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Social Media Guidelines

 

  • At least TWO people from your unit should have access and understanding of how to manage the account(s).
  • The account name on your pages should be clearly titled to identify the Virginia Tech AREC unit.
  • All social media pages that represent Virginia Tech must comply with Title II ADA digital accessibility requirements. An accessible presence not only supports compliance but also makes your content more usable and welcoming for all audiences.
  • Add the VAES non-discrimination statement to the “About” sections of your accounts.
  • Using Meta Business Suite allows you to share and schedule posts for both Facebook and Instagram at once.
  • Aim for a few (3-5) posts of quality content weekly to engage and grow your audience.
  • Follow and tag partners in your posts to increase engagement/awareness.
  • Respond to post comments and messages in a timely manner.
  • Link all social media channels to your unit website.

 
  • Include relevant photos, videos, or graphics in your posts.
  • Be mindful of non-Virginia Tech individuals in photos and videos. See Media Release Form and Information for guidelines.
  • If animals are in your images, please refer to Best Practices for Sharing Animal Images.
  • Crop, straighten, or make other light edits to photos as needed before posting. 
  • If you choose to post several photos, plan your first five BEST high-quality images to engage your audience.
  • Avoid uploading full PDF flyers — use simplified graphics or photos.
  • Use appropriately sized images/graphics.
  • Ensure good color contrast for maximum legibility: light text on dark background or vice versa.
  • Add alt text describing the image (including any text shown in the image).
  • Any video that includes audio must also include captions. Most social media platforms offer auto-generated captions, but these should always be reviewed for spelling and accuracy.

 

  • Use text sparingly in graphics. Include additional details (who, what, when, where, and why) in the body/text of the post whenever possible.
  • 😀Add emojis (beginning/end of paragraph only; avoid mid-sentence), and avoid excessive use of decorative characters or long strings of emojis that may be distracting or confusing.
  • Include a call to action (e.g., register, join us, learn more).

 

  • Include clickable links: Facebook (caption or ticket field), Instagram ('link in bio' or Story link sticker), or use the link emoji 🔗.
  • Need to shorten a long link? Use the Bitly link shortener or Tiny URL link shortener
  • Do not use QR codes on social media posts. QR codes should be used on printed material or on presentation slides when applicable.
  • Check that the text size is large enough and easy to read on a mobile device.
  • Use camel case for hashtags (e.g., #CoverCropFieldDay).

Additional Resources:

Need more resources or assistance? Please contact:

Hayley Conrad: hconrad2@vt.edu or Suzanne Pruitt suzannemp@vt.edu