Recruiting Online

The role of the Recruitment Advisor is one of great responsibility. It can also be quite rewarding. The following document provides some tips as to how to go about recruiting online.

Don't be afraid to take advantage of the popularity of online communities and social networks. Use them to help advertise for your recruitment activities. Here are just a few of the tools available:

Social Networks

Facebook

• Facebook Flyers:

These are the small advertisements displayed on the left side of the Facebook page. They are available for as little as $5 per day, and will be visible to everyone in the networks you select.

• Facebook Events:

Online event announcements can be created and sent to whomever you want to invite. This could be a great follow-up to the information meetings.

• Facebook Groups:

Create a group that prospective members can visit for more information about the chapter, including a rush schedule and contact information. The group name could be included in recruitment advertising.

• Facebook Profile Pics

Have brothers change their profile pictures to customized flyers with dates and locations of information sessions. Such profile pictures will appear on friends newsfeeds and could be useful in spreading word about rush.

MySpace

• Myspace Profiles:

Create a profile that prospective members can visit for more information about the chapter, including a rush schedule and contact information. The address could be included in recruitment advertising.

• MySpace Events

Announcements about upcoming events in your geographical area can be posted here.

Other Online Tools

• Evite Invitations:

These can be custom-designed, and could be an eye-catching way to follow up with prospective members for special or “closed” rush events.

• AIM

Asking brothers to include the chapter website and rush dates in their profiles is a simple way to let friends know about recruitment.

Tips for successful online recruitment

But before you begin using these and other online forms of advertising, have a plan! Here are some questions to consider:

• What do we want to accomplish by using this type of advertising?

For example, will you be using the online resources to advertise recruitment in general? To follow up with students who have attended information meetings? Or for some other purpose?

• What forms of advertising will be best for distributing my message?

For example, one benefit of Facebook is that it’s relatively limited to specific university communities, whereas MySpace has a broader, less targeted audience.

• Do we have the time and resources to commit to this?

For example, is a brother willing to make sure the Phi Sigma Pi Rush group on Facebook is up to date and relevant throughout recruitment?