by Dan Christensen, Tudor Collegiate Strategies
When it comes to social media, many coaches think, “it’s not for me.” I get it. The only problem is, your recruits spend a lot of time on social media and it can be an incredible opportunity to build your brand as a coach and a program.
You don’t need to be a social media wizard to use it effectively in recruiting. Cool graphics and videos are fun and can be useful. But are those higher end social media posts what recruits are looking for to help them make their decision?
Here are two questions recruits are looking to have answered through you and your program’s social media platforms:
1) What are you really like, Coach?
If you’re doing a good job and communicating consistently with your prospects and their families, they probably are starting get to know you pretty well.
But what if you’re just putting on a show? It is easy to talk the talk. But will you walk the walk when that recruit comes on campus? These are certainly thoughts your recruits are having throughout the process. How can you show them you are for real?
Put some pictures and videos on Instagram and Twitter of you being you. It could be you spending time with your family or goofing off with your team. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, perfect can often seem fake. Show your prospects you are a real person that they are really going to want to play for and spend time with.
2) Does your team have fun?
Get your team involved in your social media efforts. First of all, those 18-22 year-olds on your team probably know what recruits will think is funny and not corny more than you, Coach. But also, the players on your team need to sell your recruits.
Every recruit is wondering if your team is fun and if they are going to get along with your players. If your team social media platforms only show news and score updates, it doesn’t help answer the questions your recruits are asking.
The top two factors your recruits consider when making their college decision are the feel they get from the team and the feel they get from the coach. Social media is a fantastic and affordable way to do this. So, make sure you, your assistants, and your team are answering these two questions through your social media efforts!