snapchat: storytelling and connecting with students in real-time

Whitney Schepf The Stamp

Snapchat:Storytelling and

Connecting with Students in Real-Time

Dan HarfieldResident Life

Aaron GinozaUniversity Libraries

What is Snapchat? ● A mix between a social media outlet and a private messaging program

● An app that’s wildly popular among young ‘uns—including college-aged people

● An outlet that’s unlike those most of us have become used to (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

?

Filters

Who’s using Snapchat?● Mainly millennials.

● 57 million Americans have a Snapchat account

● 50% of users view Snapchat every single day

● 50% of “new users” are over 25 years old

Stats from AdWeek.

Stats from AdWeek.

46% 11% 10%

Why are colleges and universitiestaking Snapchat seriously?

77%of college students

are using Snapchat daily.

Why are colleges and universitiestaking Snapchat seriously?

Stats from Business Insider.

How did UMD Libraries,Stamp, and ResLife

get started with Snapchat?

Snapchat at ResLife

Snapshot of Snapchat

● Still in development/early stages

● Conversation between Communications Committee and Student & Community Development Office

Opportunities

● Create buzz for major events

● Connect with students

● Increase department exposure

Launching Snapchat (ResLife)

● Fall Welcome programming

● Filter for FreeFest

● Future involvement of Program Assistants & Resident Assistants

Snapchat at Stamp

● The name (handle)

● Pros & cons

● Potential content

● Student-generated content?

Snapchat at Stamp:where it’s going

● Cover live events

● Communicate with students during any...drama

● Continue tours of Stamp spaces

● Contests/scavenger hunts!

Snapchat at Stamp:the response so far

Snapchat at UMD Libraries

Launched Fall 2014 Interested in running a

scavenger hunt

Contacted U of Houston for best practices

Halloween Zombie Hunt (Fall ‘14)

3D printed zombies hidden in Hornbake & McKeldin

Clues released via story

iPad mini giveaway

100 new followers

DrogonTudo Challenge (Fall ‘15)

Game of Thrones-inspired photo scavenger hunt

Testudo → DrogonTudo

Terps → House Terpgaryen

Prizes: DrogonTudo 3D prints and Terpgaryen tshirts

Snapping the Dragon Turtle

15 DrogonTudos hidden around the libraries

70+ participants

Generated 360+ snaps

240 new followers

The White RabbitWanted to promote Alice

themed exhibit, Halloween party & costume contest

Decided we needed a mascot

White Rabbit led to an accidental Snapchat campaign

The White Rabbit

Walked around campus four days

Handed out candy & fliers for our Halloween events

Became a thing on Snapchat

The White RabbitFinding the White

Rabbit became a game

Pizza party if you follow us & snap

the White Rabbit

32 snaps submitted

60 new followers

#TechTuesdays

Library Tours

Events

#ColorTheTurtle Coloring ContestStudents screenshot &

colored vintage Testudos

Prize: VIP study room during finals week

25 student entries

Random winner selected

After a year and a half...

340+ story views (~750 followers)

A student worker helps manage account

Have come to view Snapchat (and Instagram) as main channels for connecting with undergrads

In closing...

● What have we all learned by venturing into the land of Snapchat?

● Things everyone should consider before diving in

● What would we like to explore in the future?

● Inspiration: who is already doing a killer job on Snapchat?

Inspo!UofMichigan

Inspo!Taco Bell

Inspo!Colonial Williamsburg

Inspo!Los Angeles County Musuem of Art

t

Q & A

Panel OutlineI) Intros

II) Groundwork/Snapchat Intro (Whitney)What is Snapchat?Who is on Snapchat?Why are universities/colleges taking it seriously?

III) How/why we all got startedWhitney/Aaron/Dan

IV) Resident Life (Launching Snapchat)Started with Filters

V) The Stamp (Launching/Managing Snapchat)

VI) UMD Libraries (Launching/Managing Snapchat)

VII) ClosingInsights to share/Recap what we’ve learned

Considerations for starting a SnapchatSome ideas we hope to explore in the futureWho we is doing a good job on Snapchat

“All three presenters will provide their own perspective on using Snapchat. From creating a strategy and getting started to effectively engaging with students, each speaker will walk the audience through Snapchat basics, tactics for campus engagement, and how to decide whether Snapchat is right for them.”

Panel summary