Office of Public Relations
Social Media Guidelines
The Office of Public RelationsÌýunderstands the importance of digital communications via social media, and we encourage any departments interested inÌýutilizingÌýthis tool toÌýcreate andÌýmaintainÌýsocial media accounts to communicate with students,ÌýalumniÌýand stakeholders. All social media accountsÌýrepresentingÌýofficial ÐÔÊӽ紫ý offices, departments or clubs areÌýsubject to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s brand standards and policies.ÌýPlease familiarize yourself with these social media guidelines to helpÌýyou create content thatÌýmaintainsÌýa strong and consistent brand across departments and platforms.
The Office of Public RelationsÌýmonitorsÌýallÌýuniversityÌýsocial media accounts and may issue notices to removeÌýcontentÌýnot compliant with ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s brand.
Below you will find instructions for creating accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X/TwitterÌýand LinkedIn. If you wish to create an account on a platform not listed, please contact the Office of Public Relations at lupublicrelations@langston.edu for guidance. Please note thatÌýin accordance withÌýstateÌý, universityÌýoffices and departments are notÌýpermittedÌýto createÌýorÌýmaintainÌýTikTok accounts.Ìý
Step 1: Create a service accountÌý
The first step to creating any university social media page is to ensure you have access to a service email account for your department that is not tied to any individual employee. Users are not permitted to use personal emails (such Gmail accounts) or emails assigned to individual employees (ex. john.smith@langston.edu)Ìýto createÌýsocial mediaÌýaccountsÌýrepresentingÌýÐÔÊӽ紫ý.ÌýServices accounts must be used to sustain continuity of accounts.Ìý
If your department does not have a service account, please contactÌýITSÌýto inquire about setting one up.ÌýÌýÌý
Step 2: Choose your platformÌý
Facebook/InstagramÌý
To create new accounts with Meta, it is easiest to start with an Instagram account.Ìý
- Go toÌýÌý(app or browser) andÌýselect “Create New Accountâ€�Ìý
- Create a usernameÌýand clickÌý“Nextâ€�Ìý
- If you are logged in on other accounts, it will ask you to use that Accounts Center to create the page.ÌýDO NOTÌýdo this. Select “Use mobile number or email”Ìý
- Create a passwordÌý
- EnterÌýa date in the “Birthdayâ€� space. If you cannot think of a date, use March 12, 1997Ìý(centennial anniversary of Dear Langston)Ìý
- Next,Ìýit will ask you toÌýsign up with a phone number.ÌýDO NOTÌýdo this. Instead,Ìýchoose “Sign up with email” and enterÌýyour department’sÌýservice account email.Ìý
- It will send an email to verify the account. Follow theÌýinstructionsÌýwithin the emailÌýto verify the account.Ìý
- Once your Instagram account is set up, follow these directions to create aÌýÌý
X/TwitterÌý
- Go toÌýÌýand select “Create Accountâ€�Ìý
- Create a usernameÌý
- When it asks to input your phone number, select “Use email insteadâ€�Ìý
- Enter your department’s service account emailÌý
- Enter a date in the “Birthdayâ€� space. If you cannot think of a date, use March 12, 1997 (centennial anniversary of Dear Langston)Ìý
- Click “Nextâ€�Ìý
- It will send an email to verify the account. Follow theÌýinstructionsÌýwithin the emailÌýto verify the account.Ìý
LinkedInÌý
- Go to theÌýÌý
- Enter your department’s service account email and create a password, then click “Agree & Joinâ€�Ìý
- Enter your office or department name and click “Nextâ€�Ìý
- Fill out anyÌýadditionalÌýinformation when promptedÌý
Step 3: Notify Public RelationsÌý
When you have successfully created your account, send an email to the Office of Public Relations atÌýlupublicrelations@langston.edu toÌýnotify themÌýofÌýyour new social media account.ÌýPlease include your username or a link to your page so that Public Relations can follow your new account from theÌýmainÌýÐÔÊӽ紫ý account.
All content created for social media must adhere to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s Brand Guidelines. This includes proper use of logos, colors,Ìýfonts,ÌýcampusÌýimageryÌýand AI.Ìý
ÐÔÊӽ紫ý faculty and staff have access toÌýAdobeExpressÌýtoÌýedit photos and create graphics and videos for social media. To accessÌýAdobeExpressÌý
- Go to
- The sign-in page will appear and ask you to sign in with your email or to continue with Google, Facebook or Apple. Below that, click where it says “More sign-in options.â€�Ìý
- Select “Continue with Microsoft�
- Sign in using yourLionKey
Once you have successfully signed in, you can reach out to the Office of Public Relations at lupublicrelations@langston.edu for a link to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s AdobeExpress Brand Kit for access to logos, color palettes and pre-approved templates.Ìý
Please review Best Practices for Accessibility and Proper Use of Social Media before you post any content on your university social media account.
ÐÔÊӽ紫ý values inclusiveness and strives to make our digital content accessible.ÌýAllÌýsocial media accountsÌýrepresentingÌýofficial ÐÔÊӽ紫ý offices, departments or clubs should follow the guidelines below to ensure our contentÌýremainsÌýaccessible.Ìý
Please also familiarize yourself with the updated federalÌý. Oklahoma ABLE Tech also offersÌýÌýyou canÌýutilize.Ìý
Captions, Links & HashtagsÌý
Captions should be written in clear, straightforward language that is easy to understand for a broad audience.ÌýComplex terminology should be avoided when possible.ÌýCaptions should use proper grammar,ÌýpunctuationÌýand spelling. For digital and web content, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý followsÌýÌý
Emojis should only be used at the end of sentences.ÌýAvoid repetitive emoji use. AvoidÌýspecial characterÌýfonts or platform boldÌýformatting,ÌýforÌýscreen readers may skip or misread those elements entirely. Do not use emojis to replace certain letters or words in your captions.Ìý
If your caption includes a link, make sure the text preceding it is descriptive about theÌýlink’sÌýdestination. For example:Ìý
- Bad
🎟ï¸�:ÌýURL - Good
Buy tickets:ÌýURL - Better
Buy tickets for the President’s Scholarship Gala:ÌýURLÌý
Additionally,Ìýlinks should not be excessively long.ÌýIf the page you are linking to has a longÌýURL, you can useÌýaÌýfreeÌýURLÌýshortener such asÌýÌýorÌý.Ìý
DO NOT include links in Instagram captions. Instead, you can add a link in your profile’s page information and include “link in my bioâ€� in the caption.Ìý
When using hashtags, make sure to useÌýcamelÌýcase.ÌýCamelÌýcase is when you capitalizeÌýthe first letter in each word of a hashtag. For example, use #WeRoar instead of #weroar.ÌýÌý
Photos & GraphicsÌý
When posting photos and graphics, alwaysÌýincludeÌýalt text descriptions of what the image or graphic depicts.Ìý
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Alt text descriptions should give a clear, meaningful description of what an image depicts, including relevant context or humor that adds toÌýtheÌýpost’sÌýmessage.ÌýKeep the description simple andÌýfocus on the mostÌýimportant elementsÌýfirst.ÌýDo not use flowery language.Ìý
- BadÌýexample:
AÌýhard-workingÌýstudent studies on a bench while enjoying a sunny day on campus.
- GoodÌýexample:
A student sitting on a bench while reading.Ìý
Ideally,Ìýalt textÌýdescriptions should be under 100 characters or about 25 words.ÌýYou do not needÌýtoÌýincludeÌýthe words “image of,â€� “picture ofâ€� or “graphic ofâ€� as screen readers will already include that when reading alt text.Ìý
WhenÌýpossible, avoid embedding text directly into images. When text must be included in a graphic, include the informationÌýin yourÌýpost’sÌýcaption, too. Additionally, add the text to the alt text description.Ìý
Text in graphics must follow the university’s brand guidelinesÌýregardingÌýfontsÌýand colors.ÌýText color combinations must provide sufficient color contrast to ensure legibility.Ìý
You should always run your graphics through an accessibility checker before posting.ÌýConsider addingÌýÌýto yourÌýAdobeExpressÌýaccountÌýor using an online visual accessibilityÌýchecker likeÌýÌý
VideosÌý
You must include closed captions on all videos. Your captions should follow along accurately with any speaking parts,ÌýidentifyÌýthe speaker, and include descriptions of meaningful sounds such as musicÌýor cheering.Ìý
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All posts made on social media by accountsÌýrepresentingÌýÐÔÊӽ紫ý–to include photos, graphics, videos,ÌýcaptionsÌýand comments–are subjectÌýto . Additionally, content created for university social media accounts or posted on behalf of the university is the property of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.
All representatives of the university are asked to use proper public decorum when interacting on social media on behalf of the university. ÐÔÊӽ紫ý reserves the right to remove content and/or comments including threats, harassment, spam, knowingly false statements, and any content misrepresenting the institutional brand made by non-institutional accounts on official university posts.
To ensure the proper representation of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s brand online, please familiarize yourself with these guidelines for proper use of social media.
- In your capacity at LU or when posting on behalf of the university, you are prohibited from posting copyrighted materials.
- All university, college or department-level social media accounts must be managed by an official LU service email account. Services accounts are used to sustain continuity of accounts.
- Official university social media accounts are monitored by the Office of Public Relations. When you create a social media account for your office or department, you must notify the Office of Public Relations. You must grant administrative access to the Office of Public Relations if requested by a member of the Public Relations team.
- All paid placement marketing advertisements placed on social media sites must be developed or approved by LU’s Office of Public Relations prior to implementation.
- Content must be current, reliable, accurate and grammatically correct. Content may utilize email addresses, social media accounts (@), quick urls and other generally recognized methods of online communication.
- If your account remains dormant (no activity or posts) for three months, the account will be deleted.
- The university has the authority to edit social media content produced on behalf of the university if such content is contrary to the best interests of LU.
- ÐÔÊӽ紫ý has the authority to discipline an employee who uses LU social media outlets to disclose confidential student information, to impair working relationships at the university, or interfere with the regular working operations of the university. University grievance procedures will apply to such disciplinary action.
- Social Media training is available if needed. Please contact the Office of Public Relations atÌýlupublicrelations@langston.eduÌýto schedule training.
The Office of PublicÌýRelationsÌýwill issue notices to remove any content violating theseÌýguidelines.ÌýAccountsÌýmayÌýbe suspended orÌýterminatedÌýif violations persist.
