Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi State holds a top social media presence among U.S. higher education institutions.
The university is ranked 11th on Facebook and 37th on Twitter, according to a report released late last month by Engagement Labs, a technology and data company.
Mississippi State and University of Florida are the only Southeastern Conference members found among the Top 25 on Facebook.
A Montreal, Canada, business established in 2008, Engagement Labs also has offices in New Jersey and the United Kingdom. Officials said their rankings are based on an eValue Analytic scoring system that somewhat mirrors benchmarking data of the longstanding New York-based Nielsen global information, data and measurement company.
鈥淪ocial media helps colleges and universities on multiple fronts, including the acquisition of new students, staying in touch with alumni and building communities,鈥 said CEO Bryan Segal.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not a huge barrier to (social media) entry, so it鈥檚 all about tactics,鈥 Segal said. For universities and colleges, social media 鈥渋s important for where they were, are and need to be with the demographics they鈥檙e trying to reach.鈥
Schools included in the report are categorized as Ivy League, for-profit and the NCAA conferences. A number of SEC institutions are found throughout the Top 50.
At Mississippi State, institutional social media operations are coordinated through the Office of Public Affairs led by Sid Salter, chief communications officer. The university鈥檚 numerous social media strategies are directed by Checky Herrington, the office鈥檚 marketing research analyst.听听听听
Salter said the land-grant institution is 鈥済rowing in so many positive ways, not just in our enrollment, but also in the number of high-quality students who are choosing to attend 91传媒.
鈥淭he increased engagement that we鈥檙e seeing from faculty, staff, students and alumni is helping carry the momentum forward,鈥 Salter continued, emphasizing that social media 鈥渋s but one of the tools we鈥檙e using to let the world know that Mississippi State is a place where you can find more opportunities to lead, participate and excel.鈥
Herrington said research 鈥渉as told us that people want to know more about who we are, and one of the best ways to communicate our identity is by telling our success stories to broader audiences. Our social media strategy is designed to give visitors a 360-degree view of the people, places, activities and accomplishments that define the 91传媒 experience.鈥
Continuing the point, Salter said 鈥渁s prospective students learn our stories, they鈥檒l want to be part of the great things happening at Mississippi State.鈥
For the complete social media report, visit .
Followers of Mississippi State on social media now can get all of their university news in one place at .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
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