LinkedIn newsletters have grown in popularity and influence, and University Communications identified this as a new opportunity to connect with Grand Valley's large, particularly engaged LinkedIn audience.

GVSU Spotlight will include general news and updates from Athletics, Alumni and University Development. Your college/department can also be included in the newsletter. If you have updates to share, please connect with Peg West at ensingm1@gvsu.edu.

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Help University Marketing improve the tools and resources available to support campus communicators who create the materials that align with and reinforce GVSU’s brand. Share your feedback in this quick survey.

The landscape of social media is changing faster than ever. Here are a few updates to help you understand platforms and develop your strategy.

Automatic replies for the holiday break: Just because social media never takes a vacation, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. Set up automatic replies so your followers know that, while it may take you a tad longer to reply to messages, you’re not ignoring them! See directions on how to set up automatic replies on Facebook and Instagram. 

To hashtag or not to hashtag: Instagram accounts will no longer be able to follow hashtags after a recent update. What were once a valuable tool in connecting with followers and reaching new ones have become a victim of spam accounts, which is the cause of the update according to Social Media Today. This doesn’t mean you can’t use hashtags, of course, but the update demonstrates Instagram’s gradual shift in strategy to a more algorithm-centered approach.

What’s the deal with Bluesky? A new and quickly growing social media app, Bluesky, is positioned as an alternative to X. Created by former X (Twitter) CEO Jack Dorsey, the platform functions very similarly to X and has gained millions of followers in recent months. GVSU has created an account to claim our username, but is continuing to monitor BlueSky and similar platforms before posting as very few universities have created accounts.

Join us at the winter semester UCN meeting, when our guest, Robert Shorty, vice president for People, Equity, and Culture, will share his vision for Grand Valley's newest division.

The meeting is Monday, February 17, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Seidman Forum, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. There will be time for questions, action items for communicators and networking opportunities. Snacks and beverages will be available.