USAO’s Instagram account (@usaodrovers) tells the university’s story. Content should build community among current students and provide prospective students an authentic experience of the life of a Drover while informing students at the same time. Content for Takeover Tuesdays should be diverse and interactive and overall show the student’s passion for the University.
What is a Takeover
Takeovers are centered around “A Day in the Life of” a student. Takeovers should be centered around the most interesting parts of your day while remaining authentic. Examples include discussing morning routine and lunch plans, while also filming things like pre-practice routines and post-practice rituals (for athletes), or the process of deciding which art pieces to display to the public (artists). While these are just examples, overall takeovers should set a scene. Where are you? Who are the characters? Why are you telling this story? How does it tie into the greater USAO narrative? How does it end? Make sure to film in multiple locations throughout the day. Remember InstaStory’s are linear and you can’t insert clips into a separate published story, so prepare ahead. Outline your day out and figure out which parts you would like to film. If things go wrong or not as planned, improvise, the process may be a give and take thing. You can get creative when filming to display your story in the most fun and authentic way.
Instagram Takeover – General Outline
Introduction
- The Monday before your takeover, post an intro photo on the main Instagram feed.
- In the narrative, be sure to introduce yourself (name, hometown, class, major) and let the viewers know to follow the stories on Tuesday when you takeover the university’s Instagram.
- On Tuesday, begin with a welcome and another introduction of yourself.
- Orient the viewer on the day: “Today is Tuesday, Feb. 25, and it’s a beautiful day here in Chickasha, Oklahoma…
- Tell the audience what they’re going to see:
- Briefly explain what is a takeover
- What are some of the things you’ll do today
- Solicit questions – include the question box and invite people to ask you questions that you will answer throughout the day. Make sure you include the question with your answer.
General Content
These are purely suggestions. Be creative. The viewers are interested in what YOUR life at USAO is like, so be authentic!
- Take us through your typical day
- Are you involved in any organizations, clubs, committees, etc.?
- Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
- Where do you hang out/study between classes?
- Do you ever attend events on campus?
- Do you venture into Chickasha?
- What’s your favorite part of USAO?
- What’s your favorite class right now and why?
- What advice would you give to seniors in high school who are considering USAO?
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
- Who’s your favorite professor at the moment and why?
- What’s your favorite place on campus? Go there!
- What’s it like living on campus? Off campus?
- Favorite club you are a part of?
- Feel free to include class (as long as it’s ok with the professor)
- Talk about (or show) labs, research, internships, jobs, etc.
Takeover Do’s
- Be nice and courteous: Please take into consideration other’s opinions and thoughts when dealing with the public and other USAO students. Represent the university and its students, faculty, staff and larger community in a positive light.
- Ask permission: When featuring specific individuals, get their verbal consent before recording them. If the situation demands recording them first then ask for consent after. When in a public place or not focusing on a specific person or group of people, you don’t need to get consent. When in doubt, ask permission.
- Have fun: If you aren’t having fun the camera can tell! Show your best side when recording, and it will reflect in the film created.
- Plan ahead of time/ Plan for mistakes: Plan, plan, plan! When dealing with others plan out interactions ahead of time whether a storyboard, outline, arrange interviews, etc. When there are mistakes in footage kindly ask for a re-do, and always take the second party’s time allotted seriously.
- Shoot vertically! 94 percent of smartphone users view social media vertically.
- Share USAO’s Instagram handle when you’re out: Help build an audience, and follow proper branding for the University.
- You must follow all copyright and hosting/posting laws/regulations.
- Note that we might post our daily updates
- We will coordinate with you to make sure they don’t overlap or make the takeover messy.
Takeover Don’ts
- No alcohol, drugs, profanity, nudity, harassment, political campaigning, or degradation in posts.
- When in doubt, don’t. If uncertain about the content created don’t post. It is better to be safe than sorry.
- Don’t change any account settings. USAO has settings set a certain way for a reason, and only administrators have the okay to change them. Do not follow accounts, do not add friends and don’t send individual snaps/stories. DO NOT GO “LIVE”. Post only to the university’s “My story.”
- Don’t be disappointed or upset if an administrator deletes a post. Administrators are here to help, and sometimes you may not be aware of why exactly a post needs to be deleted. In addition to this do not be afraid to ask an administrator for help.