Managing your personal brand

Make social media work for you, not against you

Social Media at NIU
• Instagram: @northern_Illinois_university
• Student-run Instagram: @HuskiesofNIU

• Facebook: NorthernIllUniv

• Twitter: @NIUlive

• YouTube: NorthernIllUniv

• Giphy: NorthernIllinois
Social Media at NIU
• Admitted student and
Official NIU "Class
of" Facebook groups
• Keep up with events and
opportunities to get
involved
• Reminders of deadlines
and important milestones
throughout the year
• Resource if you have
questions
go.niu.edu/social
Social Media at NIU
• Team behind the content
– Social Media Strategist
• Creates content calendar
• Watches for trends/opportunities on social
• Responds to inquiries/complaints/complements on all channels
– Graduate Assistant
• Writes content
Components of a successful personal brand
• Have ONE digital identity
• Reputation = Integrity
• Network before you need to
• Be authentic, be yourself
• Be above average, stop complaining
 But it’s my personal account, who cares?

• 70% of employers use

social media to screen
candidates.
• 54% of employers have
found content on social
media that caused them
not to hire a candidate for
an open role.
But it’s my personal account, who cares?

• It’s not about censorship, it’s

about being authentic

• If you wouldn’t share that tweet

or photo with your
grandparents, your future
employer, or your little sister
think twice before sharing it
publicly.
To go private or public?

• Is it more important to
keep your account
private and share
stupid/offensive jokes?
• Or is it more important
to land your dream job?
To go private or public?
• “One third of employers who
research candidates on social
networking sites say they’ve
found content that made them
more likely to hire a
candidate…”
• “Nearly a quarter found content
that directly led to them
hiring the candidate.”
Reputation = Integrity

• “It takes 20 years to

build a reputation & five
minutes to ruin it. If you
think about that, you’ll
do things differently.”
– Warren Buffett
Network before you need to
• Fill out your LinkedIn
Profile 100%, no excuses

• 91% of companies use

LinkedIn to research
candidates

• “Surround yourself with

people who are smarter
than you.”
– Russel Simmons
 Mistakes

• The only people who don’t

make mistakes on social
media, aren’t on social media.

• It’s not about being perfect, it’s

about being true to yourself.
Be yourself, be authentic
• The ability to have separate
personalities & behaviors for
work life vs. private life no
longer exists

• Positive/negative choices
impact you, your reputation,
organization, company, co-
workers, family etc.
 Be above average—stop complaining

• We are creating a world where

the smartest way to survive is
to be bland.

• “If you don’t like something,

change it. If you can’t change
it, change your attitude. Don’t
complain.”
– Maya Angelou
Employ the 3 second rule

• If you have to think

about whether
something is
appropriate to post for
more than 3 seconds,
don’t post it!
Face-2-Face vs. digital communications
• 93% of communication is
non-verbal

• 88% of people believe

others are less polite on
social media

• Tone is misinterpreted 50%

of the time in digital
messages.
Be an influencer

• Confidence
• Education
• The willingness to try
new things
• Perfect
Your Role as an Orientation Leader

Huskie Spotlight
HuskiesofNIU
Featured on NIU’s home page

Tag your social posts:

Your Role as Orientation Leaders
• Join the Admitted Student Facebook groups
• The purpose of the groups is to continue the relationships
we’ve built with admitted students and to help them build
relationships with one another. It is our opportunity to help
admitted students feel confident in choosing NIU. The groups
are a great place to celebrate the students who share that they
have committed to NIU and to help the students who share
they’re still deciding to become Huskies.
Your Role as Orientation Leaders
• Join NIU Class of 2025 Admitted Students Facebook group
• Join Transfer2NIU2021 Admitted Students Facebook group
– Request to join by Monday 3/22/21

• Look around and see what the students are posting and sharing.
– This year, the groups opened on March 1, 2021 so the students
are mostly introducing themselves, their hometowns and their
majors.

• Create introductory posts, the week of 4/5/21

– Similar content to what you shared in your intro videos
– Include a photo or photos
Your Role as Orientation Leaders
• Weeks of 4/5 through to Week of Welcome
– Log into Facebook M-F and read through the posts from
admitted students
– Cheer them on when they say they are 100% committed to NIU
– Say hi if you have something in common with them (a major,
hometown, hobby, interest, lived in the res hall they’re planning
to live in etc.)
– Offer your perspective as a current student
– When you interact with the students, they may not
know/remember who you are. Feel free to include the fact that
you are a current student and an Orientation Leader in your
responses.
Your Role as Orientation Leaders
• Weeks of 4/5 through to Week of Welcome
– If you see a concerning post, take a screen shot and email it
to Taylor and Allison
– A concerning post might include comments or subject matter
that doesn’t fit within NIU’s mission, vision and values.
– Follow your instincts, when in doubt let us know if you have
a question, concern or an idea.
Examples of Interactions

• This is our chance to help them

decide!
• Offer to answer any questions or ask
them if there’s something they’re
wondering or need to know in order to
become a Huskie.
• Ask: What factors are you
considering as you weigh your
college decision?
• Offer up details about your own
experience.
Examples of Interactions

• Question about housing? Or

Any type of Question? If you
know the answer, feel free to
jump in and offer an answer!
• Again, feel free to share from
your own personal
experiences as a current
student at NIU.
Examples of Interactions

• They share they’re 100%

committed to NIU. WOOHOO!
We’re thrilled and we want
our future Huskie students to
know it!
• Feel free to add a gif to
properly show how happy we
are that they are here. If you
search for a gif use
@NorthernIllinois and our gifs
will show up on Facebook.
Examples of Interactions

• If they share anything that

you can tie back to NIU or
an org, feel free to comment
to let them know!
Examples:
• E-sports club
• NIU Dance team
• Music clubs or live
performances
• Anything you know about
NIU that you think they
would appreciate knowing,
feel free to share!
 Conclusion

• “You can’t build a

reputation on what
you’re going to do.”
– Henry Ford

• Keep in touch!
thayden@niu.edu
amaurer@niu.edu