In the wake of the ransomware attacks on the district, Souderton’s clubs are beginning to capitalize on social media to communicate with their members without access to Schoology or district email.
Though the social media presence of Souderton’s clubs had steadily grown since before the attacks, ransomware has changed the way clubs interact with members.
According to FBLA marketing officer Grace Murray, the ransomware attack made her club need to find an alternative way to communicate with members.
“Since FBLA wasn’t active on Instagram in the past, we usually communicated through email,” Murray said.
Specifically for FBLA, the fact that the club wasn’t active in the past increased the effects of the ransomware.
“Getting the word out about the Instagram and showing that we’re active now was more difficult,” Murray said. “But it was also beneficial, because while people can’t access the internet or Schoology, they’re still able to access Instagram.”
Clubs often appoint officer positions devoted to the management of their social media presence. FBLA, SAVE, the choir and The Arrowhead are just a few.
The posts themselves, while benefiting from a common color scheme and theme, can require some level of skill in graphic design, Murray said, for which she looks to other clubs for inspiration.
For Greenhouse Growers social media manager Caroline Kelly, “staying on top” of posting every meeting is the main challenge to her position.
“Definitely time management… sometimes gets pushed to the back of your mind,” Kelly said.
According to Kelly, having another social media manager in the club helps with this challenge.
“Sometimes we combine and collaborate, but mostly we do our own thing and then meet over what to post,” Kelly said. “For example, when they were building the greenhouse we would each run by and get pictures as we could.”
Posts can consist of many things, normally revolving around relevant reminders and information for students.
According to choir Instagram manager Anna Roman, the account normally focuses on reminders, but also serves as a way for parents to see what their student is doing with the group.
“At the Phillies game, a lot of parents didn’t go, but they still got to see us singing on Instagram,” Roman said.
According to Murray and Roman, they both look to accounts like @WhatsUpSoudy and @soudy_stuco as examples for what to post.
@soudy_stuco manager Emily Pivnichny was flattered to be seen as an example of a club using social media.
“It’s so nice that all the school can come together even though the technology is all down,” Pivnichny said, “and use this platform instead of Schoology.”
Accounts like these can have thousands of followers and contribute many thousands more media impressions over the course of a school year.
“During hoco season, we gained 700 followers,” Pivnichny said. The account now has 1,000 followers.
According to Kelly, the Greenhouse Growers Instagram has presented a platform to showcase the group’s efforts to donators.
“Instagram is more of a platform to share where their money and donations are going to,” Kelly said.
Murray also uses the platform to showcase FBLA’s presence at community events.
“We are going to post pictures from when we volunteer different places,” Murray said.
The business side of managing social media accounts does not take a front seat, Pivnichny said, but maintaining professional relationships is made “easier” by Instagram.
“Next year, when we have THON, we need so many sponsors,” Pivnichny said, “and this will really help with that.”
According to Pivnichny, regarding managing the Student Council Instagram, she tries to take a familial approach when interacting with followers.
“I think when people feel like they’re a part of the page that makes them feel more welcome,” Pivnichny said.