THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF INSTAGRAM
During sorority recruitment, Sally is at Delta Nu. She notices that every member she talks to is just like her. The first member is from the same hometown. The second member loves going to 30A too. The third member went on a vacation to France over the summer too. How weird!?!
When Sally leaves Delta Nu, she is obsessed with them. She felt she was talking to her best friends and could see herself as a member.
At the beginning of the next round, she gets her invitational schedule. She is only searching for one sorority — Delta Nu. When she sees it on her schedule, she is SO excited to meet more members.
During her conversations, the members she met last round come up to welcome her back. They tell her they are so excited to see her. Again, she has incredible conversations and feels like she is talking to her best friends.
As the week continues, she is more impressed with Delta Nu. It is her #1 sorority, and she cannot wait to be a member.
Why did Delta Nu impress Sally? Why did she always feel like she was talking to her best friends?
The sororities spend months studying and pre-screening potential new members. Their goal is to find potential new members similar to current members. Once they find these women, they pair them to talk to members who are good fits [have things in common]. The conversations Sally had about her hometown, 30A, and France were not random. The recruitment team paired members who had similar experiences to her. That way, Sally could connect with them and see herself there.
How did the sorority know where she was from, that she vacations in 30A, and that she went to France? Can you guess?
Instagram!
Why does Instagram matters before and during sorority recruitment?
Everyone is not placed on an equal playing field for Round 1. The sororities are pre-screening potential new members. All sororities have to drop a percentage of potential new members after Round 1. This percentage is different for each sorority. The most competitive sororities drop the largest percentage (around 65% to 70% of ALL potential new members).
How do you get your name out there?
You want to use a prepping plan that allows members to know your name and be excited to meet you. That is what you want, right?
HERE IS WHERE YOUR FIRST plan COMES INTO PLAY (YOUR PREPPING FOR SORORITY RECRUITMENT plan)
Since the sororities vet potential new members before sorority recruitment starts, you need to get on each sorority’s radar. You have to get your name out there. Your prepping plan should answer, “What actions do I need to take for members to know my name?”
What did Sally do before sorority recruitment started to get the members’ attention?
In CRUSH, one part of the prepping plan is to GO PUBLIC on Instagram, use it as a branding tool, and delete all red flags.
SHOULD YOUR ACCOUNT BE PUBLIC?
Are you thinking, “If my account is private, I don’t have to do any of this”?
Having a public account does not hurt your chances of receiving a bid. The members are not on social media looking to drop potential new members. They want to see who you are, your passions, and how you spend your time. They want to see the REAL you, not the drafted recommendation letters.
USING INSTAGRAM AS A PERSONAL BRANDING TOOL
In Invisible Influence by Jonah Berger, he explains why we are drawn to similar people through the following situations. Imagine you are at a party with your best friend. Once you get inside, she says, “Everyone here is so nice. Go up and talk to someone. I am going to go to the bathroom.” You do not want to appear unsocial in the corner on your phone. You have seconds to decide which group you want to go and talk to. There are three groups:
Group one: Two individuals wearing all black. Black shirt, black pants, black hat, and black shoes.
Group two: Two individuals dressed in hiking gear.
Group three: Two individuals who are dress identical to you.
Who will you pick to talk to?
Most likely, you pick group three – the group that looks just like you.
Why do you talk to them over the other groups?
When you have to make a decision quickly, you look for similarities. You can assume if they dress like me, we [most likely] have other things in common too.
The same idea applies to sorority recruitment. When the members look at your Instagram account, they do not make rational, long-thought-out decisions. They look at your account for a couple of minutes. First, they look to see if you are similar to them. Then, they look for red flags. When a member comes to your account, you want to make it an easy yes for them! “Yes! She is just like us! Her photos are similar! Her friends look like us!”
In The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment, you learn a four step process to help you know what to post and how to come off as similar to the members.
WHAT DO THE SORORITY MEMBERS LOOK FOR IN A NEW MEMBER?
Sorority members are looking for new members that are:
Social (have friends and are friendly, not drinking and partying)
Similar to current members
Able to connect with current members [friends]
How can you use Instagram to show these qualities?
Since the members are looking at your social media, you want to think of it as your FIRST impression. It is like an interactive social resume. You want to use your social media as a personal branding tool and a way to allow the members to get to know you.
RED FLAGS
Red flags are indicators of a standard concern – anything that paints you in a bad light or the members think you would not meet their social standards. The main red flags are photos, videos, comments, or posts:
Drinking, holding a red solo cup at a tailgate, holding alcohol, drinking abroad, or clearly drunk
Smoking and drug use
Naked photos [bikini pictures are fine]
These red flags apply to ALL social media, your stories, TikTok, and the link bio. You want to go through your social media and delete all red flags immediately.
Conclusion
Do’s of Instagram [Use Instagram as a tool to network and allow the members into your life]
Have a public Instagram account
Post content to show off your personal brand [you want to show the members you are similar to them]
Don’t of Instagram
No pictures, videos, etc. with red flags [If a member finds red flags on your account, it may cause you be dropped. Each sorority has standards they need to follow.] You need to delete all red flags immediately.
DO YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK HELP YOU STAND OUT DURING SORORITY RECRUITMENT?
When you depend on Youtube and TikTok for advice, you prepare like everyone else. When you look like everyone else, you do not stand out. If a sorority can only invite back 30% of all PNMs, how will you show them that you deserve to be in the top 30%?
Instead of using advice and being the Overlooked Potential New Member, you want to use a step-by-step plan to gain Rush Crush status -- stand out, have options, and run home to a sorority you love. Click the video below to see how CRUSH can help you create and implement your plan.
You have a math test in two weeks that is worth 90% of your grade for the class. You want to get an A. You are looking for guidance on how to get your A.
First, you ask a friend, not in your math class, “How do I get an A+ on my test?” She says, “You need to study.” This answer leaves you frustrated.
Then, you ask your teacher, “How do I get an A+ on my test?” She gives you a step-by-step plan.
Who was more helpful?
Your teacher, right?
To get an A, you need to know the right information and have a step-by-step plan.
To get a bid to a sorority you love, you have to communicate you are the right fit for the sorority before and during sorority recruitment. A step-by-step plan tells you how and when to communicate.
BUT… why do so many women going through sorority recruitment ONLY use the advice they find on Youtube and TikTok? Does it help them stand out and get a bid?
Click the video below to see how The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment can help you create and implement your plan.
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