Have you been contacted by a company trying to sell your district on an app? Have those folks promised that an app will solve your communication issues, touting it as a one-stop shop? We have news for you. An app will not solve your communication issues. Let’s investigate why.
Don’t get us wrong; we love that there are so many companies out there committed to making communications easier for school districts. They are fantastic – but don’t let them sell you on being the answer to excellent communication.
That comes down to people. Real people who are overseeing the entire communication system in your district. People who know what to communicate and how to do so. Apps and websites are tools to make your job easier – but you still have to DO THE JOB.
Some items belong on a website, some in a newsletter, some in a text or an email to families, and some on social media, but not EVERYTHING needs to be communicated on all of these platforms. It takes humans to decide which bucket to fill with which piece of information.
Regarding social media, our company is all about celebrating those small and HUGE moments on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We think it’s vital that your entire community sees these posts so they can celebrate with you and cheer you on from the (social media) sidelines. This doesn’t require a separate app.
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Speaking of apps – How many times have you downloaded an app, only to forget to check it regardless of whether you have notifications enabled? The entire world is ALREADY on apps you can use to your advantage – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Three billion people alone use Facebook. Why reinvent the wheel? Why try to convince your families to download your app AND enable notifications? Meet your followers where they are!
Bottom line – communication is a job that needs to be done by humans, needs to be specific, and must include social media. If a pitch from a vendor sounds too good to be true, it is. Great communication doesn’t come from an app.
A guest post from Heidi Feller, our Chief Inspirational Officer. She is a former teacher and district website/social media coordinator, but now she spends her days inspiring the #SocialSchool4EDU school partners with the encouragement they need to tell their story. In her own words, “Our teachers and students knock their socks off learning and growing each school day and the world needs to know about it!”
