A couple of weeks ago a reader asked for a few tips on how to recruit student bloggers without a budget.
Although I’m not sure the no-budget approach is the best, I understand that it is sometimes the only one to get things started. I guess the lack of compensation for student bloggers could even be justified by an institution’s yearning for transparency and authenticity — paid bloggers being theoretically less truthful or candid.
So, how can you get your students to blog about your institution just for fame?
Here are my top 5 suggestions:
Ask your communication, PR or journalism academic department(s) for help to identify potential candidates
I guess it depends on the type of majors offered at your institution. But, if you have communication, PR or journalism programs, the pool of willing students will be bigger. Some students might be interested in the opportunity to blog for your institution – seeing it as a good experience and an extra project to add to their portfolios. So, why not approach the department chairs to see if they could suggest a few names?
Check out your student newspaper to find suitable candidates
Again, it will probably depends on the type of student paper your institution is blessed with. But, students writing for the newspaper might be interested in the extra exposure (especially if your blogs are featured on the homepage of your website). Once you’ve identified possible candidates, contact them. In this case, the transparency – authenticity card will help you backup the lack of compensation for this assignment (I know I sound a bit cynical on this one).
Do your homework to find out if your next student blogger isn’t already blogging on its own.
Search technorati, as well as facebook and myspace for your institution name + blog. With a bit of luck – and depending on the size of your institution – you might find some talented bloggers who are already writing about their college life. If you find a good match, offer the student to cross-post on your admission-sponsored blog. When Cornell University launched its blogging initiative earlier this Fall, a student blogger expressed a lot of interest in the program and was really upset when his application was turned down.
Make it part of the job description of some student employees or interns working in communication or admission
You might not have a dedicated budget to pay student bloggers, but you could try to kill two birds with one stone and have your student employees or interns blog for your institution. That’s just what Beloit College does with its Student Outreach Interns. These students were already working for the admission office answering instant messages and email. Blogging was a natural fit. It was added to the SOI job description after students suggested it.
Launch a contest to find your next institutional blogging idols (another of Karine’s crazy ideas)
Everybody – students included – is interested in getting its semester of fame. By publicizing your search for a handful (or fewer) bloggers via a contest open to students, you might be able to generate interest around your admission-sponsored blogging initiative. Make blogging for your university something difficult to get with a tough selection process. If there are only let’s say 2 or 3 spots, more students might want to be among the chosen few. And, why not blog this selection process? You would get extra point for transparency, authenticity and even a chance to mobilize your campus community around your upcoming blogging initiative.
Any other suggestions? Were you successful trying something different at your institution? Please share with everybody by posting a comment below!