Hosting a YSU Instagram story takeover
Instagram Story Takeovers are a great opportunity for students to showcase their experience as a YSU Penguin.
As the Instagram Story Takeovers have grown over the years, so has their popularity. Given the high number of requests, availability is limited. As a result, we require students to submit an application to provide further information about themselves and what they hope to share during the takeover. This also ensures that the student generated content aligns with the university's social media strategy.
expecations for an instagram story take over:
- Story takeovers include details about a student's daily experience on campus
- Engaging posts include carefully crafted photos, videos, and captions that are both visually appealing and free of typos.
- A standard takeover commitment includes around 8-12 stories throughout the day.
- Take into consideration that the takeovers are a representation of the student the university as a whole. Any participants that are unsure of their content should reference the Social Media Guidelines prior to posting.
After reading through the expectations listed above, if you have any uncertaintly, please contact the Social Media Coordinator.
Content creation tips
Your takeover should showcase elements of your student life that most accurately depicts your experience as a YSU student, including classes; faculty interactions; residence halls; clubs; sports; study abroad; internships; or any other campus involvement.
Our Instagram channel is followed by not only your peers, but also prospective students and alumni who are interested in seeing what life is like at Youngstown State. Consider what you might have wanted to know about YSU before you arrived, and what you might want to know about campus life after you graduate.
Post visually interesting content. Here are some examples:
- While group shots are a great photo op, visuals of people in action are often more engaging
- What your see from where you are sitting or standing instead of a selfie.
- A short video or Boomerang instead of a still image.
Remember that some of the people viewing your posts have never been to campus, so images of campus, residence halls; dining halls; studios; the library; or other space help prospective students understand what life is like at YSU. Take the viewer on a tour of your dorm, classroom, dining experience, etc.
Promoting events & Student organizations:
If you are interested in taking over the Instagram account on behalf of an event, organization or program there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Posed group shots and/or still images will be limited to two photos. However, there is no limit to posting people in action at the event.
- Post content to tell your organization's story, sharing information and activities throughout the day helps people understand who you are and what you do.
- If you are posting for an event, examples of engaging content could include showcasing the planning leading up to and activities during the event.