Sourcing and Creating Content

Creating engaging content in Wisr not only helps to create a vibrant community, but also gives your network members reason to return to your Wisr site again and again. While there are certainly some technical elements to content creation, this article will focus on the types of programming you can create virtually for your prospective, incoming, and current students and alumni. Here are the types of content we recommend with links to articles explaining how to create the best digital assets.

Live Webinar
Recorded Webinar (single host, power point) – Video
Recorded Panel (multiple contributors) – Video
Recorded Master/Sample Class (single host, power point, partner office staff) – Video
Group Meetings (with or without smaller breakout sessions)
AMA (async Q&A)
Interview/Q&A (pre-answered questions) – written post
Video Story/Vlog (single host, vlog style) – Video
My Story (personal experience, similar to video story but written) – written post
Campus Tour Video (walking tour of areas of campus) – Video
Explainer/Listicle/General text post – written post

Using an editorial calendar to organize your team is the most helpful and streamlined way to establish the who, what, when, where, why, and how of each piece of content.

Your calendar could also include what equipment is necessary and if you have a system for checking it out. We’ve created a calendar template you can access here. Please be sure to download you own copy as this is a shared resource for all Wisr clients.

We recommend reading the additional articles available on icebreakers and social programming for ideas on creative content.

Sourcing Content

When thinking of where to find content, look to your previously held/planned programs and events and your campus partners for help. There is prime content waiting to be digitized—and chances are, most of the work is already done! Panels and breakout sessions are easily recordable, current student leaders and alumni volunteers can offer personal anecdotes and answer preset Q&As, and faculty may already have sample class presentations ready to record. If you are considering “should this be a live webinar or pre-recorded?” Remember: recording a video from the comfort of your office or home is much more enjoyable and offers more control to your staff rather than managing several live webinars at once.

Creating Content

The main questions you should be aware of when planning your content strategy are: who is creating this and what tech/resources do they need? We’ve created a list of suggested audio and video gear you may need to help plan some investments in resources while being cognizant of costs.

You can delegate content creation out to your staff members, tour guides, department/college representatives, campus partners, and members of the community looking for ways to stay engaged. Staying on top of your content calendar will help keep things organized.

And remember that as you create these resources there will always be little mistakes here and there. At Wisr we like to embrace these as they show the most authentic side of ourselves!