All you need to know to get more likes on your Alumni Facebook Page

It’s always scary to post something on your Alumni Facebook page: will they like it? What if we get zero likes? How can we get more comments?

In this article, you’ll get lots of ideas and tips on how to post on your Facebook Page in terms of content, timing, and type, so that success is guaranteed. Read on!

Content

1. Dig up old pictures

Dig up pictures from your university’s archives. Find funny 80’s hairstyles, 90’s dress code, etc. We’ve all made mistakes in our youth. And that’s quite funny looking back.

2. Campus in all kinds of weather

Whether it’s the campus in the snow, one of the buildings touched by a rainbow, or the university’s gardens in spring, posting pictures of the environment where we all used to spend so much time is usually much appreciated by alumni.

3. Old classrooms

A picture of an old classroom or auditorium with its tables, chairs, blackboards can trigger quite some nostalgia. You can spice it up with a question like: which auditorium was this picture taken in? Comments guaranteed.

4. Publish people’s stories and memories

Ask one of your legendary professors who was their favorite student, let a new alumnus recall what was the biggest challenge getting out of the university, have an old alumnus recall what was life on campus like back in the days, or print an amazing story of unconventional paths some alumni have taken.

5. Feature alumni in the news

If an alumnus from your university is featured in the press, do not fail to mention it on your Facebook Page.

6. Events

Make sure to not only post the details of your upcoming events, but also pictures from recent events. This will make the attendees happy and tempt the absentees to join next time.

7. Goodies to win, and offered promotions

Being an alumnus is also about perks. If you have some special promotions offered to your alumni, do regularly remind them about it. If you don’t but your closet is full of alumni Tees, pens and keychains, organize a contest and announce it in your next newsletter: the 1000th like of the FB page gets a prize!

8. Campus news

News from the campus are always hot. Always do feature it when a new building gets inaugurated, the rugby team wins a match, or a professor retires.

Timing

1. Find the right time to post

At what time during the day are you posting? Try to experiment different timings and find your optimal slots. Using Facebook Insights can help. If you don’t have the resources to investigate this, at least, follow best practices as detailed in the infography below.

2. Avoid peak hours

Finding a time when people are around to read your post is good. But you also need to keep in mind that there are peak hours when everybody else is posting as well. Try to avoid these times. Otherwise, your post can be outranked by other posts within minutes, even seconds.

Below are 2 charts representing the average click-through rates on links shared and the volume of links being shared on Facebook by hour and day of the week (source: The Bitly Blog).

3. Test how often you should post

Most people advise to post only once or twice a day. Afraid of spamming the fans? Well actually, with the level of competition you are fighting to get your alumni’s attention, I would recommend to post as often as possible. It shouldn’t be a question of annoying your audience, but a question of how much time can you dedicate to this. The more content, the better. Of course, this is just my opinion. Whatever you decide to do, make your own experiments, look at the results, and assess what the next steps are. Your experiments should at least last 1 month if you want to have relevant data to make your decision.

4. Be regular

Whatever you decide in terms of timing your posts, being consistent is extremely important. Nothing disgruntles more than someone posting very actively, and then disappearing for a few weeks. Consistency is the key to not only better organize your work, but most importantly to grow and delight your fan base.

Type of content

1. Be Human

Nothing is less attractive than reading very formal, official statements on Facebook. It’s just boring. If you want your alumni to care, you need to show yourself. Use your own words, humour, and empathy to write content in a personal way. They need the chance to know who is behind the posts, get to know you, and appreciate what you do. Have you ever posted a picture of your alumni staff on Facebook? Why not???

2. Tell stories

Along the lines of the previous point, writing stories makes your post more personal. Whether it’s about you, the alumni association staff, or someone else, stories are easier to remember. Additionally, more often than not, your alumni can relate to it in a way or another. That’s an excellent way to connect with them on a personal level

3. Write creative descriptions

When your share some digital content on Facebook, always add a creative description. Don’t reuse the headline of the content you’re sharing. Try to come up with a witty comment, an interesting insight, or your personal opinion on it. This can make a huge difference.

4. Vary the type of content

Writing articles and sharing pictures is a good start. But there are lots of different media to convey your messages. Try to post videos, slide decks, time lapses, selfies, etc. An innovative medium is as important if not more important than its content.

You’re up next!

What experiences have you tried? Do you have any tips, tricks or recommendations on how to get many likes on an alumni Facebook Page? Let us know!