STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Create a launch email and reminder email to let families know about the Discussion Board
We strongly suggest sending a launch email to Discussion Board users to announce your new Discussion Board. Additionally, we recommend setting up a recurring email to remind families to use the Discussion Board. You can access templates for both of these emails in our Discussion Boards Communication Best Practices Guide.
The Discussion Boards Communication Best Practices Guide also includes an advertisement template that you could set up in your portal and newsletter to serve as additional reminders.
View our Guide to Send an Email and Guide to Advertisements for step-by-step instructions to help you set these up.
Example Launch Email:
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Recruit parent ambassadors/volunteers to add their own posts and comments
This is a great way for parents to get involved while building excitement and momentum within your Board. Ask a few experienced parents—whether from your Parents Council or other trusted families you can tap—to create some initial posts of their own. Encourage them to keep the conversation going by commenting on new posts from other parents as they roll in.
NOTE: If a parent ambassador isn’t already part of your Discussion Board audience, add them to a new community that can be part of the audience criteria, so the Board is visible to them. Reach out to support@campusesp.com if you need any assistance.
💡 Pro Tip: Add a question in your onboarding survey to ask if families are interested in serving as parent ambassadors or volunteers. Use this community as your outreach list!
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Recruit other university staff and student workers to join the conversation
In addition to recruiting parent ambassadors, getting university staff and student workers involved can boost engagement in your Board and make it easier to get questions answered.
💡 Pro Tip: Add Discussion Board posts that introduce families to these staff members—or have the staff make their own! Check out an example below.
Example Discussion Board Post to Introduce Staff:
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Promote the Discussion Board at family events
Let families know about the Discussion Board at events like Orientation and Family Weekend and get them excited to participate!
Make sure to include the "Discussion Board Summary" block in any follow-up emails sent after the event (see the next section for details!).
Promote the Discussion Board in any upcoming communications
Add the "Discussion Board Summary" block while designing an email to remind families to join the discussion!
Advertise on social media
Post about the Discussion Board on Facebook, Instagram, or other social channels! Make it clear who the Discussion Board is for, if it is not for everyone.
Example Social Media Post:
Set up a profile picture
Adding a profile picture is a nice, personal touch for families to see as they browse and participate in the Discussion Board!
Create a survey to collect feedback
Once your Discussion Board has been live for at least a few weeks, we suggest creating a survey to check in with families on how things are going and get their insight on topics they would like to see. Visit our Guide to Creating a Survey to learn how you can set this up.
💡 Pro Tip: Use those survey insights to create new Discussion Board posts that families will engage with!
Looking for Discussion Board post ideas?
Posts that perform well often:
Include images
Give families the chance to introduce themselves and post photos
Encourage families give each other advice or drop their questions in the comments
Example Post Topics:
NEW Discussion Board - Introduce Yourself in the Comments!
Where is everyone from?
Post Your Move-In Photos!
What questions do you have about [TOPIC]? For example, questions about the admissions process, questions about financial aid, questions before the school year starts, questions about housing, etc.
Travel Tips and Tricks
Visit our Implement a Discussion Board Guide to find sample Discussion Board post templates that you can easily copy and paste!