As social media’s popularity in alumni relations grows, it brings new implications for Alumni Engagement professionals. TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram are among the platforms sparking conversations in our Alumni Attitude Study (AAS) survey research. Schools using these platforms to connect with graduates are eager to measure their effectiveness in growing philanthropic communities and facilitating gift conversions.
In today’s Higher Ed landscape, social media’s impact on advancement continues to evolve. Many alumni use these platforms to network and connect, prompting schools to try and capitalize on this trend by dedicating resources to content creation and curation. When an advancement team can consistently find ways to engage graduates on TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram enables alumni to stay more connected, instantly accessing information about events and opportunities to give back.
To maximize the benefits of social media engagement, institutions must measure their efforts effectively. Are they reaching the target audience? Are alumni engaging with the institution’s profiles? Surveying graduates about their preferences helps tailor content and target specific age groups.
Social media trends continue to evolve all the time. Once dominant in the social media space, Twitter has been renamed as X, and its follower base has drastically declined in 2022 and 2023.
The Alumni Attitude Study is a valuable resource for Higher Ed, dedicating more attention to a strong social media presence need to engage alumni and donors. These channels serve as outlets to publish articles, share findings, and disseminate data related to effective alumni programs.
We find that most organizations can keep up with these important trends by conducting an alumni survey every 3-4 years.
Stay connected with the Alumni Attitude Study on LinkedIn.
Harness the power of social media to strengthen alumni connections and foster support for alma maters.