WHAT IS INSTAGRAM REELS? Similar to TikTok, Instagram Reels allows users to create short form videos and share these videos with friends, followers, and folks browsing on the app. These videos can last up to 15 seconds and allow video creators to add filters, music, and effects to the videos. TikTok’s looming ban in the U.S. has Instagram parent company, Facebook, racing to be the preferred, alternative short-video platform for content creators leaving TikTok.
Why you should care: More schools are on Instagram than on TikTok. Instead of schools having to build brand awareness and followers on a new platform, they can now access the same easy-to-use video creation technology on Instagram Reels where a stronger follower base of current and prospective students may already exist.
WHAT IS SOCIAL PROOFING IN MARKETING? Social proofing or social validation is “any form of third-party endorsement that encourages a buyer to make a purchase.” Social proofing can be used to eliminate prospective students’ concerns about a school or program, and make that school or program more desirable through positive current student stories and testimonials.
Why you should care: A great example of social proofing is West Virginia University’s display of social media posts with school-branded hashtags on their website. Student testimonials, virtual student Q&A panels, and alumni spotlights, and even industry-related trust tokens (like certifications and accreditations) can help boost your social proof as one part of your marketing game plan.
QUICK TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR BLOG POST READ TIME: In a world of short attention spans, writing and formatting tweaks can significantly increase blog and article read time. Try writing with the inverted pyramid approach; start your blog with answers to the who, what, where, and why questions, then, fill in the rest of your blog with supporting evidence and secondary content. Structure each subsection of your post with a problem, solution, and a tactical tip. To capture the attention of blog skimmers, incorporate images, lists, block quotes, and videos throughout your post. Varied visual content (instead of large chunks of text or paragraphs) can help capture the attention of readers.
Why you should care: On average, people only read blog articles for 15 seconds or less. That means prospective students are likely skimming over the content you worked hard to create and are missing out on helpful and valuable information that could sway their decision process. Try any one of these 12 tips to improve blog writing and formatting to increase blog read time and in turn, improve your blog’s SEO ranking (longer page read times signal to Google that your content is high-quality).
You spend your life connecting people to their educational future—now, there’s an education community built for you, designed to give you the ideas, answers, and support you need to serve your school and your prospects better.