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Social Media Guide
SAE SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE This guide is intended to be used by the Eminent Correspondent and Social Media Chair. It should also be shared with all chapter members. It breaks down what is acceptable and not acceptable to post on social media accounts, caption inspirations, brand guidelines, analytics and impressions, and more. This guide can be utilized across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.
TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROPRIATE POSTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING GUIDELINES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 CRAFTING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 POSTING & MANAGING YOUR FEED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
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APPROPRIATE POSTING DOS & DON’TS DO ● Be knowledgeable about SAE’s Internet Posting Resolution and review it each semester with your chapter. ● Have an active and complete social media profile. ● Interact with your audience and networks appropriately. ● Use the right content on the right platforms. ● Be visually appealing. ● Professionally represent your brand. ● Separate your business (SAE) and personal accounts.
DON’T ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Don’t post drugs, alcohol, or violence. Do not put down other organizations or individuals. Don’t post gang signs. Be culturally aware of what you are posting. Don’t post anything aggressive or hostile. Don’t use poor grammar and spelling. Avoid any offensive content. Don’t rely on privacy settings - whatever you put on the Internet is always there.
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SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING GUIDELINES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE DOS & DON’TS DO ● Feature moments that reflect emotional intelligence and character. ○ Post about philanthropy, academic achievements, community service, leadership development, and campus involvement. ○ Share photos of brothers volunteering, mentoring younger students, or attending professional events. Make sure the photos are high quality and reflect a professional image. ○ Highlight specific brothers and partnerships that promote the fraternity’s values. Examples include: campus leaders, award recipients, individuals excelling in school and professional life as well as philanthropy partnerships. ● Promote the core values of SAE. ○ Consider a post or story series about what the fraternity actually stands for: tradition, leadership, service, and what it's doing to live up to those ideals. ○ Use respectful language, avoid drama, and remain professional in tone — even in comments or replies. ○ Consider: "Would I want this shown in a news segment or in a job interview?" ○ Your online posts, both on SAE branded social media channels and your personal, reflect you and the chapter-- building a public narrative about SAE and you. ● Your appearance in photos and videos should reflect the professional values and traditions of the fraternity. ○ Being casual is perfectly fine, but even in relaxed settings, members should aim to look neat, confident, and put-together. Make sure clothing is clean and appropriate, hair is groomed, and the overall presentation reflects pride in membership. ○ Highlight moments of professional dress, community involvement, and networking to reinforce the fraternity’s standard of the true gentleman. ○ When representing the fraternity by wearing SAE letters, remember you’re serving as an ambassador for the organization. Clothing should be clean, well-fitted, and appropriate for the setting. Avoid pairing letters with attire or accessories that could appear sloppy, offensive, or inconsistent with the values of a True Gentleman.
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SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING GUIDELINES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE DOS & DON’TS DON’T ● Don’t post or joke about anything related to hazing, drinking, or partying. ○ Even if it’s sarcastic or “just for laughs,” this reinforces the worst stereotypes. ○ Steer clear of sexist, racist, or ableist jokes, slurs, or inside jokes, even if they seem harmless among friends on public accounts. ○ It’s ok to share special moments and photos, but consider how certain images may be taken out of context before posting. ○ Follow the rule that, when in doubt, do not share. ● Refrain from discussing or arguing with anti-Greek Life individuals who bring up SAE controversies or scandals (e.g., hazing allegations). ○ We can’t deny wrongdoings from members who failed to live up to our values, but it's important to put a new foot forward and focus on the future of SAE. Change public opinion by leading by example.
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CRAFTING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS SAE BRAND ELEMENTS, GUIDELINES, & RESOURCES SAE BRAND GUIDELINES Access information and guidelines on how SAE’s logos, colors, and fonts should be used.
BRAND GUIDELINES UPDATED 2024
SAE BRAND ELEMENTS Access SAE’s logo variations, fonts, brand release video, and the Coat-of-Arms.
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CRAFTING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS SAE BRAND ELEMENTS, GUIDELINES, & RESOURCES GRAPHIC TEMPLATES Click on the images below to access SAE-branded graphic templates.
BUILDING YOUR IMAGE The best way to share your content is by taking and sharing great photos. But, many times, it can be helpful to add text or graphic elements to enhance your image. Adobe Express ● This software is a user-friendly way to build images for your social media needs and beyond (think recruitment posters, TG cards, etc.). ● Adobe Express offers a free subscription, but as students, you can also use their premium plan free for 6 months. ● Join our brand by clicking on the image below!
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POSTING & MANAGING YOUR FEED TIPS, TRICKS, & RESOURCES CAPTION INSPIRATION Bid Day Captions ● “Smile, boys. It’s Bid Day.” ● “Bid Day is the best day.” ● “It’s a good day to be an SAE.” ● “Bleeding Purple and Gold.” ● “Welcome home, gentlemen.” ● “The real ones showed up today.”
Brotherhood Captions ● “True Gentlemen” ● “Brothers for life” ● “Let the good times roll.” ● “Fraternity life is the one for me.”
Rush/Recruitment Captions ● “Rush season is upon us.” ● “SAE is the place to be.” ● “Rush the fraternity, not the shirt.”
CHAPTER PAGE BRANDING
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● Post 2-3 times a week ● Tag our national accounts in your posts: ○ Instagram: @sigmaalphaepsilon ○ X: @sae1856 ○ Facebook: @saefraternity ○ LinkedIn: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity ● “Social Media Ambassadors” ○ Choose a few brothers to post specific things about your chapter on their social media as a recruitment tool. ● Account Bio: ○ Include your university and chapter designation ○ SAE hashtags (use on your posts too) ● Instagram Highlights: ○ “Rush SAE/Recruitment” (rush videos, rush events, flyers) ○ “Friendship/Brotherhood” (brotherhood events, spotlights, big/little) ○ “Leadership” (introducing your exec board, other leadership roles your members are involved in on campus) ○ “Service” (community service events, helping others, philanthropy events) ○ “TG Tuesdays” (choose a “brother of the week” and post about him on Tuesday: pictures of who was chosen, a bio about them, why they were picked) ○ “Wallpapers” (cool SAE designs that brothers can use for their phones/laptops) SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON
POSTING & MANAGING YOUR FEED TIPS, TRICKS, & RESOURCES
CONTENT FOR CHAPTER & PERSONAL PAGES 1. Philanthropy Events 2. Service Events 3. Brotherhood Events 4. Traveling together/Studying Abroad/Vacations 5. Pictures with SAE flags #FlagFriday 6. Socials/Date Parties/Mixers 7. Campus Involvement 8. Spring Break/Summer Break 9. Movember Participation (grown-out mustaches) 10. Brother Spotlights/Meet the Brothers 11. Alumni 12. Executive Board 13. Initiation/New Members 14. Member Spotlights: Personal Accomplishments/Achievements (awards, newly elected positions, Dean’s list, etc.) 15. Greek Unity (collaboration work you’ve done with other fraternities, sororities, or campus organizations)
INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS ● Your account must be a business account. ● Learn more about social media analytics here.
PERSONAL PAGE BRANDING ● ● ● ● ● ●
Put “SAE” somewhere in your bio. Throw your chapter’s Instagram handle in your bio. Post any SAE event participation to your feed. Make sure all of your content is professional/appropriate. Include in your bio if you’re an officer or hold a position. Make sure you are following our national accounts and your own chapter’s account: ○ Instagram: @sigmaalphaepsilon ○ X: @sae1856 ○ Facebook: @saefraternity ○ LinkedIn: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity ● Throw an SAE hashtag in your SAE-related posts. ● Tag your chapter or Fraternity Service Center Account in your SAErelated posts.
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POSTING & MANAGING YOUR FEED TIPS, TRICKS, & RESOURCES STORIES, REELS, & FEED ● Make an “SAE” highlight to throw in all of your pictures/videos/memories ● Story: Reminders of upcoming events that don’t need to take up space on the feed - Philanthropy event flyers, reposting of brother’s posts, quick and easy things to get the word out there - also a great way to build a highlight. ● Reel: Compilation of videos for that “Tik Tok” feel - a recap of events with trendy sounds, recruitment video to promote brotherhood, Q&A’s with chapter brothers. ● Feed: Great things your chapter is doing that you feel the need to highlight - all events and fundraising initiatives should be posted here - hype up your chapter and use your feed to set yourselves apart from other fraternities. ● *YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA IS YOUR 24/7 365-DAY RECRUITMENT TOOL*
TOOLS FOR POSTING ● Later: Schedules your posts for you; worth using because it holds you accountable for ensuring content is being pushed out. ● CapCut: Free app; used to put Reels together. ● Adobe Express: Free or paid version; create event flyers, graphics, and more. Students get a 6 month subscription to their paid version for free. ● PhotoCircle: Create a folder for your chapter brothers to submit appropriate content to feature them on your socials.
UTILIZING A CONTENT CALENDAR
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● Know what you will post and cater to your “PNMs.” ● Schedule posts based on the content calendar so it is already on your radar. ● Have a content bank of ideas so that you’re constantly on top of your recruitment posts - social media is a recruitment tool 24/7, 365. ● Post a certain amount of times a week. ● Content ideas: ○ “Why did you join SAE” video compilation. ○ Best places around campus “guidebook” - to study, play basketball, eat, etc. ○ Philanthropy and service. ○ Leadership roles - Executive board. ○ Stop promoting only the parties; focus on the other great aspects. ○ Reels: Include chapter INFO.
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