The rising influence and reach of social networks like Twitter and Snapchat have led Ohio State to create a position on the staff specifically designed to handle the social media platforms for the Buckeyes. Consider it a social media manager role specifically to send updates on Twitter and Snapchat for recruiting purposes, as well as other forms of social networking.
Ohio State is forming a new director of new and creative media position, which will oversee a staff of nine according to a report from Columbus Business First.
“We don’t just add positions at Ohio State to add them,” Ohio State’s executive associate director Martin Jarmond said in the report. “There has to be a business reason.”
As of last July, according to Business Insider, 45 percent of Snapchat users were between the ages of 18 and 24. This may be an age demographic slightly above the key recruiting demographic, but it is a good indication of how much younger the audience tends to be on Snapchat. Compared to a number of other social media outlets, including Facebook and Instagram and Twitter just to name a few, Snapchat has a much younger audience by percentages. I just downloaded the app recently and am still trying to figure out how to use it best, but I’m clearly late to the game. And that’s the thing when it comes to connecting with recruits. In order to stay ahead of the curve, you need to know how to best connect with them as much as possible (within the NCAA rules, of course). Considering the rapid growth of Snapchat, it makes sense programs are now looking for ways to best use the service, just as they have in the past with Facebook and Twitter and whatever else has come along.
“It’s extremely important,” Jarmond said. “Our kids now live on their phone. That’s the reality.”