Elevating InspireNOLA's Social Media Presence
Challenge:
InspireNOLA, a prominent Charter School Organization in New Orleans, faced the challenge of managing their social media profile, including their seven schools’ social profiles, ensuring consistent and engaging content while maximizing reach and follower growth. The organization aimed to increase its Instagram followers from 5,500 to 10,000 by the end of June 2024. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive social media strategy was essential.
Approach:
InspireNOLA enlisted the expertise of a skilled social media manager (me), supported by a videographer, marketing manager, and a dedicated support team. Leveraging the collaboration with social media point of contacts at each school, the team devised a multifaceted approach to address the challenge.
Strategies Implemented:
1. Content Collaboration:
- Collaborated closely with social media representatives from each school, gathering diverse and authentic content showcasing student achievements, classroom activities, and school events.
- Utilized high-quality visuals and engaging captions to captivate the audience's attention with the help of our videographer.
2. Partnership Leverage:
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with prominent entities such as the New Orleans Saints, Willie Spears, WRLDINVSN, SubtweetShawn, and more.
- Leveraged these partnerships to create buzzworthy events and content, expanding the organization's reach to a broader audience.
3. Student Takeovers and Celebratory Events:
- Organized student takeovers during football and homecoming seasons, allowing students to share their unique perspectives and experiences.
- Captured moments of celebration during the 10-year anniversary of InspireNOLA, honoring educators, staff, and the organization's milestones.
4. Consistent Posting and Audience Engagement:
- Developed a consistent posting schedule across all social media platforms, ensuring a steady flow of engaging content.
- Actively engaged with the audience through comments, messages, and interactive posts, fostering a sense of community and connection.
5. Utilizing Video Content:
- Worked closely with a videographer to create compelling video content, including highlights from school events, promotion videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into school life.
- Shared these videos on social media platforms, enhancing the visual appeal of the content.
Best Performing Posts:
1. Collaboration with Alontae Taylor and Saints in the Community on Instagram:
- Reach: 10,108 Accounts (432 Followers & 9,676 Non-Followers)
- Engagements: 906 Total Engagements
Description:
One of InspireNOLA's standout posts was a collaboration with Alontae Taylor and Saints in the Community on Instagram. This post effectively reached 10,108 accounts, striking a balance between existing followers and a substantial non-follower audience. The engagement numbers were impressive, with 906 total engagements, indicating a high level of interaction with the content. This collaboration not only amplified the organization's reach but also fostered meaningful connections with the community, showcasing the power of strategic partnerships in social media success.
2. Instagram Reel: Edna Karr vs. St. Augustine Football Game Teaser:
- Reach: 88,491 Accounts
- Plays: Over 120,000 Plays
- Engagements: Over 13,000 Total Engagements
Description:
A dynamic Instagram Reel promoting the Edna Karr vs. St. Augustine Football Game served as another top-performing post. The teaser effectively reached a wide audience of 88,491 accounts and garnered an impressive 120,112 plays, indicating high viewer interest and still growing. The content's engaging nature was reflected in the 13,470 total engagements, highlighting the successful fusion of visual appeal and compelling storytelling. By teasing upcoming student takeovers, the post generated buzz and anticipation, effectively involving the audience in the school's activities and events.
3. Cheerleading Video from Eleanor McMain High School on Facebook:
- Reach: Over 250,000 Accounts
- Plays: Over 170,000 Times
- Engagements: Over 2,000 Engagements
Description:
A simple yet captivating cheerleading video from Eleanor McMain High School emerged as a social media sensation. Shared as a reel on Facebook, the video reached over 250,000 accounts and garnered over 170,000 plays, showcasing its widespread appeal. The content resonated well with the audience, leading to over 2,000 engagements, including likes, comments, and shares. This post exemplified the power of visual content in capturing the audience's attention and eliciting debate in the comments, underscoring the importance of diverse content formats in social media marketing strategies.
These three best performing posts highlight InspireNOLA's ability to craft engaging and diverse content, reaching both existing followers and new audiences. Through strategic collaborations, dynamic teasers, and visually appealing videos, the organization successfully enhanced its online presence and fostered meaningful connections with the community, contributing significantly to the achievement of its social media goals.
Results:
In just one month, the collaborative efforts of the social media team, videographer, marketing manager, and support team led to an impressive milestone:
- InspireNOLA's social media profiles gained 1 million impressions, indicating a substantial increase in visibility and engagement.
- The organization's Instagram followers grew from 5,500 to almost 8,000 in in three months.
- The engagement rate mainted a steady 5% across platforms as a result of interactive posts, student takeovers, and partnerships, fostering a vibrant online community.
- The organization is well on track to achieve its goal of 10,000 Instagram followers by the end of June 2024, with a robust and engaged follower base.
Key Takeaways:
1. Collaboration is Key: Partnering with school representatives and external influencers facilitated a diverse range of content, enriching the organization's social media presence.
2. Strategic Partnerships: Leveraging partnerships with influential personalities and businesses enhanced the organization's credibility and attracted a wider audience.
3. Engagement Matters: Actively engaging with the audience and fostering a sense of community strengthens the organization's online presence and builds brand loyalty.
4. Visual Storytelling: Utilizing high-quality visuals and engaging videos significantly enhanced the appeal of the content, capturing the audience's attention effectively.
InspireNOLA's successful social media campaign serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, strategic planning, and engaging content in elevating an organization's online presence and achieving its goals.
