pm!
Utilise those around you - Whether you have a RAG or not, you have people around you that can help! Get your housemates, course friends, society connections to post/share/like/comment on all your social media posts.
Cross advertise - scheduling different styled posts on different days or the morning and afternoon, will increase the efficiency of your post and the audience you will reach. Cross styled techniques can be effective as well, build your recruitment plan to incorporate multiple promotional activities at the same time. Schedule posts, send direct and blanket emails, and have other background promotion going on too, such as tinder or Tik-Tok.
Postgraduates and Mature Students!! - A lot of the time they have separate Facebook pages/websites etc. Try to find your Post Graduate/Mature Officer or representative and ask them for help to promote to them as they do get left out or do not see a lot of the events going on in the Undergraduate Pages!
Mike’s Hootsuite Tip - Hootsuite (click here for link) is a scheduling app that can be paired with the majority of social media platforms. All kinds of posts can be drafted in one sitting and then automatically posted at a time that suits you. This is beneficial and you can make a solid recruitment plan with this tool. It couldn't be easier to draft those enticing posts and maximise engagement while you're not even sat at your laptop! This app really is a hoot…
Challenge specific Instagram/social media account! It’ll be a great focal point to advertise, build hype, and live stream important details and fun activities!
Airdrop! - When walking around campus, find airdrops that are on and airdrop them a link/poster/video to get them interested! (Thanks for this idea Jack Galloway)
The overall Key to a great recruitment period is Communication and Organisation!
We hope this helps you make the most of 2020/21 recruitment! Please message Halina or Mike or email team@chooseachallenge.com if you have any questions or queries.
