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adammilligan · 2 years

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i do think that the degree of separation between michael and adam is important actually. like yes michael is going to carry himself as tall and mighty and older next to adam and say things like “go for it, kid” because he is billions and billions and billions of years old and adam is only like. a thousand. and michael was the ruler of heaven for so long! when he’s not a) having his entire worldview turned upside down and having memories forcibly shoved into his head (latter half of 15x08) and b) grieving over the death of someone close to him (entirety of 15x19) michael IS very quiet and put-together and carries himself very self-assuredly and is so so so much less dramatic than the other archangels because he was the viceroy! he had heaven in an iron grip! and adam’s back may hurt from carrying a shit-ton of symbolism but he still very much grew up as a regular kid in minnesota. he had a regular school experience and went to prom and was going to college and so yes of course he’s going to be more down to earth about everything in general even with all that time he spent in hell. of course he’s going to talk about getting a job and having expenses—those types of things come more naturally to him! and of course michael’s gonna be like “little job?” sounding as puzzled (and kind of judgemental) as he was, because to him those kinds of things are frivolous. because he’s been there since before the concept of time was a thing and he’s the fourth most powerful being in existence and anything either of them need or want he can bring to them or create for them in an instant. and adam’s going to look at people and attempt to talk with them (whether it was his overly-serious “thank you” to the waitress or his initial hello to sam and dean where he makes the funny “gotcha!” face at them) because they’re people and he’s a person and he was raised to be human. and michael’s still going to be looking at humans in general like they’re either major annoyances (i.e. tfw) or beneath him and unworthy of his time (the look he sent to the people in the diner before wiping their memories) because he’s an archangel, he’s billions of years old and he really, genuinely does not give a shit about any human except adam. there IS a great degree of separation between them and i think the point of it all is that they looked at that wide gap between them and still figured out how to hold hands over it. michael essentially doesn’t care about human frivolities but he still wants adam to be his guide and show him all of it anyway because he cares about him and those little things make adam happy. adam may not have known michael for eternity like god has (and relates it to things in his own little human way like “so he’s having a mid-eternity crisis!”) but he still tries to help michael deal with this sudden problem as best as he can because he cares about him. i think it’s all about two very very different people coming together and making that kind of connection with each other and making it work despite everything that says it shouldn’t.

#NOBODY come clowning on this post saying michael's a dramatic little baby. make your own #i am talking about MY interpretation of the characters based on their actions in canon. if you think something different that's fine!#but this is not the place to put it!!!!#azure rambles #we came to an agreement

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causticsunshine · 1 year

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Pretty please (with me on top, cause I'm a slut for your fics - sorry, not sorry), do tell us more about tfw bestie becomes baby daddy and gross hot sugar baby college thing!!!

ari please you flatter me 🫣💕

OKAY so 'tfw bestie becomes baby daddy' is for a fic fest next year (i think you can guess which one), and basically: finding he's at the perfect time in his life to start a family but without any romantic leads in sight to make that a nearby possibility, harry decides to give up on his search for love and asks louis, his best friend since secondary school, to both have a baby with and coparent alongside him. there's a side detail to this i'm intentionally leaving out for now as i don't want to give away the entire premise, BUT i will add on that it's told in louis' POV (idk why i like to write pining from louis' pov so much??), there's a lot of grown-up adult conversations, the typical 'very obvious to us but less obvious to them' mutual pining thing goes on, and there's a happy ending 🫶

and here's a wee snippet:

“So, how are we going to do this, exactly?”

Harry leans back against the sofa arm to look at him proper, suddenly bearing a funny expression. “Uh, what d’you mean?” he asks, chuckling slightly.

Louis stares at him blankly for a moment, hoping to convey with his eyes alone so he doesn't have to actually come out and say it—are we going to have sex or not?—but the way Harry stays staring back at him expectantly, brows raised in invitation, Louis knows he’s beat. That he’s going to have to sound like such a dick and ask point blank.

“Like…” moving his hands as if weighing options, “am I supposed t’go toss off in the loo and then bring the stuff to you in a cup and wait? Am I stuffing you with one of them baster things? Like—what’s the plan here, Styles.”

Which—makes it sound like sex isn't on the table. Because he's thirty-two years old and asking out the gate if his best friend, who's going to be impregnated either way at the end of this, is willing to follow the most natural course of action to be impregnated, is something he just can't handle doing right now.

At first, Harry only blinks a few times and slow nods like he's mulling it over.

Then, he raises one finger up and says, “Well, first, that’s not how that works,” half-amused, and very hopefully like he's not currently rethinking this whole thing just because Louis doesn't know the medical terminology for a, fucking, baby baster, “and second, I was actually thinking we might just, uhm, y’know…” he trails off and looks down at his lap instead, starts drumming his fingers on his knees, only to leave Louis at the edge of his seat to murmur, “do things as nature intended?”

and unfortunately there's not much more i have to say about the gross hot sugar baby college thing right now besides if i actually make it into a Thing, i might make it into a series of one shots if i get anymore ideas for it, aaand here's a tiny (gross) snippet i cleaned up really quick:

(cw for daddy kink, slight age gap between consenting adults; h is 21, l is 32)

“Lift up your skirt and show Daddy, then,” he gently instructs, still petting over Harry’s thighs just under the hem of his skirt.

Harry hesitates to comply, only pinching at the bottom of the pleated fabric and toying with it for a moment, abruptly contrasting his previous lack of shame. It’s an act, though, and Louis knows it; the blotted pink Harry is wearing on his cheeks and down his neck isn’t one of embarrassment, but arousal. Especially considering how his lips are parted around soft exhales, and the quiver Louis can feel in his spread legs.

But Harry also knows there's something about this act of faux innocence that gets Louis off, and that he’ll be sooner rewarded for his hesitation than he will immediate greed. Funny how everybody wins, like that.

Cocking an eyebrow, Louis lays a thin layer of impatience to his tone with a drawn-out, “Harry…”

A put-upon nod and tucked lip aide the picturesque vision set before him: Harry slowly dragging his skirt upwards to reveal the rest of his tensed, spread thighs, and the flimsy periwinkle fabric already soaked through between them, barely covering his remaining modesty.

#thank you !!#thebreadvansstuff #answered #my fics

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estelofthedunedain · 3 years

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guess I’ll be disappearing for a while again, as I’ve realized i’m seriously falling behind certain college stuff and it’s best my brain isn’t busy rping and developing plots and headcanons, you feel?

#voiceofpika #hiatus notice ig #thank you for your patience #prayers would be appreciated #might reblog this at some point tomorrow #for more ppl to see i guess #tfw you have much less things to do for college than any year before that and you still fall behind... RIP #actually i think i had less when i only had to sign in but #but in a way exams and thesis work IS less stressful than like. figuring out where you'll LIVE #and there was some stuff really messed up then #though now we have covid AND i still cant access my own laptop so there's some stuff really messed up now as well #though when i was applying for college the really messed up stuff was really only regarding myself and maybe some other new college students #and not something that affects the entire population in some way or the other #rip my tags are longer than my post good night

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spncanonbigbang · 7 years

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Masterpost 2017

Under the read more you’ll find the list of all the mini and big bangs from this year’s event. Enjoy and see you next year!

| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020

MiniBangs

Shut Up and Dance, Dean Winchester by Ailuromatron | art by emmatheslayer 8,3k; Teen and Up Audiences; Castiel/Dean Winchester

Dean is not going to think about the way Cas’ sudden withdrawal overlaps with the mental feedback Dean’s been experiencing here. He wouldn’t know what to make of it anyway, whether it’d be ironic or fitting or what. But if Castiel shutting him out turned out to be because Dean is loosening up, letting ideas form in his head more clearly than before—that would burn like a hot blade, and it just doesn’t bear looking too closely. It’s not the only thing tonight that doesn’t bear close inspection for the sake of Dean’s sanity. He damn near trips over his own feet when confronted by the south side of a north-facing Cas—seriously, when and where did he get that pair of ink-black jeans and in what universe is the way they fit his thighs not illegal?—and he’s pathetically grateful for the excuse of a rough patch of asphalt to blame it on when the others turn back to see what happened to him.

Misery & Solace by theackles | art by thruterryseyes 5k; General Audiences; Dean Winchester/Castiel

It’s been a week. One long, painfully numb week. The days went by one by one until Dean didn’t know what day it was anymore. Dean can feel the ache in his bones. He can’t move, he can barely think. He’s gotta get Cas back, even if it means working with Rowena and (almost) killing himself in the process.

A Lesson in Adapting by distortedrain | art by emotionallyunstabl 5,6k; Teen and Up Audiences; Castiel/Dean Winchester

The Winchesters settle into the Bunker and learn to hunt a little less a live a little more.

Fin ad Infinitum (The End Evermore) by AmberAnnh | art by lux-tuli 8,5k; PG-13; Gen

In “The End” Dean got the chance to see the future, zapped to a 2014 where the consequences of his choices had played out. Now, it’s Sam’s turn. Transported from 2009 to 2014, he must grapple with a demonic virus from his past, angels using the remnants of humanity as disposable vessels, the devil in his nightmares, and—perhaps worst of all—why Dean said “yes” to Michael.

If These Rooms Have Memories by KelpietheThundergod | art by malallory 12k; Mature; implied Castiel/Dean Winchester

Sudden light and sound make him flinch, but then, oh—cartoons! Awesome. Except then, the tall man comes over and takes the button-thingie out of his hand and shuts the cartoons off. “Dean, listen. The witches are gone, and they’ve got the Grimoire. We’re gonna do a spell to slow down the curse to buy some time, and then—” The man cuts himself off and his serious expression turns into one of exasperation. “You forgot again, didn’t you?”

Something Special by Durenjtmusings | art by Busy Squirrel 11,3k; General Audiences; Gen

What makes something special? Special enough for people to pay any price, beyond even their lives? Welcome to Lost and Found, Ltd., experts in finding very, very special things. Things that can be yours if you are willing to trade something very special in return. Well, and often even if you aren’t. [Canon-compliant possible backstory for both characters and objects in Supernatural: Dean, Sam, Bobby, Ruby, Jimmy Novak, Daniel Elkins, the Impala, Ruby’s knife, Dean’s Colt, Sam’s Taurus, the Samulet and The Colt.]

Exit: Light by hexmaniacchoco | art by quiescentcastiel 22,5k; Teen and Up Audiences; Gen

Dean, Sam, and Cas are relaxing in the bunker when Sam finds them a case involving three college students who’ve gotten themselves into trouble while playing a summoning game they found online, resulting in a nearly fatal incident. After investigating and figuring out what people are summoning into their homes, they decide to summon it as well in order to kill it. However, things aren’t quite what they seem at first, and a misjudgement of the situation finds TFW with the disadvantage as they walk around a pitch-black bunker trying to search out the creature they’re hunting without mistaking each other for it instead.

Mirror, Mirror by Jerksarehot | art by emmatheslayer 10,6k; Explicit; Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester

A witch with a taste for human souls reveals a secret to Dean before escaping with a promise to return. The boys recruit some help from Bobby to find a way to track and kill her. Dean must now decide if he should tell Sam the truth and risk losing him, or keep his dark secret and risk Sam’s life and his own soul.

The Night Goes By by indigoneutrino | art by Loracine 8,3k; Mature; Gen

It’s a long night when Sam and Dean first arrive at the prison, separated from each other to be strip searched, manhandled and humiliated before being thrown into cramped concrete cells. The nights that follow are longer.

Some Kind Of Monster by Hermit9 | art by Dmsilvisart 6,8k; Teen and Up Audiences; Gen

After leaving the Bunker and the Winchesters, Castiel attempts to earn his penance (again) by tracking down the escaped Lucifer. Crowley tagging along is both a blessing and a curse, the silver-tongued devil an asset during the investigations. If only he didn’t drive Castiel out of his mind. Set during and around “American Nightmare” up to “Rock Never dies”

A Mother’s Love by Leahlisabeth | art by kuwlshadow 5,2k; Teen and Up Audiences; Gen

Mary loves her boys, really she does, but she can’t quite seem to click with Sam. She’ll need to figure it out when a mother’s love is the only thing that can save him from a witches curse.

BigBangs

Always Stuck In Second Gear by ThayerKerbasy | art by dmsilvisart 29k; Teen and Up Audiences; Gen

After Wendy Vincente spilled the location of her brother’s secret cabin, Agents Beyoncé and Jay-Z had a lead to follow. Tracking Lucifer while confined to a pickup truck wasn’t exactly Crowley’s preferred modus operandi, but at least he was in good company.

and by me, i mean us by puckity | art by winchesterchola 16,5k; Explicit; Sam Winchester/Dean Winchester; Very Light Sam Winchester/Castiel

After what they think was just a routine case, Sam starts feelings things that he can’t quite put a name to. Things that aren’t really his but aren’t not his either. So he does what he always does: runs some tests, collects the data, and starts drawing conclusions. And then Dean does what he always does–comes in and tangles everything, including Sam, up. Timelined in early Season 12, prior to “First Blood” (12.09).

Blue Moon Rising by Treefrogie84 | art by Mayalaen 56,1k; Mature; Dean/Castiel, Dean/Lisa Braeden, Castiel/Dean/Lisa Braeden

Dean promised Sam that he would walk away from hunting, walk away from his family, and live some normal apple-pie life with Lisa. He did his best to do that– pulled the weapons out of the trunk, turned his back on Cas and Bobby, started spending his evenings with Lisa and Ben at Little League practice. But monsters don’t stop hurting folks, Hell doesn’t stop being Hell, and Heaven doesn’t start caring about humanity just because Dean’s retired.

Thunder on the Mountain by Skitty | art by kuwlshadow 23k; PB-13; Gen

A string of strange and seemingly unrelated tragedies are plaguing the Appalachian region. Children disappear. Men go insane. Hikers are mauled by large animals. And always…traveling Northward. Sam and Dean pick up the hunt in a small town outside the national forest. The creature they’re hunting is one of legend, feared by the native tribes that once populated the area centuries ago. With the unexpected aide of a strange woman also appearing to hunt the creature, the boys must attempt to bring it down before they lose their minds completely.

An Even Trade by PaperAnn | art by GlitchedWings 42,7k; Explicit; Sam Winchester/Gabriel

You’d think being relentlessly pursued by a tall, dark and handsome hunter would be an exciting game of chase. Until it wasn’t. Gabriel was growing bored of Sam Winchester’s constant tailing, still obsessed with getting his brother back, even though the Trickster was doing the kid a favor by offing Dean, thank you very much. He had to make this entertaining again, this new merciless killing-machine-Sam was no fun. They entered into a deal: Sam would work a case under the guise of a Trickster to see the reason behind the mischief by serving up a case of Just Desserts. If Sam won? He got Dean back. If he lost…well, Sam wasn’t going to lose, no matter the cost. Except, seven days of living on top of one another made Sam see beyond the monster who ruined him and back to the witty, cute janitor he met at Crawford Hall. There was also the problem of the two men, who were clearly attracted to each other, alone in a motel room for a full week. It was an accident waiting to happen. The puzzle was, neither knew who was manipulating who, if it was all a ploy or real emotions were coming out to play. The only thing both men recognized was something real was happening. And they were running out of time.

Lock & Key by MyShipWillNeverSink | art by Gabedrawz 18k; Explicit; Dean Winchester/Castiel

Canon divergent from 9x03. Dean and Cas set off on a hunt as a distraction from the guilt Dean feels for betraying his brother’s trust (again). Things go awry when Castiel falls through a frozen river, and things aren’t at all what they seem.

Build a Home by domesticadventures | art by myukur 20k; Teen and Up Audiences; Dean/Cas; background Sam/Eileen and Krissy/Josephine

After they save the world, Dean expects Cas to come back to the bunker with them. He doesn’t.

What Went Wrong Yesterday by cinnamonanddean | art by stormbrite 16,2k; Explicit; Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester

With Broward County in their rearview and a new case in their laps, Sam struggles to come to terms with the six months he spent alone after Dean’s death - and the fact that it never happened at all. And on top of it all, he now has to deal with the feelings for his brother that have been dragged to the surface.

The Heart of Ophelia by anyrei and mugglerock | art by nonexistenz 39k; Explicit; Dean Winchester/Castiel

Always throwing himself in harm’s way for the Winchesters, Castiel ends up getting hit with a love curse. Under the influence of fabricated emotions, Castiel learns just how dangerous unrequited love can be. And Dean learns what it means to doubt everything he’s ever believed. They have a week to find a way to lift the curse, otherwise the intoxication of “love” will kill Castiel. Literally.

When Words Fade, Music Speaks by Pinkmink | art by Dreymart 16,9k; Explicit; Dean Winchester/Castiel

The Brits have Dean running ragged all across the country. When Cas returns from his not-so-brief time in Heaven, Dean finds them a case in New Orleans. It’s supposed to feel like a Winchester version of vacation - voodoo, good food and a simple salt and burn. But the trip turns out to be a far more cathartic release than he bargained for.

Fight or Flight by ellispark | art by emotionallyunstabl 23k; Mature; Dean Winchester/Castiel, Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy

Just when Dean’s started to feel good about his life — the end is not nigh, and his brother and his angel are safe in the bunker — Sam and Cas start keeping secrets from him. It’s not a big deal, at least not at first. Everyone needs to play some things close to the chest. But when Dean finds out what they’ve been hiding, the bubble of carefree happiness he’s carefully placed around his family finally bursts.

Long Distance by grey2510 | art by Marsjay 18,9k; Teen and Up Audiences; Jody Mills/Asa Fox, Dean Winchester/Castiel, Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy

Losing someone is never easy, nor is having them far away, no matter how often it happens in a hunter’s life. When Jody, Sam, and Dean travel up to Canada for the wake and funeral of Asa Fox, each is forced to confront some truths about family and who is really important in their lives.

Entwined Souls by sweet-sammy-kisses | art by lux-tuli 16,3k; Teen and Up Audiences; Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester

Sam was all prepared to spend eternity in the cage trapped at the mercy of Lucifer and Michael if it meant that Dean would be safe. What no one counted on was Chuck to come back or turn out to be God. With Ellen, Ash and Jo brought back as a thank you gift for all the boys have done Dean and Sam are at a loss of what to do when Chuck announces he is taking the angels back to heaven and closing the gates of hell up. There is one thing the boys both want and that is the one thing they are afraid to go after, each other. But after almost losing each other one too many times they decide to take a chance and now the life of retirement is discovering the next step in their relationship.

Humanity's Angels by Ami Rose | art by sevenspirals 94k; Explicit; Dean Winchester/Castiel, Background Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy, Background Original Characters OT3

To get their minds off of Kelly Kline, Lucifer, and the BMOL, Dean and Sam take a case in Northern Arizona where a rogue angel was seen flashing his wings at a film festival and ranting about blasphemy. They quickly realize that there might be more to this case than they’d initially thought. The angel fits all the characteristics of being a ghost—EMF readings, see-through body, air chilling ability, and all. A local man is found with his eyes burned out like he was the victim of a smiting keeps them in town after salting and burning the angel’s buried vessel in hopes of dispelling his ghost.

Between all of this, Dean is finding it hard to keep his feelings for Cas under wraps. Especially when everywhere he looks and everyone he talks to reminds him of how much energy he’s spent hiding his sexuality from his family over the years.

Will watching the ghost angel’s grieving best friend mourn the loss of the angel he’d loved spur Dean into confessing his own feelings before it’s too late? Will an angel from Cas’s past be able to succeed where Ishim failed? Who the hell has Sam been texting? Will someone please tell Mary what the hell is going on with her sons? Will any of Team Free Will learn to use their damn words?

#supernatural #supernatural fanfic #spn family #spn #fanfic masterpost #masterpost 2017 #masterpost

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minnievirizarry · 6 years

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The Scholarly Guide to Higher Education Marketing

It’s no secret that the world of social media has become integral to the college experience.

After all, today’s top universities both big and small are scrambling to the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to boast what their campuses are all about.

We're getting ready for Housing Day!⠀ ⠀ In their first year at Harvard, freshmen live in and around the Yard. On Housing Day – Thursday, March 8 – freshmen will be sorted into one of Harvard’s 12 upperclass Houses. They’ll find out their House assignment by the residents of their new Houses, who will storm their dorm rooms early in the morning with the good news. The day is a celebration, complete with House colors, shields, pennants, and costumes 🎉 #harvard #housingday2018

A post shared by Harvard University (@harvard) on Mar 2, 2018 at 1:02pm PST

But higher education marketing isn’t just about having the most “school spirit,” nor is it a competition to post the most epic collegiate content.

It’s about creating an experience for the members of your school’s community, both on-campus and off.

Consider the responsibilities on the plates of any given school’s marketing team, including:

Wowing prospective students contemplating where they should apply

Keeping campus in the loop about the million things going on a day-to-day basis, including university deadlines and major events

Encouraging higher morale and positive relationships between students, educators and the school community at large

Look back at some of our favorite moments from #ExploreUT 🤘 We hope to see everyone again next year! https://t.co/iULw8WxpQU

— UT Austin (@UTAustin) March 6, 2018

That only scratches the surface, by the way.

Juggling the many pieces of higher education marketing might seem like an uphill battle, but becomes less daunting when you understand just how schools today are expected to use social media.

And in this guide, we’ll break down the big picture expectations and tactics of higher education marketing and how schools can better connect to their campuses.

With that, let’s dive right in!

Higher Education Marketing Trends & Insights

In the early days of social media for college and universities, a school’s Twitter feed or Facebook page might have been more akin to a bulletin board for current students.

Fast forward to present day and it’s clear that times have changed in terms of tactics and expectations.

For starters, prospective students are overwhelmingly using social media to research potential campuses to eventually call “home.” No longer flipping through clunky college guidebooks, students and parents primarily rely on digital communication with colleges in the form of email, text or messengers to stay in touch with schools.

Of course, social media is a key component of that research and communication.

Approximately 18% of high school students check out a prospective university’s Instagram account multiple times per day. This young, yet increasingly tech-savvy demographic, looks at a school’s social feed as a window into campus life.

Snow globe studies ❄️📚 – 📸: @robertgillphoto – #Dartmouth #DartmouthCollege #18winterwonderland

A post shared by Dartmouth College (@dartmouthcollege) on Feb 2, 2018 at 3:31pm PST

Meanwhile, the majority of any student body is already connected to social media in some way, shape or form. Data from Pew Research Center notes the rise in social usage among those under 30, with 88% plugged into at least one platform.

This data shows that it isn’t a matter of whether or not the traditional college crowd is connected to social media, but rather how much. Schools are therefore expected to work between multiple social accounts to speak to all students at every point of the university lifecycle.

Applicant. Student. Alumni.

There’s a distinct need to keep all of these audiences in the loop on a consistent basis.

To our students – welcome back and have a good week shopping! 🛍⠀ ⠀ Wondering what shopping week is? 🛒 The first week of each semester, students at #Harvard can sample different classes before choosing their course load 📚 #DiscoverHarvard #PictureHarvard ⠀ ⠀ 📸 Photo by: J. Graham Pearsall

A post shared by Harvard Admissions (@harvard_admissions) on Jan 22, 2018 at 5:10pm PST

Higher education marketing is about more than just creating content for these audiences, though.

As noted by Sprout Social’s own experience working with Marquette University, one of the most overlooked aspects of higher education marketing is alignment.

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In the case of Marquette, Sprout saw firsthand the challenges of creating a consistent message across dozens of social accounts speaking to dozens of different audiences and departments at once.

Sun sets on another week. 📷: @yasa_mekki

A post shared by Marquette University (@marquetteu) on Feb 23, 2018 at 6:29pm PST

Speaking of which, there’s a big-picture need for schools to bring their students, faculty and respective communities together via social, and doing so requires marketers in education to tackle a specific set of challenges.

Overcoming the Challenges of Higher Education Marketing

For schools of all shapes and sizes, social media in higher education has its hurdles. Specifically, there are four common challenges for those trying to establish an effective higher education marketing strategy.

1. Siloed Departments

Marketing, admissions, public relations, athletics, alumni and the list goes on.

Each of these departments desires their own social footprint, which often results in little or no collaboration between them. Rather than treat each other as islands, different departments should strive to rally around a central social message.

TFW you’re ready to move to @UF the day after decisions are released. #UF22

A post shared by UF Admissions (@ufadmissions) on Feb 10, 2018 at 8:11am PST

2. Competing Interests

Aligning social goals isn’t so simple when departments are essentially competing against one another.

For example, universities use social media for everything from fundraising and student awareness to brand reputation and recruiting. Schools must work to reconcile these interests without preventing specific teams from participating in social.

Ideally, departments should be empowered to work toward their individual objectives while still adhering to their school’s overarching strategy.

Mark your calendars, #Gauchos! Our second #UCSBGiveDay is taking place on April 12, when we come together to celebrate the story of UC Santa Barbara. It’s a narrative that has no end because together, we’re still writing the future. https://t.co/V3JQT90kkB

— UC Santa Barbara (@ucsantabarbara) March 3, 2018

3. Diverse Audiences

Again, one of the biggest challenges of higher education marketing is keeping students engaged from their applicant to alumni.

Messaging moves quickly for universities. While initial marketing might be focused on attracting new students, that focus shifts to campus news and fundraising. Easing into that shift requires a keen attention to detail.

Of course, there’s also the need for schools to speak to students from all walks of life. In a day and age of diverse student bodies and schools celebrating a range of cultures, taking a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing to college students simply won’t cut it.

#VirginiaTech is proud to welcome almost 4,000 international students from more than 100 countries throughout the world. Our faculty, staff, and students want you to know, #YouAreWelcomeHere. . Watch the video ➡️ y2u.be/EbU-hcuIKKw . Learn more about the campaign ➡️ www.youarewelcomehereusa.org

A post shared by Virginia Tech (@virginia.tech) on Aug 21, 2017 at 10:22am PDT

4. Tracking Brand Reputation

There’s also the expectation for universities to have a pulse on their brand health and reputation over time. This helps determine whether or not a school’s social strategy is effective and what needs to change.

Additionally, bear in mind that social media offers schools a direct line of communication with the student body. Universities can easily be alerted to issues on campus as well as buzzworthy events among the campus community.

Schools likewise want to know where they’re scoring media mentions that tie directly into brand reputation and recruiting efforts.

Obviously, there’s a lot of ground for schools to cover via social. These challenges represent the top priorities of marketers in higher education today.

Effective High Education Marketing in Action

Beyond the previous challenges, there’s also the question of which types of content to push to students.

For marketers in higher education, the opportunities are seemingly endless.

Representing a younger crowd that’s about as social-savvy as they come, marketers are expected to be both creative and consistent in terms of how they speak to students.

Below are some shining examples of higher education marketing trends and ideas for just how today’s top universities are tapping into their student audiences.

User-Generated Content

Oftentimes the most-loved and share-worthy content of any given college come from students themselves. Many colleges regularly shout out user-generated content on campus, sourced from a school-specific hashtag like this one from UCLA (#sceneatUCLA):

We can't get enough of campus photos! Keep sharing your #sceneatucla photos like @zuriisawesome 💙💛

A post shared by UCLA (@ucla) on Mar 5, 2018 at 11:00am PST

Not only do these sorts of photos highlight the authentic campus experience, but also create a sense of community on campus. Through UGC, universities have a constant flurry of shareable content to choose from as students stay connected to campus: it’s a win-win.

As such, it’s common for schools to have some sort of hashtag for students to share their spirit and likewise curate UGC.

For example, Tulane uses a standard #Tulane hashtag to mark their content:

Having a great lunch before the big reveal. Something BIG is coming soon! How soon? Tune in at 2pm to our live stream. #tulane #BigReveal

A post shared by Tulane University (@tulaneu) on Dec 8, 2017 at 10:56am PST

Meanwhile, UNC Chapel Hill encourages students to take advantage of their #Targram tag:

We love Carolina Blue, but we have to say campus is pretty in pink 😍 #TARgram

A post shared by UNC-Chapel Hill (@uncchapelhill) on Feb 27, 2018 at 1:59pm PST

Harnessing a university hashtag is a simple yet brilliant example of how higher education marketing brings the campus community closer together.

Share your springtime photos with us! Tag them #vandygram __________ Repost @vanderbiltadmissions ・・・ #vandygram

A post shared by Vanderbilt University (@vanderbiltu) on Mar 5, 2018 at 9:31am PST

A good way to find user-generated content to share on social is by monitoring brand mentions or specific hashtags. You can use Sprout Social’s Smart Inbox to filter social messages containing your university’s social media handles or branded hashtags across multiple profiles.

For instance, Vanderbilt could monitor the hashtag #vandygram to see all the latest user-generated content on Instagram from students or faculty.

Epic Imagery

Visual content dominates every social channel today, and especially resonates with the college crowd.

Make no mistake: aesthetics matter to students. There’s an ongoing, unspoken competition among just about any school trying to show off who has the most beautiful, buzzworthy campus. That’s why epic, sweeping shots of campuses are so commonplace.

Yesterday’s sunset was 👌

A post shared by Rice University (@riceuniversity) on Jan 24, 2018 at 1:43pm PST

These sorts of snapshots do double duty of catching the eyes of students and likewise showing off your campus’ vibe.

LAG❄️❄️N 📷 by @sophlemen

A post shared by Colorado State University (@coloradostateuniversity) on Feb 21, 2018 at 12:25pm PST

While information and updates might be an expectation of those following a college via social, so is the occasional sunset.

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.12'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

Magical sunset over campus last night

Posted by Emory University on Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Video Content

On a related note, video footage of campus life is always a plus to inject some personality into your school’s social feed.

We know #ValentinesDay isn't until tomorrow – but we wanted to start spreading the love ❤️ around early. RT if you could use a kangaroo hug in your life. 💝 pic.twitter.com/hycClL3Xn5

— University of Akron (@uakron) February 13, 2018

From full-fledged productions to simple vlogs, expect video content to continue to boom in college feeds.

NEW STUDENT VLOG SERIES‼️The Campus Knights | Head on over to our YouTube channel for the full video and see the 7 things you should know about UCF ⚡️🔛 YouTube.com/UCF 👉 link in bio.

A post shared by UCF (@ucf.edu) on Jan 29, 2018 at 4:34pm PST

Creative Reminders

Schools can’t overlook the need to keep students informed about the most important happenings on campus. That said, those essential announcements and updates could always use a bit of creative flair.

Time to set a reminder ⏰ Starting at 8am MT on Aug. 15 #ColoradoState students will be able to claim their FREE ticket to @csuramsfb's first game vs. Oregon State and all home @csuvolleyball matches. Students will also be able to claim #RockyMountainShowdown tickets on Aug 15. #GoRams #CSURams @csuathletics

A post shared by Colorado State University (@coloradostateuniversity) on Jul 27, 2017 at 10:27am PDT

In the midst of so many trends and types of content, don’t overlook the simple task of keeping students in the loop.

Have you received your enrollment appointment date?

If so, try using mySchedule Builder to get the classes and teachers you want 💻https://t.co/H2OhhdADr7 pic.twitter.com/BDk21tqAFh

— UCF (@UCF) March 5, 2018

Humorous Content

Higher education marketing requires schools to establish their own distinct tone and voice. Just because you’re managing a college account doesn’t mean you have to be all pomp and circumstance, after all.

Many college accounts let loose with humorous content in addition to traditional updates. Doing so keeps students entertained and again lets your school’s personality shine.

Next week is Spring Break? A++ This weather? A+ The fact that it’s only Tuesday? C- pic.twitter.com/jVr2lRCDt8

— UH Admissions (@UHadmissions) March 6, 2018

Every campus has its quirks, and savvy social marketers often celebrate those unique aspects of student life whenever they can.

SQUIRREL! SQUIRREL! SQUIRREL! #squirrelappreciationday

A post shared by University of Florida (@uflorida) on Jan 21, 2018 at 12:33pm PST

And for more of what today’s top schools are doing on social, check out our recent list of strategies for social media in higher education.

How Do You Feel About the State of Higher Education Marketing?

Higher education marketing has become increasingly social and that trend doesn’t look to slow down anytime soon. From aligning goals between departments to figuring out which types of content resonates most with students, marketers have more expectations and responsibilities than ever before.

The good news? Aligning those goals doesn’t have to be a massive question mark. Through collaboration and the right tools aligning the goals of departments, universities can come up with a concrete social strategy that works for everyone.

This post The Scholarly Guide to Higher Education Marketing originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/higher-education-marketing/

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