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Social media is a powerful tool for engaging with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the broader community. It allows us to share stories, celebrate achievements, and create meaningful connections that reflect the mission and values of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. A strong and consistent social media presence helps strengthen our brand, attract new students, and keep our community informed.
Note: The Office of Marketing and Communications (MarCom) oversees IECC's official social media presence, providing guidance and best practices to ensure our content is engaging, accurate, and aligned with our brand. MarCom manages the official social media platforms for each campus. The Social Media Users Group, a Teams group managed by Marketing, connects those responsible for other college-related social media accounts to share resources, updates, and support.
Each social media platform has unique characteristics, audiences, and best practices. Understanding these differences helps us tailor content appropriately while maintaining a consistent brand voice across channels.
Primary Audience: Alumni, community members, parents, and adult students
Content Focus:
Posting Frequency: 3-5 times per week
Primary Audience: Current and prospective students, younger alumni
Content Focus:
Posting Frequency: 2-4 times per week, plus Stories as appropriate
Primary Audience: Current students, faculty, staff, community stakeholders
Content Focus:
Posting Frequency: 3-7 times per week
Primary Audience: Alumni, business partners, professionals, adult learners
Content Focus:
Posting Frequency: 2-3 times per week
Emerging Platforms: As social media evolves, new platforms may become relevant to our audience. Before establishing a presence on emerging platforms, contact MarCom to discuss strategy, audience, and resource requirements.
Effective social media requires thoughtful planning and a strategic approach to content. By focusing on these key content types, we can create an engaging and balanced social media presence that achieves our communication goals.
Highlight success stories, achievements, and personal journeys of current students and recent graduates.
Share photos and videos of activities, events, and day-to-day campus experiences that showcase student engagement.
Feature innovative programs, faculty achievements, and hands-on learning opportunities that demonstrate educational quality.
Promote upcoming events, deadlines, and important announcements to keep our community informed and engaged.
Offer glimpses into the workings of the college, from facility improvements to preparation for special events.
Showcase collaborations with local businesses, organizations, and community initiatives that extend our impact.
Strategic planning ensures a consistent flow of high-quality content while allowing flexibility for timely updates and engagement.
Develop a monthly content calendar that includes recurring features, planned events, and key deadlines while leaving room for timely additions.
Use scheduling tools to plan posts in advance, ensuring regular activity even during busy periods or holidays.
Establish a process for gathering content from across campus, including a system for submissions from departments and organizations.
Develop timeless content that can be shared throughout the year, such as campus beauty shots, study tips, or historical facts.
Post Type: Student Spotlight
Sample Caption: "From classroom to career! Congratulations to Nursing program graduate Sarah Johnson, who recently accepted a position at Regional Hospital. Sarah's hard work in our skills lab and clinical rotations prepared her for this exciting next step. #IECCSuccess #NursingExcellence"
Elements: Photo of student in professional setting, personal achievement, program connection, relevant hashtags
Post Type: Announcement
Sample Caption: "📣 Calling all future students! Join us for our Spring Open House on April 15 from 1-4pm at the Student Center. Meet faculty, tour campus, and learn about financial aid opportunities. Registration link in bio. #FutureFalcons #OpenHouse"
Elements: Eye-catching graphic, clear date/time/location, call to action, registration information
Effective social media management requires attention to detail, consistent quality, and strategic engagement. Following these best practices will help ensure IECC's social media presence reflects our brand standards while fostering meaningful connections with our audience.
Social media is about building relationships. Share real student experiences, behind-the-scenes moments, and stories that connect with your audience in a genuine way.
Posts with clear, engaging images or videos perform better and capture attention. Ensure photos are well-lit, properly framed, and showcase the subject effectively.
Timely interaction shows responsiveness and builds trust within the community. Aim to respond to comments and direct messages within 24 hours during the business week.
Errors in spelling, grammar, or facts can damage credibility. Always check content for accuracy before posting, and verify all details such as dates, times, and locations.
Never post private student information or content that violates FERPA regulations. Ensure all individuals in photos have given appropriate permission.
Maintain a positive, constructive tone even when responding to criticism. Take controversial or sensitive discussions to private channels when appropriate.
The way we write for social media should reflect our brand voice while adapting to the casual, conversational nature of social platforms.
Keep posts brief and focused, particularly on platforms with character limits. Get to the point quickly and use short paragraphs for readability.
Write in an active voice to create more engaging, direct content. For example, "Students showcased their projects" instead of "Projects were showcased by students."
Encourage engagement by including clear calls to action, such as "Register now," "Learn more," or "Share your experience in the comments."
Include relevant hashtags to increase discoverability, but avoid overuse. Develop and consistently use branded hashtags for campaigns and recurring content.
Using the correct image sizes for each social media platform ensures your content displays properly and makes a professional impression. This guide provides current specifications for the most common image types across platforms.
Important: Social media platforms occasionally update their image size requirements. For the most current specifications, consult the platform's official guidelines or contact MarCom for assistance.
| Image Type | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 170 x 170 | 1:1 | Displays at 170x170 on computers, 128x128 on smartphones |
| Cover Photo | 820 x 312 | 2.63:1 | Minimum 400 pixels wide, loads fastest at 851x315 |
| Shared Image | 1200 x 630 | 1.91:1 | Appears in feed at 470px wide |
| Event Cover | 1200 x 628 | 1.91:1 | Shows in feed and on event page |
| Image Type | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 320 x 320 | 1:1 | Displays at 110px on mobile |
| Feed Post | 1080 x 1080 | 1:1 (Square) | Can also use 1080x1350 (4:5 portrait) or 1080x566 (1.91:1 landscape) |
| Instagram Stories | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical format |
| IGTV Cover | 420 x 654 | 1:1.55 | Ensure key elements are centered |
| Image Type | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 400 x 400 | 1:1 | Displays as circle, so center important elements |
| Header Image | 1500 x 500 | 3:1 | Maximum file size 2MB |
| In-stream Image | 1200 x 675 | 16:9 | Minimum width 600px |
| Image Type | Dimensions (px) | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 400 x 400 | 1:1 | Minimum 200x200, displays as circle |
| Cover Image | 1584 x 396 | 4:1 | Minimum width 1192px |
| Shared Image | 1200 x 627 | 1.91:1 | Displays in feed and on page |
| Company Page Banner | 1128 x 191 | 5.9:1 | Scales to fit |
Creating and managing a social media account takes strategy, consistency, and ongoing maintenance. To help ensure success, consider these key areas when planning or managing an IECC-affiliated account.
Before launching a new social media presence, define its purpose. Ask:
Successful accounts require a steady stream of engaging content. Develop a plan that includes:
Regularly assessing an account's impact helps improve content strategy. Track:
Need Help? The Office of Marketing and Communications is here to support all social media administrators with best practices, troubleshooting, and content guidance. If you have questions or need assistance, reach out to MarCom or connect with the Social Media Users Group for collaboration and advice.
Administrators of IECC-affiliated social media accounts must understand their responsibilities in representing the institution online. Following these guidelines ensures our social media presence remains professional, engaging, and aligned with institutional values.
During a campus crisis or emergency:
By following these guidelines, we ensure that IECC's social media presence remains professional, engaging, and aligned with our institutional mission. When in doubt about appropriate content or responses, reach out to the Office of Marketing and Communications for guidance.
Social Media Overview
IECC's social media should showcase the best of our colleges while maintaining professionalism and credibility. Our presence across platforms helps us connect with different audiences, share timely updates, and engage with our community in meaningful ways.
Why Social Media Matters
Social media allows us to meet students where they are, providing timely updates, answering questions, and fostering a sense of belonging and community.
Consistent and engaging content across platforms reinforces our brand identity and increases visibility among prospective students and stakeholders.
Social platforms create opportunities to highlight community partnerships, showcase alumni success, and demonstrate our impact in the region.
When urgent information needs to be shared, social media provides immediate channels to reach our community with important updates and resources.
Managing Social Media at IECC
The management of IECC's social media presence is a collaborative effort, with MarCom providing oversight and guidance to ensure consistency and quality across all platforms.
The Office of Marketing and Communications maintains the primary social media accounts for IECC and its colleges, ensuring brand consistency and strategic messaging.
Academic departments, programs, or campus organizations may maintain additional accounts with approval from MarCom to highlight specific areas or initiatives.
New social media accounts representing IECC or its colleges must be approved by MarCom before creation to ensure strategic alignment and prevent fragmentation.
The Social Media Users Group provides ongoing support, training, and resources to help social media administrators effectively manage their accounts.