Re-Vamping a Sodexo HBCU Social Media

How I changed the dining social media for the prestige Dillard University. It has been a while since my last blog. Let's TALK!

What is Sodexo & Why it matters

Eating at college is a part of every student’s life. Unfortunately, some college campuses still do not have a great dining option for their students. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have an especially difficult time with creating a unique culture around their dining experience because of the lack of proper resources. In order to create a culture of dining at HBCUs, universities need to partner with the right companies. Sodexo is a company that is dedicated to providing only the best dining services to universities. The company’s innovative new program focuses on connecting cultures as a result of dining experiences. Sodexo acknowledges the unique needs of HBCUs and the resources available to them to make sure a successful dining culture is created on a budget.

For HBCUs, using Sodexo to create a culture of dining is the right choice. The company puts an emphasis on listening to customer feedback and providing food that best suits their needs. Also, Sodexo’s ability to provide shared innovative ideas to HBCUs allows for customizing the food offerings and their locations. They provide options for restaurants in convenient places, like libraries and student centers, for students to grab a quick snack or meal. This helps to reduce excess lines that form, bringing a much smoother operation overall.

Another great perk about Sodexo is their variety of food. They have a diverse menu with many vegetarian and vegan options for students to choose from. This helps students with dietary restrictions and food allergies better access food that they can eat. The company also works to differentiate its menus from those of other food service companies, providing more distinct and interesting options to all students. They also specialize in international foods, introducing more cultural foods and flavors to students. This helps to expand the palette of the entire student body, making it easier for everyone to find something to enjoy.

With the help of Sodexo, HBCUs can create a culture of dining that celebrates their unique identity. Their innovative style of management allows them to offer the best food at the best prices. The company puts a strong emphasis on listening to and acting on customer feedback, while also introducing more variety and new flavors to their menu. By utilizing Sodexo’s services, HBCUs can ensure that their students have access to the best dining experience while also giving their students an opportunity to explore new flavor profiles.

How It Started

If you’re a business owner or marketer, you understand the importance of having a significant social media presence for your brand. It’s important to have a large audience to effectively communicate your message and increase engagement with your brand online. But how do you take your social media accounts from a few hundred followers to a few thousand? With some creativity and great marketing strategies, it’s definitely possible.

One of the best ways to gain an instant influx of followers is to collaborate with industry influencers. Think about the most relevant and authoritative figures in your niche and explore whether working together on a project could benefit both parties. When an influencer promotes your brand, this encourages their followers to check your account out and follow you. This was achievable by having collaborative posts with the university and its student organizations. My true goal was to be on HBCU's pages such as HBCU Pridenation and more... Mission Accomplish!

Growth through a year

How many followers did you think we had in the prior year?

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If you guessed 895 to now 2,121 for Instagram looking at a more than 225% increase. Other social media such as Facebook, X (formally known as Twitter), and TikTok increased by 20%.

How it started continued

Another way to increase your following is to actively engage with other users. Take the time to respond to comments, connect with local businesses, and cultivate an active presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social networks. Posting regularly and with consistency is important, too. Regular and consistent posts communicate to your followers that you’re an active user, and can motivate them to engage with your account more often. Everyone loves to be seen and heard, and these interactions can make a huge difference when it comes to cultivating meaningful relationships with your followers. Running local ads also helps increase engagement with alumni, potential customers, and future students. Be the entertainment on campus through reels and vlogs to get people talking. I have seen this on countless company pages and wonder why there is so many food pics, post, and daily menu in the feed. It's fine for stories but the feed should be all about highlights, the true glitz, and glamour.

You'll also want to pay attention to the type of content you’re posting. Having strong visuals with great captions or content that’s interesting to your audience can make a huge difference. Be sure you’re creating content that caters to the interests of your target audience and is aligned with the values of your brand.

Finally, it's important to formulate an ad strategy. True, ad campaigns do tend to cost money, but it is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to get more eyes on your brand. Utilizing platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter are all great ways to get your brand in front of potential customers. With the right ad campaign, you can quickly gain more followers and increase brand awareness.

Going from a few hundred followers to several thousand isn’t easy, but with a bit of creativity and a great marketing strategy, it can be done. Start with these tips and start increasing your reach.

The Next Step

After a very rocky year at my first HBCU, it's time to decide how I want my career to elevate. What makes me so eager for the next challenge is the determination I had in college. The next project is unknown to me at this time, however, I'm thrilled to get back to writing scripts and sharpening my marketing skills. I am a people person and love being around a strong team and can bring a lot to the right one, so brace yourself. You are in for a treat with the next stream of blogs.